by Jaye S.
Member since:
October 31, 2006

Christmas Trees: Real or Artificial?

December 10, 2007 05:24 PM EST
views: 95 | rating: 9.9/10 (37 votes) | comments: 54

When I was growing up with my mom, we always had to have a real tree. To this day, I love the scent a a freshly cut Christmas tree.  When I went to live with my grandma, we had an artificial tree.  When I grew up, we began getting real trees again.  I loved them, but I hated cleaning up all of the pine needles and then getting rid of it.  Now, I get artificial trees.  No mess and easier clean up.

What kind of tree do you get?

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Comments: 54

William M. Dec 10, 2007, 5:26pm EST
I'm not sure we will have one. Our kids have kids and Christmas at their homes.
Bridget ♥ Dec 10, 2007, 5:26pm EST
We ALWAYS get a REAL tree. To me, a fake one just isn't the same!
Bridget ♥ Dec 10, 2007, 5:27pm EST
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Jaye S. Dec 10, 2007, 5:27pm EST
Bridget, my mother was the same way!
Michael Harvey Dec 10, 2007, 5:28pm EST
We get both. We have already put up four artificial trees and will put up the live one tonight. It is a lot of trouble to put up the live one, but it is so beautiful and it remains me of my childhood, when we lived in the country and had our pick of the best tree in the forest.
Robyn F. Dec 10, 2007, 5:28pm EST
4 cats..........no tree:)
LEЯA © Politcally Incorrect M. Dec 10, 2007, 5:29pm EST
Fake, fake, FAKE! If I want to smell pine I'll buy some Glade. I don't want to clean up the mess. lol
Karen S. Dec 10, 2007, 5:30pm EST
We use an artificial one.
Kori J. Dec 10, 2007, 5:31pm EST
LOL, I don't think we are even putting one up this year. Usually we go cut our own down the weekend after Thanksgiving, but with one thing and another this year, it didn't happen. And now that Owen is 19 months and wild, I don't know if I have the time or energy to keep him away from it! We have a small table-top tree that we might put up.
Kellie S. Dec 10, 2007, 5:36pm EST
I confess, I am fond of artificial trees. The one we use now is actually a lighted artificial palm tree, which suits our personalities a lot better than a traditional tree. When I first had my own home I had a live tree for a few seasons and then seeing the discarded trees waiting to be picked up and hauled away after Christmas seemed sad to me so I decided to always go with artificial. Of course, now live trees are sometimes recycled so that's good. :)
Jennifer N. Dec 10, 2007, 5:42pm EST
Artificial. They don't need watering. They also don't need to be bought again every year, posing the problem of how to get this big tree from the tree lot to our home, lol.

I do like the smell of real, but that's about it.
Jennifer N. Dec 10, 2007, 5:43pm EST
Although, we really don't put one up most times as half of the month is spent away from home.
Amy S. Dec 10, 2007, 5:48pm EST
we have an aritificial tree.
Sandy (back in Ohio...blah!) Dec 10, 2007, 5:49pm EST
I have always had a fake one. I still get a fake one now. I don't see the point of paying that much for a tree to use it a month or less. Just to throw it away. Not when trees give us oxygen to breathe. Sure they look pretty. But I don't see the point now a days. Back before they had fake trees I can understand the custom of cutting a tree down. But not now.
Leslie "Missy" T. Dec 10, 2007, 5:55pm EST
I love the real trees, but I have an artifical tree. One day I'll get a real tree.
Whitney A. Dec 10, 2007, 6:01pm EST
We have an artificial tree. We used to get a real one every year, but then my family decided that this would be easier, and it is a lot less messy.
Alison Pearce Dec 10, 2007, 6:05pm EST
We've always had an artificial tree, the real ones just can't stand up to the extreme heat down here!
Curt L. Dec 10, 2007, 6:08pm EST
Love the smell of a real tree, but it only lasts for a day or so. Artifucial trees decorate so much more easily and evenly.
As a decorator, artificial trees are my choice! (Plus most building codes do not allow live trees on their premisis.) a 10!
The Red Headed Witch of Gather G. Dec 10, 2007, 6:30pm EST
I'm allergic to real Christmas trees, so fake for me!
Dan (Cowboy Up) V. Dec 10, 2007, 7:15pm EST
I love real trees, but I gave in to the artificial trend a few years back. Like you said, no mess. C):-)
Amy C. Dec 10, 2007, 7:24pm EST
We got a steal on a artificial tree it was originally 229$ at target I got it for 90% off. It is prelit and gorgeous. My boys were allergic to pine as babies so we never had a real tree. I am not sure if they are still allergic or if they out grew it we just never went back to real trees since both had hives due to the pine. Also the fake one is easy to clean up after! i do love the smell of fresh pine though!
Marianne R. Dec 10, 2007, 7:44pm EST
Fake when I put one up.
debra g. Dec 10, 2007, 7:49pm EST
real and put a sheet under it to get the pine neddles
Carrie O. Dec 10, 2007, 7:53pm EST
I always had a fake tree growing up and that's what we have now. I've been thinking about getting a real one next year.
Amanda "middle of nowhere" C. Dec 10, 2007, 7:53pm EST
I'm allergic to trees, so it's fake for me!
carolyn b. Dec 10, 2007, 8:07pm EST
Fake!!
Kelli Trent Dec 10, 2007, 8:14pm EST
none
Joan O. Dec 10, 2007, 8:23pm EST
When I was growing up we had both kinds. Then when I got married we also had both kinds but finally went to real. We enjoyed going to the tree farm and cutting down our own when the kids were younger. It was so much fun.
Margaret G. Dec 10, 2007, 8:37pm EST
Artificial. I don't want to clean up the mess and with 6 animals, the live ones are too much of a hazard.
Elaine M. Dec 10, 2007, 8:48pm EST
I have both. Grew up with real ones we cut on our own land, but went to fake ones for a number of years in my own household. Now we have a big real one, but sometimes I put smaller fake ones around the house too.
Angella *ThePilatesLounge.com* H. Dec 10, 2007, 10:27pm EST
I have a fake one now, but until recently we had real trees. Part of the fun was going to pick it out - but then they got so darn expensive and I started feeling bad about cutting down another tree, so now it's a fake one for us!
Christopher K. Dec 10, 2007, 10:46pm EST
we have an artificial one ourselves,but i have always loved the real ones..more authentic i think
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Ellie !. Dec 11, 2007, 12:21am EST
We have always had a real tree...sometimes 14 feet of real tree. BUT as we age, and real trees are heavy, we long for a fake tree. Let's see...$300 for a 9' fake tree...we spent $67 at the Boy Scout lot for a 9' tree. Would have been less if we had been willing to walk through the mud at the u-cut tree farm. SO... a fake tree would pay for itself in about 6 years.
Ellie !. Dec 11, 2007, 12:22am EST
The kids won't let us get a fake tree...who pays the bills here, anyway!
Nancy S. Dec 11, 2007, 2:14am EST
We always had a real tree. It's only been the last couple years that I had a small fake one.
I prefere fake trees. Not too difficult to put up and down and I don't have to deal with the mess. My husband preferes real. This year we are using our fake only, only because neither of us had the time to go hunt a real one.
brandy p. Dec 11, 2007, 8:15am EST
I like my fake christmas tree... its easy.. plus i don't have to worry about buying a tree every year
DIANE D. Dec 11, 2007, 8:37am EST
WE ALWAYS HAD A REAL TOO. I REALLY MISS THE SMELL, HOWEVER I PUT UP THE SAME FAKE ONE. NO PINE NEEDLES! I BURN ALOT OF CINNAMON CANDLES AND PINE FOR THE MOOD.
☀ Aunt Shanny Dec 11, 2007, 10:36am EST
We have an artificial right now, but I would really like to get a real one!
Kathy D. Dec 11, 2007, 12:28pm EST
Growing up, we always had a real tree, too.
Kathy D. Dec 11, 2007, 12:28pm EST
When I was 17, my mom got an artificial one.
Kathy D. Dec 11, 2007, 12:28pm EST
Now, in my own home, I also have artificial.
Kathy D. Dec 11, 2007, 12:28pm EST
I still love the smell of pine, though.
jennifer r. Dec 11, 2007, 2:41pm EST
I always have a real tree. This year it's an 8 foot Noble Fir.
Abbie B. Dec 11, 2007, 3:51pm EST
fake
Janna O'Donnell Dec 11, 2007, 10:19pm EST
Artificial. My Dh is allergic to most real ones and they are so expensive here on the island.
Mrs Nobles Dec 12, 2007, 10:45am EST
YOU SUCK!

you gotta get the babies a real tree! the smell! going to pick it out yourself! making sure to keep water in the bottom! your mom would be ASHAMED! ashamed i say!

get my babies a real tree dammit!

lol
Kimi L. Dec 12, 2007, 8:16pm EST
Artificial, but would like to get a real tree next year! :) Happy Holidays!
Curt L. Dec 13, 2007, 11:17am EST
Merry Christmas!
Help Melissa Reach 3,000 CLICK HERE ! g. Dec 13, 2007, 4:15pm EST
we do artificial I hate the needles lol
El Toro Bravo de Amor Dec 16, 2007, 5:16pm EST
My wife resisted the "fake tree" idea for years. But I bought one AFTER christmas when they were half off a couple years ago.

It looks great and the branches are adjustable! It has lights!

No fire hazard

No mess

The Christmasy smell? We buy a wreath and hang it inside the house.

She's a believer now. I was feeling like such an idiot paying 80 dollars for something I had to throw away in a couple weeks. Not to mention, sawing to the trunk so it would fit in the %$## worthles little tree stand!
Ali C. Nov 3, 2008, 8:37am EST
I like my little fake tree :-)
*LORA* M. Nov 17, 2008, 4:36pm EST
I have had both. Artificial the last few years

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