Your tree - Real or Fake?

[Gothmog]

I read a LA Times article today that contained this tidbit:

In 1990, half of all trees on display in U.S. households were real. By last year, that figure was down to 30%. Americans bought 12 million fewer live trees last year than they had a decade earlier; that amounts to a one-third drop in sales.

What kind of tree do you have in your house?

Any opinion on the relative pro's and cons?

For myself I have a real tree. I celebrate the winter solstice by bringing a tree and lights into my house to remind myself of the spring to come. I light candles every night near sunset too (in a menorah as reminder of my heritage).

It wouldn't seem right to me to recognize the changing of seasons with an artificial tree.

But that's just me, what about you?

 

[Speedo]

Fake trees are for pansies

 

[Sims2789]

"Fake trees are for pansies"
Totally agree! My tree is made of real wood, and there is no
"Made in China" sticker on it either!

 

[Superevie]

Totally real. Is there any other way?

 

[Sims2789]

wait, so now only 20% of trees are real? Hmph![crosses arms, closes eyes and sticks nose up into air]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One time when I was really little, we got one of those trees covered in fake snow. But it was still real, and we only got it because I kept pestering my mom to. When I was 12, we celebrated Christmas at my aunt's house in the Rockie Mountains near Colorado Springs. She has a fake tree, but at my house, we have never had a fake tree.

 

[Superevie]

Originally posted by sims2789
wait, so now only 20% of trees are real? Hmph![crosses arms, closes eyes and sticks nose up into air]

20% seems awfully scant. Everyone in my neighborhood has a real tree...well most of em do anyway. The plastic trees seem kind of like a ripoff and wrong. Go for the full experience and get the real thing. It's like editing Tolkien if you go for a fake instead of a real one.

 

[Gothmog]

Hey now, the poll states a 50/50 split atm but only the real tree proponents have spoken up. I'd like to hear from the artificial tree proponents.

Would you rather have a real tree but it is too inconvenient or what?

Edit - the article says that only 30% of tree's are real nationwide.

 

[Pongui]

It's a fake. But it is mainly composed of mighty timbers (paper) and wholesome earth (steel wire). The stars on it are fake too.

 

[Amenhotep7]

Fake Trees suck! Real Trees are truly the only way to go!

Fake trees are for pansies

Reverend: CAN I HEAR AN AMEN?!

Audience: AMEN!

 

[Sims2789]

Originally posted by Superevie


20% seems awfully scant. Everyone in my neighborhood has a real tree...well most of em do anyway. The plastic trees seem kind of like a ripoff and wrong. Go for the full experience and get the real thing. It's like editing Tolkien if you go for a fake instead of a real one.

i agree, it sounds like not very much. 'cuse he said in 1990 50% had real trees, and now that number is down by 30%. maybe he means 50% + (30% of the other 50%) have fake trees, which would mean that only 35% have trees, which isn't very much. In my neighborhood, everyone who celebrates Christmas has a real tree as far as I can tell.

 

[Gothmog]

@Sean - Do you like it?

I know you have a small child, is the artificial tree easier to secure?

 

[Sims2789]

Originally posted by Sean Lindstrom
It's a fake. But it is mainly composed of mighty timbers (paper) and wholesome earth (steel wire). The stars on it are fake too.

Moderator Action: 3-day ban for having a fake tree![j/k]

 

[Superevie]

Originally posted by sims2789


i agree, it sounds like not very much. 'cuse he said in 1990 50% had real trees, and now that number is down by 30%. maybe he means 50% + (30% of the other 50%) have fake trees, which would mean that only 35% have trees, which isn't very much. In my neighborhood, everyone who celebrates Christmas has a real tree as far as I can tell.

I'm curious to know why the number of real trees has gone down so dramatically. Perhaps it is because of urbanization? Not that many people can get their hands on real ones maybe, or live in urban areas and don't have time to care for real one. Now this is going to bother me all day.

 

[Amenhotep7]

The Fake Tree People have it too easy. They just take their tree out of the attic and they have their tree.

 

[Gothmog]

Hehe, we now have a majority voting fake trees.

Come out of the closet fake tree owners! Your time is now!

 

[SuperBeaverInc.]

I have a fake tree. It is much easier than getting a real one and dragging it though the house.

 

[Pongui]

Originally posted by Gothmog
@Sean - Do you like it?

I know you have a small child, is the artificial tree easier to secure?

It's a very good likeness. The branches are brownish paper and wire, twisted and barky looking. The needles are tiny (fir needle sized) strips of slightly glossy paper, in shades of green.

One must unbend the whole thing, and muss the leaves, and perhaps press one side flat or crook the top to make it look very real.

I miss the smell.

It's alot less secure than a real tree weighted down by a waterpot. But if the boy topples it, then, no bother.

A tip for those who want a bigger tree but have no room: Suspend the tree upside down from the ceiling, not quite touching the floor. Conserves floorspace. The hanging ornaments look great this way too.

 

[naervod]

Real, cut by my dad and I from a farm in Petaluma, CA.

 

[Pontiuth Pilate]

My Hanukka Bush is REAL, man

 

[Perfection]

Pfft, why waste time with a lousy tree? I don't need no stinkin' tree!