Home > Holiday Blog > Archives > 2008 > December > 11 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USReal or fake Christmas tree?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Which is better, real or fake? I’m talking about Christmas trees.
On the one hand, real ones have a natural shape that may be slightly irregular but ultimately look as nature intended. No two are exactly alike. They are pleasant to touch. They’re not fresh forever, but they didn’t come from a factory and will ultimately biodegrade once they’ve served their purpose.
Fake ones, on the other hand, don’t always look quite right. They have that too-perfect symmetry, that sometimes hard plastic feel, and don’t ever sway. They may last for years but usually have to be replaced with newer models at some point. And they’re not cheap.
These days I seem to see more fake than real ones, although it’s increasingly harder to tell and it depends on where you live. I’ve visited places where fake ones were everywhere. The fake ones tend to be large, whereas the real ones are more varied in size. The “bigger is always better” trend seems to hold steady, but I think they all look just fine. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Besides, you can dress them up much the same. They all look wonderful with velvet bows or glittering garlands draped over them. They attract a lot of attention and have become cultural icons in their own right. You can compare them to each other but still conclude that what you have is all you need. Regardless of which you prefer, remember that it’s polite to only look and not touch when examining other people’s. And never, ever, brag about your own.
I’m talking about Christmas trees. Real or fake? It doesn’t matter. Without them, Christmas would be a bust.
Services »
Comments
By AJ
December 11, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this
This year for our new house we got a real tree. I alternate every other year. The kids did a great job decorating with all the nerw decoration I brought. It looks lovely.
By No To Live Trees
December 11, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this
Live trees catch fire easily, burn rapidly and destroy lives! Avoid….
By K&K's Mom
December 11, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this
No To Live Trees really you need to see somebody about that….
Live trees are the best. Being from the midwest, there are few things in Atlanta that really make it feel like Christmas, so a real tree with the smell of pine is the closet thing we can get sometimes.
By Blkshepherd
December 11, 2008 3:15 PM | Link to this
FIRE FIRE FIRE! Real trees take lives.
By Live Tree Lover
December 11, 2008 3:21 PM | Link to this
I have always preferred a live tree as they make your home smell so nice. If you take the appropriate safety measures, the chances of your tree catching fire are very slim. I am 33 years old and for 33 Christmases, I’ve had a live tree in my home…sometimes 2.
By DeWitt
December 11, 2008 3:26 PM | Link to this
Christmas isn’t Christmas without a REAL Christmas tree. True, they can catch fire, but so can fake trees. I would rather smell the fresh scents of pine than the plastic odors of a fake tree. And yes, I am from the Midwest.
By By No To Live Trees
December 11, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this
Having observed the devastation that a Christmas tree fire can cause, the risk is not worth the momentary ambience of a live tree. Buy an air freshener instead.
By Becky
December 11, 2008 3:32 PM | Link to this
I used to have a real tree until they got to the point where they cost so much..
By Scrooge
December 11, 2008 4:05 PM | Link to this
My fake tree ends up costing me 10 dollars a year as opposed to 75 dollars a year for a new one. I bought mine after Christmas for 150 dollars and have owned it for 15 years. It really does look good too.
By kristin
December 11, 2008 4:06 PM | Link to this
I hate when a Christmas Tree spontaneously combusts
By JP
December 11, 2008 4:06 PM | Link to this
I either go real or I dont get one at all. Fake trees just seem so….well, fake. no smell, no needles falling on the floor…it takes away the fun and spirit of the holidays. I’m 27 and have never had or known anyone have a tree burn down so I guess I’ll keep it real until something tragic changes my mind.
By Mark
December 11, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this
Fake, just like the holiday…
By RG
December 11, 2008 4:28 PM | Link to this
Personally, it doesn’t matter to me what other people choose to do. I do not like spending all of that money on a real tree that lasts 3 weeks and then you throw it out. For several years, we would buy a plantable tree (all different types) and decorate it until Christmas was past and then we would plant it outside. Now, we have an artificial tree.
By Cmas Tree
December 11, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this
I normally would not even consider a fake tree … but, after dealing with the live tree this year … I am almost ready to hit up Wal-Mart for the fake tree. It took me about 3 hours to ready the stump of the 12 foot live tree this year. Not to mention… my allergies are going crazy since the tree came into the house a few days ago. Plus, I think the needles may have already have broken my new vacuum cleaner. I may actually try a fake tree next year.
By atlhu
December 11, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this
ahhhh fire fire..the roof..the roof..the roof is on fireeee!!…say yea baby to real trees..but yeahhhhhhhhh to fake trees…fake is the best!!!..i like fake things ;)
By Sara
December 11, 2008 5:12 PM | Link to this
Fake trees are like fake boobs. Who are you kidding? We can all spot them.
By Dave
December 11, 2008 6:26 PM | Link to this
We have the house professionally decorated. This happens the weekend after Halloween because the decorators are seriously booked thru the season and if you have fake trees they can come earlier. We have eight trees through out the house and over 250 guests over a three week period. Real trees are just too unpredictable and dry out too fast. Fake trees it is.
By Mikey
December 11, 2008 7:39 PM | Link to this
When the kids were little, we always had real trees. With our vaulted ceilings, we could put in a 15 ft. tree w/ no problem. And we could cut our own down for $35 15 years ago. Now a decent frasier fir that’s 7-8 feet can run almost $100!! Guess what? Those 8 ft artificial trees, that look very real, that sell for $199 at Home Depot now? We bought 1 brand new in the box in January, at Home Depot, for $25 bucks last year! It’s flame retardant and it was mega cheap! Works for us!!!
By Cheesy Poof
December 11, 2008 8:07 PM | Link to this
This is the first year in a long time I am going fake. We are going out of town. Usually we stay here, but since we will be gone, we bought a $50.00 special fake one. Next year it is back to real.
By Butterfly
December 11, 2008 8:49 PM | Link to this
I love the the fake because we leave it up for weeks……
By yagottagogreen
December 12, 2008 6:34 AM | Link to this
If you put live candles on a live tree, yes, it will go up in flames. If you’re frightened, try LED lights as they are cool to the touch. But no matter what, get a REAL tree—the look and smell cannot be duplicated in a fake plastic tree. Plus, in a few years of kids plucking the plastic and pulling it in and out of storage, it will look bad and end up in a landfill.
By christmas tree greg
December 12, 2008 7:03 AM | Link to this
i’m kinda biased. i’m a christmas tree grower. i call fake trees “opec trees”, middle east oil products sent to china, turned into a product with lead base paint that will not be bio degradeable when disposed of. diligent watering of your tree will keep it fresh. i have kept a tree cut at thanksgiving fresh till valentines day. any tree not taken care of will turn into a fire hazard. support your local farmer, go green. you will be supprised at the cost at a choose and cut farm. christmas tree greg.
By Michelle
December 12, 2008 7:44 AM | Link to this
As long as you want & have a tree for Christmas is fine with me..i have a fake white tree with red ornaments and it’s really cute. I hope you all have a great holiday season…and we all should remember
JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON..BE BLESSED
By Allergic
December 12, 2008 7:48 AM | Link to this
I love the look, feel and smell of a real tree. Unfortunately my sinuses do not. ACHOO!
By Rick
December 12, 2008 8:08 AM | Link to this
I quit getting real trees the year I took down the tree and the insulation on the lights had melted. I remembered when I was a kid, we would collect all of the discarded trees and put them into a pile. With one match, in about 10 seconds, there was a blazing inferno. Never again
By TIna
December 12, 2008 8:11 AM | Link to this
I’ve never have a real tree. I didn’t put up a tree until last year for the first time. I waited until after X-mas 06’ and got it for about $50 bucks. Its great. I can take off the trim and put it back in the box until the next use. I hear about the fire thing with real trees but, as someone mentioned LED lights may help there. I just don’t like the smell of pine and who wants to vaccum all the time. Fake all the way for me, tree, garland and wreath. And I don’t have to make arrangements for someone outside of my regular trash company to come and get it or driving to have it recycled.
By aly
December 12, 2008 8:21 AM | Link to this
Fake trees are toxic for the environment and they’re full of LEAD which is why they have warning labels. Seriously, google it. Get an organic tree. It’s more expensive but that’s b/c it’s better for everyone.