# Real or Fake: Christmas trees that is! What do you prefer and why? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 2, 2004, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-or-fake-christmas-trees-that-is-what-do-you-prefer-and-why/277738 "2004-12-02T18:54:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-or-fake-christmas-trees-that-is-what-do-you-prefer-and-why/277738/1 "2004-12-02T18:54:49Z")
I’m a real tree fan myself. I love the smell it brings to the house, and I absolutely love playing Paul Bunyon every year by venturing out and chopping it down on our own! I don’t mind watering it for the month and I feel it brings a naturalness to Christmas, and I really like that. I’m a traditional kind of guy when it comes to starting our own traditions and sticking with a few of old…why we even place a pickle in the tree as the last ornament. 🙂 So do you prefer real Christmas trees or fake Christmas trees? Tis the season to discuss right? What say you? ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-or-fake-christmas-trees-that-is-what-do-you-prefer-and-why/277738/2 "2004-12-02T18:58:50Z")
I have never seen a fake tree that doesn’t look tacky. I prefer real trees. My dad always gets a real tree. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-or-fake-christmas-trees-that-is-what-do-you-prefer-and-why/277738/3 "2004-12-02T19:00:53Z")
We had a fake tree for most of my childhood–after my parents discovered while my brother seemed to come down with a terrible cold _every_ Christmas. He even had a bad reaction to some “Pine Scent” my mom tried to use the first year to make the tree seem more authentic. We got used to it, and the trees got more realistic. The upside is that it looks as good on Jan 6 as it did on Dec 6. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-or-fake-christmas-trees-that-is-what-do-you-prefer-and-why/277738/4 "2004-12-02T19:02:17Z")
Real. I suppose we could chop our own - there has to be at least ONE decent looking pine on our property that would work - but for ease we’ll probably buy one since they’re cheap enough up here in the frozen North. I’d never give up the piney smell or the feel of a real tree. I want to get one soon, but I don’t want it to die before Christmas. How long before Christmas can I get a tree? Which types last the longest? Anyone know? ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-or-fake-christmas-trees-that-is-what-do-you-prefer-and-why/277738/5 "2004-12-02T19:03:48Z")
Nothing but real for us, thanks. Fake trees just aren’t…right. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-or-fake-christmas-trees-that-is-what-do-you-prefer-and-why/277738/6 "2004-12-02T19:06:35Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > Real. I suppose we could chop our own - there has to be at least ONE decent looking pine on our property that would work - but for ease we’ll probably buy one since they’re cheap enough up here in the frozen North. I’d never give up the piney smell or the feel of a real tree. > > I want to get one soon, but I don’t want it to die before Christmas. How long before Christmas can I get a tree? Which types last the longest? Anyone know? You can get one now if you keep it nice and hydrated. Douglas firs and fraser firs tend to last the longest and lose the least amount of needles in my opinion. Plus you can touch the tree without getting pricked. I’m so excited to go with my wife this weekend to get ours! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-or-fake-christmas-trees-that-is-what-do-you-prefer-and-why/277738/7 "2004-12-02T19:27:14Z")
Real, because they’re…trees. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-or-fake-christmas-trees-that-is-what-do-you-prefer-and-why/277738/8 "2004-12-02T19:29:03Z")
Used to have real ones as a kid growing up, but now I have an artificial. Looks fine, but to be honest, we have close to 2500 mini-lights and about 500 red and 200 silver ornaments so there really isn’t all that much “tree” to see when it is done. Plus, when you put the tree up the day after Thanksgiving, and keep it up til Jan 5th or so, well, it just makes sense. Living in Germany, I always had a real tree, and over there they put real, burning candles on the tree. My German friends always got a good laugh at me sitting in the corner with my bucket of water as I gazed upon the burning candles on the tree. But it was a truly beautiful sight to see. Most people in Germany, however, put their tree up on Christmas Eve and take it down a few days later. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-or-fake-christmas-trees-that-is-what-do-you-prefer-and-why/277738/9 "2004-12-02T19:32:14Z")
Fake! Makes me think back to our yearly family ritual when I was young, hauling up all of the pieces of the tree from the basement and assembling them ---
**Author:** ![burundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burundi)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-or-fake-christmas-trees-that-is-what-do-you-prefer-and-why/277738/10 "2004-12-02T19:35:47Z")
Growing up we always had a fake tree. I always wanted a real tree, but never got one until the first Christmas with my husband. Sure, they’re messier, but I love the look and smell of a real tree. ---
**Author:** ![carimwc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ac8455/32.png) [@carimwc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carimwc)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-or-fake-christmas-trees-that-is-what-do-you-prefer-and-why/277738/11 "2004-12-02T19:41:44Z")
Fake. I’m allergic to the real ones. I used to get a sinus infection every Christmas until my family realized that I might be allergic. I got tested and voilà, I was. I’d like a real tree but I’d rather not feel like crap every Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-or-fake-christmas-trees-that-is-what-do-you-prefer-and-why/277738/12 "2004-12-02T19:45:06Z")
Fake. If it were only me, it would be none. It is not only me. Therefore, I want easy, neat and safe. Yes, I know watering a tree helps keep it fire retardant, but the least Christmas-y person would be the only one to care for the tree. I can’t be bothered, and if the others won’t be bothered, I won’t risk it. [Yes, we had real for a couple of years - guess who was watering and sweeping up pine needles]. ---
**Author:** ![Abbie\_Carmichael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@Abbie\_Carmichael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abbie_Carmichael)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-or-fake-christmas-trees-that-is-what-do-you-prefer-and-why/277738/13 "2004-12-02T19:48:21Z")
I like the look and smell of real trees, but ultimately I like my trees flame retardant so we go with fake. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-or-fake-christmas-trees-that-is-what-do-you-prefer-and-why/277738/14 "2004-12-02T19:55:54Z")
We always had a real tree growing up, and I loved it. But, I found a good fake one a few years back and it’s so much easier to do by myself. Maybe when I’m married we’ll get real trees since I’ll have a big man around to help. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-or-fake-christmas-trees-that-is-what-do-you-prefer-and-why/277738/15 "2004-12-02T20:00:38Z")
Hijack, but seems slightly relevant to this thread. In my town they have a large real tree which on it’s own is quite impressive… … but it’s surrounded by conspicuos metal fences and dirty traffic cones designed to stop people climbing it. WTBF! Not only does this eyesore completely eliminate the purpose of the tree (for decoration) but what kind of public needs detering from climbing a friggin prickly pine tree! And they do this every year. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-or-fake-christmas-trees-that-is-what-do-you-prefer-and-why/277738/16 "2004-12-02T20:27:33Z")
My SO is allergic to pine trees so that rules out real ones. We wouldn’t be able to legally have a real tree now anyway due to a change in the fire code last year. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-or-fake-christmas-trees-that-is-what-do-you-prefer-and-why/277738/17 "2004-12-02T21:02:01Z")
> [@Phlosphr](#): > > I feel it brings a naturalness to Christmas, and I really like that. What could be more natural that a tree inside a house? What’s that, you say? A tree inside the house decorated with shiney plastic crap? I grew up with real christmas trees, but one day it just hit me that a tree looks best outside, unadorned. I know it’s tradition and all, but it makes no sense to me, and any christmas tree just seems bizarre to me now. No tress at all for this grinch. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-or-fake-christmas-trees-that-is-what-do-you-prefer-and-why/277738/18 "2004-12-02T21:09:31Z")
We do real. There’s a great Christmas tree farm about a half an hour from here, where for about $25.00 you can choose any tree you want and chop it down. They provide the saw, and then shake all the loose needles off with a handy little gadget they have, slide the whole thing into a mesh tube, voila! Easy to transport home. We spend the rest of the evening decorating it. It’s become a field trip the whole family looks forward to each year. We don’t go until about a week, week and a half prior to Christmas, though. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-or-fake-christmas-trees-that-is-what-do-you-prefer-and-why/277738/19 "2004-12-02T21:10:42Z")
My dad planted a lot of pine trees on the folks’ back acre, and every year we go over to “Grandpa’s Christmas Tree Farm” and cut one down. Free and fun! Also, we leave some branches and the tree grows back. I like real trees, even though the fake ones look pretty good now, don’t shed all over the place, and are less trouble. I’m just that kind of person. I also like to put pine boughs and holly and ivy all over the house–that’s most of my Christmas decorating, and otherwise I only have a few things to put up. The tree and greenery go up about 10 days before Christmas, and I’m more than ready to get rid of it all before New Year’s comes. I don’t know how you day-after-Thanksgiving people can stand it! I love my Christmas trees, but only for a very limited time. ---
**Author:** ![Theodore\_Striker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Theodore\_Striker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theodore_Striker)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-or-fake-christmas-trees-that-is-what-do-you-prefer-and-why/277738/20 "2004-12-02T21:20:21Z")
I grew up with real trees, mainly frasier firs because they were the easiest to deal with. However, daughter Striker is allergic, and Mrs. Striker doesn’t like the needles clorring the vacuum, so I’m stuck with an evil imposter. As a matter of fact, we just plunked down 140$ on a new prelit tree this week, which looks good, but it’s just not the same! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-or-fake-christmas-trees-that-is-what-do-you-prefer-and-why/277738.md?page=2)