# Well, the tree is up. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 25, 2005, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-tree-is-up/332639 "2005-11-25T02:01:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SandyHook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dec6dc/32.png) [@SandyHook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SandyHook)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2005, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-tree-is-up/332639/1 "2005-11-25T02:01:26Z")
After the required gorging and football watching we put up our Christmas tree. Tis a thing of gaudy, overdone beauty. There it will sit, dead in the middle of our living room window for easy viewing by the neighbors until after the new year. So whats your estimated time of erection, so to speak. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2005, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-tree-is-up/332639/2 "2005-11-25T02:05:18Z")
I put my tree on the patio last year. It hasn’t died yet. I thought about bringing it in and decorating it, only I don’t really see the point. ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2005, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-tree-is-up/332639/3 "2005-11-25T02:08:17Z")
> [@SandyHook](#): > > After the required gorging and football watching we put up our Christmas tree. Tis a thing of gaudy, overdone beauty. There it will sit, dead in the middle of our living room window for easy viewing by the neighbors until after the new year. > > So whats your estimated time of erection, so to speak. If it lasts longer than 4 hours, you should really contact your doctor. ---
**Author:** ![SandyHook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dec6dc/32.png) [@SandyHook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SandyHook)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2005, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-tree-is-up/332639/4 "2005-11-25T02:37:54Z")
> [@](#): > > If it lasts longer than 4 hours, you should really contact your doctor. That’s only if it is Viagra (All Hollowed Be Its Name) induced. If it is the common, generic home grown model then you got yourself a bragger. But let’s keep ourselves on topic here. You should see the tree. Its little plastic needles groan under the weight of tinsel, lights, and hangy thingies. I think you can read off the light it emits. ---
**Author:** ![LiQUiDBuD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@LiQUiDBuD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiQUiDBuD)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2005, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-tree-is-up/332639/5 "2005-11-25T03:29:54Z")
Ahhh, tis the time of the year when the overdecorated, underwatered, deciduous “evergreen” fire hazards are installed in homes the world over. Seems that vacuum cleaners and fire extinguishers should be included with every Christmas Tree purchase. :o I just erect a stocking above the fireplace, because coal stains the carpet under the tree :smack: ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2005, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-tree-is-up/332639/6 "2005-11-25T06:39:14Z")
In recent years we’ve been getting a fresh-cut tree from a nearby Christmas tree farm about 2 weeks before Christmas. It smells wonderful, and since it’s not cut until we pick it out, it lasts and lasts at least til New Years. IMHO this is still too early for a Christmas tree, but I hope you enjoy yours. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2005, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-tree-is-up/332639/7 "2005-11-25T07:45:57Z")
Jayzus, already? In my family, the tree doesn’t go up until the cookies are made, and they don’t get made until the 3rd Sunday in Advent or thereabouts. Until then the presents can just sit on the piano and ripen like gifts for all the other holidays. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2005, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-tree-is-up/332639/8 "2005-11-25T08:07:12Z")
Tomorrow we start. Two large Christmas trees, the miniature Christmas village, outdoor lighting, garlands on the staircases, the wreaths, the scattered decorations throughout the house, moving of furniture and plants… Should be finished by Sunday night if we are lucky. Seriously. ---
**Author:** ![SandyHook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dec6dc/32.png) [@SandyHook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SandyHook)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2005, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-tree-is-up/332639/9 "2005-11-25T17:48:58Z")
> [@](#): > > Ahhh, tis the time of the year when the overdecorated, underwatered, deciduous “evergreen” fire hazards are installed in homes the world over. Seems that vacuum cleaners and fire extinguishers should be included with every Christmas Tree purchase Many years ago we decided that still finding pine needles in the carpet in June was a sure sign that we needed a fake tree (or needed to run the sweeper more often). So we did the deed right after Christmas. Got a great deal on a left over, $40-50ish for a $200 tree, or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2005, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-tree-is-up/332639/10 "2005-11-25T18:21:27Z")
My first wife insisted on plastic trees. I hated the foul, sterile, dust-covered things. We only kill live trees now and revel in the messy imperfection they are. ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2005, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-tree-is-up/332639/11 "2005-11-25T18:28:57Z")
Tree will be purchased ~16th, lights go on on the 17th, rest of the decorations go on during the traditional tree-trimming party on Sunday the 18th, (insert 3-week interlude as cats repeatedly remove decorations and humans replace them), comes down after Twelth Night on the 7th/8th, then is picked up by the city for recycling on the 11th. The tree is a very structured part of the holiday season, unlike the rest of it, which is as structured as the sinking of the Titanic. On the other hand, the indoor lights around the front windows, the outdoor lights, and the front door/porch wreaths are all up, and we have snow 🙂☹ (looks purty, but I have to shovel it). ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2005, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-tree-is-up/332639/12 "2005-11-25T18:33:41Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > We only kill live trees now… Why don’t more people buy living trees? Though I’m not putting it in the house, my tree from last year is doing quite well. When I lived in L.A. I bought live trees and then gave them away after the holidays to people who had yards. Is it a size thing? ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2005, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-tree-is-up/332639/13 "2005-11-25T18:51:53Z")
We’re using a fake tree too. I’m not nuts about it, but I like a big tree, and it’s hard to keep them well-watered. It’ll go up before my son goes back to Seattle on the 1st, because I need his help. I picked up two boxes of those lighted ornaments from Hallmark. Fifty bucks for 6 ornaments! Good thing I had coupons. We’ll put some lighted stuff on the inside of the windows on thefront porch, Santas and geegaws elsewhere inside, and that’ll be that. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2005, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-tree-is-up/332639/14 "2005-11-25T19:15:56Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > Why don’t more people buy living trees? Though I’m not putting it in the house, my tree from last year is doing quite well. When I lived in L.A. I bought live trees and then gave them away after the holidays to people who had yards. > > Is it a size thing? Not a bad idea. A blue spruce would be terrific and could live outside most of the year. After a few years, it could be transplanted (they grow incredibly fast).