A reader question:
Dear Editor,
Now that we are in the Christmas mode I would ask the group real or artificial tree?
I would vote for real tree. I keep the tinsel for spring and spread it around for the birds to make nests.
Sunday, December 10, 2023
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I hope to never encounter an artificial Christmas tree at any home.
ReplyDeleteI agree 100%, Ben.
ReplyDeleteYep, a real tree.
ReplyDeleteKind Regards,
Heinz-Ulrich
We'll be sorry to miss you, Ben. Went artificial a few years ago and never looked back. Too close to a wood burning stove in an old cottage makes a real tree a little too dangerous for my liking.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a lovely and practical solution
DeleteYou are most welcome any time!
DeleteWe used to cut down a real tree through a permit program at U.S. National Forests, but with two dogs and toddlers will rely on a Balsam Hill artificial tree for the near future. Realistic enough and minimally decorated with soft white lights, cranberry garland, and a scattering of ornaments from our travels.
ReplyDeleteReal tree. We always have to cut a few branches off the bottom, I use those to decorate the mantle. When we are done with the tree I then cut off all the branches off the tree and place those in our landscaping around the house. Come spring/summer I use the larger bare branches for natural plant stakes.
ReplyDeleteGrowing trees is good for the environment. Composting them after twelfth night is also good for the environment. Buying an artificial tree just adds to the mounds of plastic that will never go away.
ReplyDeleteI love a real tree. However, buy one good quality tree that will last 30 years as opposed to all of the water and fossil fuels needed for that tree to end up in the Christmas tree lot not far off equal.
DeleteI agree on the water, but the fossil fuel issue sort of balances to a degree as both products are trucked to you. Sure, it only took one trip for your tree and thirty for mine, but the artificial one was made from plastics.
DeleteDear, this one trip for his tree, on the container ship from Far East, made it for your all 30 trips. Plus plastic as you mentioned. I would like to ask him, what is plastic made out of. Fossils perhaps?...
DeleteWe have been using our artificial tree since 1972, with the exception of needing to add a new string of lights every few years, it has served us and the environment well.
DeleteWe rock an old school aluminum tree, including the four color wheel.
ReplyDeleteTo the reader who posed this question: I hope you'll reconsider putting tinsel out for the birds. Unless you are using an eco-friendly tinsel (which is not readily available) you are putting strands of aluminum-coated polyvinyl chloride into the environment. Not only is regular tinsel a tangling hazard for birds and nestlings, it's just trash - and should never be put outside. Whether your tree be real or fake - I suggest not using tinsel at all. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteA tree without tinsel is like a hot dog without mustard. Don’t just toss clumps of tinsel on the tree. With patience, place it very sparingly. We have been using much of the same tinsel for years. There’s nothing like tinsel’s gentle movement. The movement creates constantly changing reflections of the lights on your tree.
DeleteProfessional decorators, in general, approve of tinsel. Tinsel is de rigueur in
DeleteSunshine State preppy enclaves like Palm Beach. Case in point: I was at the PB home of a friend when her quite large tree was delivered direct from Fancy Gap, Virginia. Her decorator was standing by. I asked “what do you think of tinsel?” She had a dreamy look on her face, responding, “I love tinsel.”
Natural tree of course!
ReplyDeleteI would like you, anonymous at 4:08PM, to talk to all the India population, China and few other Asian/African (perhaps S.America too) countries about your fossil fuels concerns...
It seems like Americans and European nations (especially), think, that they can save the world. In the meantime, the others are generating 2-3 times more gases just for cooking. If not traveling, I would suggest watching some documentaries.
We are building factories manufacturing electric cars batteries powered by coal, isn't it ridiculous?...
We have a real tree as usual, but I’m facing a fight to hold the line on that as my wife presses for us to go artificial. The tree cost more than $300 this year, which I agree is steep, but needs must. I find artificial trees to be much like just putting up a picture of a tree. Some of them look nice, but they’re just not the same.
ReplyDelete$300 for a tree is pretty rich. Ours was $130 this year for a local tree from the neighborhood garden shop, and I thought that was pretty high.
DeleteMy goal for next year is to get a state forest permit that cost about $25 and allows up to four trees. I hope to get three families to join us for a trip to the woods in late November '24 to kick off advent by cutting trees, eating lunch outdoors, and giving the dogs a good run.
Our problem is that we live in Manhattan and don’t have a car. To get to where the trees are cheaper, we’d have to rent a car, which would make the cost the same anyway. But maybe next year I can pitch my wife on an experience like the one you suggest, or we can combine a tree-buying trip with a visit to friends in the suburbs.
DeleteI prefer a real tree, sadly, so does the new dog. Real tree is now outside and we have a fake one inside the he ignores. He’s young and I hope he’s out of puppy stage by next year and we’ll be back to real.
ReplyDeleteWe've always decorated with real trees. We moved to Connecticut six years ago and our first Christmas we found a small, independent local farm and we've gone there every year since. We love creating these traditions for our sons to hopefully carry on when they have families.
ReplyDeleteWe have always had an artificial tree. We lived many miles away from family and we would spend the Christmas holidays away from home. Our concern in having a live tree and when dried out the fire hazard it presented while we were away made an artificial tree viable.
ReplyDeleteA real tree for indoors but then after Christmas when the grandchildren come for a week through New Year's we get a small one at the post-Xmas giveaway price, set it up on a stump outside their bedroom windows and let them light it with bulbs. They like looking at it in the dark before bed and in the predawn light when they arise (always too early for the rest of us !) Then they each get to pick out fireworks for New Year's Eve.
ReplyDeleteI think everyone here would agree live trees are preferable, as they look better and feel more Christmasy. However, there are an infinite number of reasons someone might resort to an artificial tree. Everyone has different circumstances. It is de rigeur for those who spend Christmas in PB to use fake trees since they dry out faster in the warmer weather and can be a safety hazard. I’ve also noticed more stories this year than normal about people picking up trees with “hitchhikers.” It seems like growers are cutting corners with prep, but that’s speculation. The thought of waking up to my sitting room being filled with millions of baby spiders is enough for me to stick to artificial for now on. I do miss live trees though.
ReplyDeleteReal, always. Plastic trees are an abomination.
ReplyDeleteThe beauty of a real tree is that it is not perfect...every year we have a different tree...some some beautiful... while others missing branches and always a point of conversation at Christmas dinner....
ReplyDeleteI am deathly allergic to most trees that qualify as "Christmas Trees". My family ignored the situation for the first 10 years of my life and couldn't understand why I was always ill at Christmas and on into my January birthday. Extenuating circumstances exist for artificial trees.
ReplyDeleteReal, and always will be. It comes with so very many wonderful memories, and the hope for more. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteI agree that real trees are preferable, but our house is all glass windows facing west. We get 3-4 hours of sun this time of year and a real tree is toast in 2 days. Fresh greenery is in heavy use elsewhere in the house.
ReplyDeleteOh gosh, that reminds me of the beautiful fresh balsam wreaths I hung on our front door the year after we had new ones installed. Looked so nice and I was impressed with how fragrant they were. Until I realized that due to the doors being south facing, they were literally cooking in between the storm door and inside door. They barely made it to Christmas. Too windy to put them on the storm door, so I just gave up.
DeleteThere's nothing like a real tree for the holidays. I prefer a balsam tree decorated with ornaments that have been in the family for decades and some purchased throughout the years. I have 3 other siblings so we all shared and we trade back and forth. I have relatives who are strictly white lights but I prefer the old fashioned C-7 coloured lights and, gasp----tinsel.
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays!
Prefer real trees but as time has passed, my wife bought a decent fake. I'm Jewish so it's not a big issue to me.
ReplyDeleteOur family had cats when I was growing up, and my family has cats and a dog today, so we've always had artificial trees. Apparently pine sap and pine needles can be harmful to cats. Real trees are so much nicer though.
ReplyDeleteReal is better for the environment and supports local farmers. Cannot understand anyone who gets a fake tree. It makes zero sense.
ReplyDeleteIn the interest of ecumenicalism, and given that there is at least one other Jew on this site besides me (thank you Chris at 12/122 1:40 p.m.), let's have an analogous discussion on the fuel for the Chanukah menorah (more properly referred to as the Chanukiah): oil or wax? I favor oil (usually extra virgin olive oil). My wife lights with was (i.e., candles). Oil can be a bit messy and takes more effort, but seems more authentic. Also, it's easy to use more oil on Friday, when the Chanukiah must be lit prior to Shabbas and stay lit for at least 30 minutes after nightfall (which can be as much as 18 minutes after sunset); some authorities say longer than that is better. And, in case anyone is wondering, electric Chanukiahs are not kosher.
ReplyDeleteI've long wondered if the candles made from whale spermaceti (no longer available) are better than beeswax candles. The question seems to be settled here: https://www.sunsail.com/yacht-charter/south-pacific/australia/sailing-route
DeleteArtificial tree as I'm highly allergic to pine and it's worth it not to spend time in the ER just to have a tree. I buy a candle that smells like a real one. It works.
ReplyDeleteReal or artificial? That's a loaded question these days. I like a real tree but the green side of me thinks its best to leave them in the ground, so we have an artificial. Add to that, the quality of the real trees for sale aren't great over here for some reason. I highly recommend Balsam Hill artificial trees if you care to make the investment. I don't think there is another manufacturer who makes finer quality artificial trees.
ReplyDeleteWe have an artificial Carolina Spruce that is absolutely beautiful. After having nothing but real trees every year, this tree looks better than those decades of the real thing. Now the real question I have is bright LED lights or the classic yellow warm bulbs of incandescent??
ReplyDeleteNEVER artificial...if you live in one of these town like my hometown in CT...there is a farm nearby to get your tree. We made sugar water every year.
ReplyDelete