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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Real tree Vs artificial tree? Is it a status symbol?

607 replies

CatsWhiskers1976 · 07/12/2020 11:26

Just putting up our artificial tree and having some thoughts.
At work the other day we got to discussing Christmas trees, and the old real vs artificial debate. It seemed to me that there was a bit of 'snobbery' against those who had artificial trees (maybe that's just where I work!). There were those who said artificial trees were just TERRIBLE for the environment. Given that most people I know have had their tree for many years (our family one was about 40 years old before it was replaced) is this really true? Cutting down live trees is okay for the environment? I have never had a real tree, growing up I didn't know anyone who had a real tree and in our circles it was usually only the slightly more well off people who ever had real trees. Apologies if this offends anyone, it was just my experience as a child growing up in working class Scotland.
Some people at work looked horrified at the thought of having a 'plastic' tree (mind, they were going off to cut the perfect one down on their 'estate').
So what do you think? Real Vs artificial? I spent a fair bit a few years ago to get a really nice realistic looking artificial tree which I hope will last years. At the time we had cats and I was afraid they would get hurt/never leave the real tree alone so I have stuck with artificial.
What does everyone else have? Do you judge people with fake trees?

OP posts:

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leafcar · 07/12/2020 14:30

I grew up with mainly artificial ones bar once or twice when DM went for a real tree. I prefer artificial, they last years and no shedding... my god the shedding is super annoying IMO.

Lots of friends/people I know who are higher earners all seem, for the majority, to have real ones. I don't think YABU to assume it's possibly class related.

Onedropbeat · 07/12/2020 14:30

@Circusoflove

For a certain type of middle class person it has to be a real tree. I live in a bit of an arty middle class area and I don’t know anyone except us that has a plastic tree. A big thing for this group is ‘authenticity’. They like to read actual paper books and listen to record players. The real tree is part of that ethos.

Not arty or middle class here but I’m a firm real book and record player kind of person too

KiposWonderbeasts · 07/12/2020 14:31

@Roundtoedshoes

Not sure about class, but I have definitely noticed that some people with real trees are very against fake ones and can be a bit superior about it! Some fake trees are actually very expensive (although I appreciate of course you can get some very cheap ones).

I’ll admit to that! I don’t like them, they make me sad. I hate artificial flowers too. The scent is at least as important to me as the appearance; it feels like missing the point somehow.

Surely buying a real tree is no different than buying a bouquet of flowers? £30 from the local plantation here.

We get a Norway Spruce every year, freshly cut that day and kept well watered. It looks great for a good 3 to 4 weeks, by which time I’m ready to take the decorations down anyway. The entire house smells of Christmas, I love it.

The decorations are tacky as hell because we have zillions of multicoloured lights and tinsel. Some of the decorations are 30+ years old. But it’s my single favourite thing about Christmas.

DollyD65 · 07/12/2020 14:32

We have a willow wigwam thing, cost a tenner and lives in the roof all year until Christmas. Always had a real tree growing up and in our own home until about 5 years ago. Friend and I then do an annual Christmas forage in the woods for fircones, greenery etc, which all gets turned into decs for mantelpiece, wreath etc. Works for us!

JohannaSpyri · 07/12/2020 14:32

I do have 2 pot grown ones in the garden as well as the artificial main tree. They are just small table top ones though and I only bring them in on Christmas eve. I like that my artificial one is in a weighted wicker pot rather than a stand

StatisticallyChallenged · 07/12/2020 14:33

@riotlady

Artificial for us, my parents have had their tree since I was 4 so it’s quite sentimental. I think it is a bit of a class thing, although on mumsnet I think even the artificial trees tend to be realistic ones from Balsam Hill or John Lewis, rather than a jazzy silver one from Wilkos.

We're somewhere in the middle - DH and I have been together 16 years. Our old cheaper (homebase/argos I think) artificial trees (2 of them) are actually still going and migrated to our business premises.

Our main ones in the house are both Balsam Hill - oldest still great so we were happy to splurge on a second on sale but they're not cheap however they look lovely.

And I forgot about tree 3 - our DD's 3 foot bright pink plastic monstrosity. Although it is from M&S I think!

WiseOwlWan · 07/12/2020 14:33

It is I think, but I don't care so I have used the same artificial tree for about 9 years now. ''Solidly middle class'' but a single parent, working full time, haven't got time to worry about all of the things I'd probably have time for if my image wasn't already shattered, ha ha

formerbabe · 07/12/2020 14:33

Yes my tree cost 60e but it was bought from a fella down the road, its his business he provide employment to 10 other people in the community. Then you bring it back to him and he shreds to go into chippings to use in gardening. So for me am doing my bit to help our community and the environment

Well yes, being able to shop locally and ethically is a preserve of the middle classes. I like the theory but cannot afford it.

Yoanna · 07/12/2020 14:42

Actually, I think the true sign of being middle class (or above) is having more than one tree. When we went to choose our (real) one last year there was a family who were picking out 3 trees - one for the living room, one for the hallway and one for the garden

naughtyelfs · 07/12/2020 14:45

I grew up with both, had real for a few years but then when we had kittens & one would hide in the tree. So moved to artificial, had it for 8 years & given it to an neighbour. Pros & cons of both in my eyes.

thecatsthecats · 07/12/2020 14:46

I've had real and artificial trees, in fact I still have both.

But I hoick my judgy pants high for naff coordinated decorations, especially those replaced frequently. One guy at work brought in his old family decorations for the office (purple and silver - yuck), because "they were going for a new colour scheme this year".

Rank.

I've been collecting my Christmas decorations ever since I left home, and could tell you where I bought every single one.

People with matching decorations have no soul.

JorisBonson · 07/12/2020 14:46

We have a fake one because its easier, cleaner and less likely to be eaten by cats.

naughtyelfs · 07/12/2020 14:46

I want artificial again after 2 years of real but the one I like in John Lewis was £500 so that put me off!

verticality · 07/12/2020 14:47

"I live in a bit of an arty middle class area and I don’t know anyone except us that has a plastic tree. A big thing for this group is ‘authenticity’"

Love this point.

I think it's something about taste, as well, and colour. There's a certain kind of 'natural' decor and traditional/muted colour scheme that goes with the standard issue middle class Christmas tree and is part of a wider interior 'look'. I don't know if it's about real authenticity so much as an idea or appearance of authenticity, if that makes sense.

It's like the antithesis of the four white trees with bright Barbie pink baubles that my local beauty salon has in the window.

MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously · 07/12/2020 14:52

My artificial trees have always lasted for years. I don't see them as being wasteful. I like the look of a real tree but I also like my cats not being poisoned, so artificial it is!
You can get very realistic looking ones now. I do think people are snobby about artificial ones but people are snobby about lots of things so why worry about it?

formerbabe · 07/12/2020 14:52

@verticality

"I live in a bit of an arty middle class area and I don’t know anyone except us that has a plastic tree. A big thing for this group is ‘authenticity’"

Love this point.

It's like the antithesis of the four white trees with bright Barbie pink baubles that my local beauty salon has in the window.

Yes it's true...also why the middle classes prefer wooden toys over plastic ones

Waxonwaxoff0 · 07/12/2020 14:57

Solid working class here. Fake tree and matching decorations for me. I like symmetry, I hate all different random decorations, I think it looks a mess.

Pet8 · 07/12/2020 14:58

I caved in and got a real tree for the dc one year. The majority of their friends had family traditions of driving out to the forest and choosing one. I don't drive, so there was less magic in lumping one back from the local greengrocer on foot!

Admittedly, it did look and smell lovely.

However, having no way of disposing it, it was left in our backyard to die. It was horrible seeing other discarded trees being tossed out into alleyways uncollected.
Which is why ours wasn't put by the bins.

Since moving there aren't any local shops that sell real trees to struggle home with. (btw, our greengrocers in previous area is now an off licence.)
and depressingly, discarded trees are still a post Christmas sight around here.
Our supermarket artificial tree is 5 years old and will hopefully last another 5.

Coquohvan · 07/12/2020 14:58

I don’t get the ‘real trees are messy’ thing.

They stay in one place don’t move. We bring ours in still wrapped, fit it into holder cut off wrapping, when trimmed a quick hoover underneath fit the skirt. Job done. Water most days is all it takes.
When time to come down, Lay a tarp beside tree when all trimmings taken off, OH & me grab two corners each drag outside to be recycled. A quick hoover where it was, job done.
Love the smell of a real tree, buy an IKEA one £29 get a voucher for £20 to spend in store. We usually get cinnamon buns and meatballs with it, costs £9 bargain. Really good trees IMO.

CornwallCorn · 07/12/2020 14:59

I don’t like seeing all those trees cut down just for decorative purposes

pizzaandcats · 07/12/2020 15:02

We always had a real tree when I was young (very much working class) and moved over to an artificial tree as a teenager. My mum still has that same tree now but it's in dire need of replacing.

DH and I have more money that either of our families did growing up and we've opted for an artificial tree. Real tree's are just more of a gamble in my eyes, you always know that your fake tree will be full, bushy and symmetrical!

TheKeatingFive · 07/12/2020 15:05

I don’t like seeing all those trees cut down just for decorative purposes

We always chop ours up for firewood.

nocoolnamesleft · 07/12/2020 15:06

My old artificial tree lasted 16 years. Only replaced it because the connections got rusty after the boiler leaked. Hopefully the new one will last as long.

Squirrelblanket · 07/12/2020 15:19

We had artificial trees when I was growing up, but I've always had a real one in my own home. I don't like the look of artificial trees and wouldn't have one in the same way I wouldn't have artificial flowers or plants. I would rather go without. It's just a personal taste thing.

We get a real tree in a pot. They cost £20 and get replanted after Christmas.

JustAnotherUserinParadise · 07/12/2020 15:21

@Coquohvan what my MIL does (and we also now do) is put a big old blanket under the tree - it catches most of the needles that fall so after the tree comes down you just take it out and shake it - simple! You don't even really see it because all the presents cover it.

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