Fake or Real Christmas Tree

I used to think it made me more of a man, or a Christian, or an American, or whatever... to have a real tree. But when I moved into my first house with new carpet I quickly learned the advantages and conveniences of the artificial model.

We're even considering a pre-lighted tree for next year. So much for tradition.

We're lucky though, our kids are still young and they have lots of cousins. So as long as we have family around to celebrate with, I'm not too worried about the tree.

BTW...Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, whatever you prefer. Hope you all have an enjoyable time.

 

We have a fake tree, about four feet tall, that sits up on a table. This combination is due to my menagerie of dogs and cats that wreak havoc on real Christmas trees. We missed the scent and so we put up real wreathes indoors.
Jack

 

I was raised with a silver tree that had the little circular light to shine different colors on it . . .

I still do fake, but mine looks much more real than the silver one.

 

We've got a very similar setup, although I think it's six feet tall and it's a small table. Two beagles and a six month old pretty much mandate that it be way out of reach.

 

Ah, yes! I was trying to avoid even bringing it up, but so was I... or... well... okay, "raised" is a strong word. My parents did the real tree thing at first; then we went through a few years of the silver/aluminum tree and the rotating colored-light thingy; then, in later years, my mom (who instigated the aluminum/silver tree in the first place) was persuaded to return to a real tree, which remained the tradition for as long as I lived in my parents' house. After moving out on my own and starting my own family -- and in all the years since that particular chapter in my life has come and gone -- I have insisted on real, no matter the cost or inconvenience... as has, gratefully, whomever happened to be in my life at the time; and as does, enthusiastically, the person who's in it now.

But those aluminum/silver trees! Yikes! They were sumpthin', weren't they? So tacky. And the colored wheel was like 12- to 14-inches in diameter -- with red, green and blue colors, usually -- and the little motor running constantly which turned it. Boy, oh, boy... what memories!

One had to use just plain, round, shiny/reflective ornaments for the most part. We used small, medium and large round ones in the three colors (red, blue, green), plus candy canes. I once saw one that used nothing but silk-finish round ones in mostly pastel colors, and then had a sort of light- to medium-green tinsel on it... with no revolving color wheel; and just plain, diffused white light bathing it. I have to admit, that one was about as slick an aluminum/silver tree as I've ever seen.

Another one I liked had all one color, one size round, shiny/reflective ornaments on it, and a fluffy green tinsel boa draped in swags all over it. That actually looked cooler than I thought it would...

...of course it required its own earthen ground, and a lightning rod up on top where the star belonged... but, hey! [kidding]

Silver trees. My, oh, my. Now, that's fake!

Thanks for bringing it up, mcdirector!

 

Fake, thank you! In our leaner years, we "invested" in a boxed tree in order to save money. But we continue to use it years later. So much easier. I must admit, though, I do miss the smell! I don't think the pine scents do the trick.

 

Re: Christmas and kids

Sue,

I try not to post off of the thread topic but you sounded so forlorn I just had to!

My Mum felt exactly the same way as you 4-5 years ago when the last left the nest. Now she has two wonderful grandchildren and two more on the way! Just hang on in there and it will go full circle and there will be young kids around again!

All the best,

Dave C.

 

As a young child growing up in NC, we always had a "live" tree in a planter box. After Christmas my father would drag it around to the back of the house and plant it along the boundary between the woods and the yard. I remember being 6 or 7 years old (before my parents divorced) being able to see a row of trees along the back yard, each one a little bit taller than its neighbor. I wish I could find a tree farm that sold them like this, without paying an arm and a leg.

I'm dreading the day that both of my kids are gone and Christmas isn't what it was. My youngest still believes in Santa and my oldest child, although she no longer believes, goes along with it under the threat of no presents. She hasn't broken the news to him, but I fear it may happen soon.

Off topic...
When my oldest child was 10 or 11, she still believed in Santa even though many of her friends told her it was the parents putting presents under the trees. Her come back to her friends (and the reason she believed in Santa) was "There's no way MY parents buy those presents."

Ryan

 

Where I live there are quite a number of tree farms. You can easily get one such as you've described and it doesn't cost an arm or a leg. One or two fingers will do nicely.
Jack
(as for your kids, when they are ready you'll be ready too.)

 

Actually, we have a artificial tree that is quite real... Perhaps a better distinction would have been living, once was living and artificial...

Don't you just love people offering suggestions that complicate things?

Merry Christmas!

 

Even for the non-believers....

Santa brings presents for even the non-believers in our family. You should have seen how funny Santa looked trying to covertly bring in my wife's treadmill a few years ago. There was almost a tragedy when it drug him back out the door to the garage. He only saved himself by catching his elbows on the door frame but then he was stuck. Would have been a sight to see if anyone had woke up....

 

Sounds like it's time for a trip north of the Mason-Dixon line!

Ryan

 

One or two fingers? At that rate, you'd be in really bad shape after about five or ten Christmases.

 

Faux, and happy about it. Pack it, crack it the following year, and haul it off to the attic when done. For military types like myself, it also gives a sense of continuity during the holidays after frequent moves.

Dave

 

Re: Re: Christmas tree

I am really looking forward to Christmas morning this year. Last year I was in Iraq, away from my family. This year will be quite the Christmas again. BTW I have 6 kids (14, 12, 10, 8, 4, 1). Christmas morning will be a riot!

Shawn

 

Real - only commies get fake trees! Plastic is bad for the enviornment.