Christmas Tree: Real or Plastic?

[onejayhawk]

Do you use a live tree, a cut tree, and artificial evergreen or something else?

J

 

[Birdjaguar]

No tree at all anymore. My wife will put two wintery looking candles on the breakfast table to acknowledge the holiday. They never get lit.

 

[Narz]

Someday I'll have one growing in my greenhouse and will decorate it for Xmas, until then no tree.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

I like plastic ones because I can store it under the bed until I need it. Also they do not shed very much.

 

[Birdjaguar]

When I was growing up (1950s/60s) we often had live trees that were planted in the yard after Christmas. I know one is still there and is 40+ feet tall now.

 

[Synobun]

There's a certain romance to a live tree, but impossible for someone of my position to pursue. They're heavy, messy, and costly, all manageable things if you're able-bodied and of decent financial position, but not so for me. When I move and have my own place, I'll be relegated to the plastic variety.

 

[Samson]

Do the plastic ones work to appease the forest spirits?

 

[Birdjaguar]

Do the plastic ones work to appease the forest spirits?

Of course, spirits are easily confused.

 

[GenMarshall]

Artificial trees are low maintenance. Real trees you need to water and clean up the needles it sheads. When it comes to the end of Christmas, artificial trees you can just pack up and put in the attic/basement where as real trees it’s chucked with the rest of the garbage (or into the woods if you live in a mixed rural/urban environment).

 

[Zkribbler]

There are highlands north of Manila where Christmas trees grow, nowhere near enough to supply the country, and so everyone uses plastic.

I have a 2-story-high living room and, at the time, had money to burn, so I bought the largest residential Christmas tree on the island [4 meters]. I hired a team to install it. During the year, it sleeps under the stairs leading up from the ground floor.

 

[thetrooper]

Switched to plastic five years ago. Never going back.

 

[The_J]

My parents always buy a real tree. Never real candles though, way too dangerous with pets around. Although I think this year should be the first without any cat potentially sitting in the tree .
I've always spent Christmas at my parents (this year first time not), so never had one on my own.

 

[Arwon]

As you'd imagine, pine trees aren't exactly seasonal or native here, but there is actually a plantation somewhere outside of town largely for this purpose. Last year they were more or less ruined by drought and heavy bushfire smoke.

Buying a real pine tree for this purpose seems incredibly decadent tho.

 

[Ferocitus]

Lithuania has opted for a weird hybrid.

 

[Zardnaar]

As a kid it's always real. Now plastic but even skipping that probably.

 

[Darsnan]

I'm pretty sure that the translation of Christmas isn't "Kill a tree for Christ".

We've been doing the fake tree for almost 30 years now, and other than encountering the occasional basement spider its been a much better experience.

D

 

[Manfred Belheim]

No applicable voting option.

 

[warpus]

Real or plastic are not the only options.

You could easily have a christmas tree in your house made out of the bones of your enemies.

 

[Birdjaguar]

Real or plastic are not the only options.

You could easily have a christmas tree in your house made out of the bones of your enemies.

We have an old steel one in the back yard that my wife bought to use, but never did.

 

[Lemon Merchant]

No tree. I don't put one up.