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

[CatsWhiskers1976]

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?

According to this article if you use an artificial tree for more than ten years it works out better. www.google.com/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/life-style/christmas/christmas-tree-real-living-artificial-plastic-environment-carbon-footprint-a9235551.html%3famp

So, if you already have an artificial tree with a few years use you're on the way to the moral high ground If you haven't already got an artificial tree then root balled real trees are best, but I'd suggest buying a second hand artificial tree would always be better, as it's already in existence. Charity shops near us have lots at this time of year.

Our artificial tree is on 20 years of use and looks the same as when it was new. I find real trees indoors make me feel a little sad, plus all the extra vacuuming and cleaning they create can't be good for the environment either

£150 for a fake tree? I think we paid about £65 for the one we have now. Before that we had one that had cost £25. Both came from local garden centres. We once had a real one.

We always had the same tree, dug up from the garden and potted, re-planted afterwards. When my parents were older and artificial trees appeared in the shops they got one. The original tree was still in the garden when they had died and I sold the house.

Bringing a real tree indoors only works if you know how to keep it from dropping needles, which is pretty much impossible if you want a warm home.

I don't see anything special about buying a tree that has been chopped off and has no roots, only to be dumped a couple of weeks later, regardless of whether it is recycled or not. Waste of money, years ahead of finding pine needles, of course, all the people that buy them will have a cleaner so maybe that is where the snobbery comes in (on MN, not real life).

I always buy a real one because the smell is an intrinsic part of Xmas to me. I own a tiny pre-decorated imitation one that goes on a window sill, and I have an arty silver wire one that hangs on ds's bedroom wall.

It never occurred to me there was a class war over Xmas trees

I'm not sure what class I fit into (not British, so don't really get where the lines are drawn), but my parents were well off, but we're definitely not. Anyway, it's def more affordable for us to buy a real tree as a one off, for £20, than to drop £150+ on a fake. Even though over the years we'd spend more when added up. We just don't have the money for a fake

You don’t actually have to spend that much on an artificial tree though. Got one from Tesco last year for around £30 I think, It will see us out.

And tbh the fact you use the word fake suggests you do see some status value in a real one.

Interesting...
We were planning to buy an artificial tree this year, but on going to B&Q decided that they all looked a bit crap and sad! (they were out of stock of the "premium" ones and just had the basic models).
So got a real one in the end!
We had one in a pot but after just 3 years it's gone very sad and virtually bald!

I prefer live trees, but the dead tree in the New Year was always a sad sight. So for the last few years we have rented a pot-grown tree from the nearby farm shop. We got the same one each year until it got to big, and then traded down to a slightly smaller one.

Having a live, potted tree means it doesn't drop, and we don't get the guilt of watching it slowly die!

I can't say I really study anyone's Christmas trees. We had a family Facetime with my sister yesterday and her tree was in the background, no idea whether it was real or not but looked very nice.

At the moment as I am in Tier2 I won't be seeing anybody's tree in real life to judge any time soon sadly.

We just bought our first ever tree; an artificial one. We have 2 cats and 2 babies, so felt like artificial would be easier. We also don't have a car so would struggle to transport a real one. We have plenty of loft space to store it for the future so it should be economical and environmentally friendly in the long run. It looks great and I can't see any downsides tbh.

We also have artificial flowers outside our front door, so we clearly don't care much about snobbery from the neighbours haha!

I can’t get my head round killing a perfectly happy tree to look after it for a fortnight before ditching.

I can relate to this too!

Well, my £15 artificial tree from Asda went up last night for its 3rd year.

Artificial trees here - toddler, 4 cats, real seems like an accident waiting to happen. We have 2, oldest one is 4 years and still perfect so many years left. Second was only bought this year as we moved somewhere with space for .

And I'm a classless heathen with a rainbow themed tree and colour changing lights on one of them

Going to choose a real tree is part of the build up to Christmas IMO. I love the ritual of hunting out the best one, discovering it is a foot too tall (again), hacking a bit of the bottom, watching DH curse trying to get it to fit in the stand, choosing the best side, and finally bringing it inside and having the sitting room smell like a pine forest for weeks. Can't beat it! I've nothing against artificial trees but they in no way comparable to a real tree, I think.

We have a real tree but we're working class. Growing up we always had a real tree but now I'm the only one out of my friends and family who have a real tree.
Think next year when our son will be mobile we might have to get an artificial tree but I don't want to.
Don't see either of them as snobby just what you prefer. My main reason for getting a real tree is because they smell so nice (and because my husband clears up the pine needles daily and gets rid of the tree after New Year so I don't have to do anything extra).

I dunno if it’s a class or status symbol. I don’t personally see the point in an artificial tree because it sort of defeats the traditional aspect of the ritual of bringing an evergreen indoors. Plus I like the smell of a real tree which plastic doesn’t have. Haven’t ever heard anyone sneer at either artificial or real though, I know plenty of people who have either and if artificial it’s usually about practicality.

I bought a new artificial tree for this year in last year's sales. My previous one was about 15 years old and looking a bit sad, but I managed to find someone who collected it for someone else to use so it lives on! I can't be bothered with the faff of a real tree. I'd neglect it and it'd be dead by xmas day. I have also invested in a tree skirt for this year and it looks a lot nicer - wish I'd done it years ago!

Oh sorry class is middle! I know lots of people who are middle class who prefer a real tree though!

We get a real tree every year. As a pp said, the choosing is part of our Christmas rituals. I don't see it as a cheaper option even for one year necessarily.
We buy a low- drop variety and you could buy an artificial tree that would last at least a couple of years for the same price.
I don't even think it's a class thing, more just based on what you remember from your own childhood. We always had a Norway spruce when I was a child. It went up About a week before Christmas in a stand with no way to water it, and by Boxing Day if anyone sneezed it would release a pattering shower of needles. The house smelled amazing!

years ahead of finding pine needles

I am not sure what other people actually do with their trees, but ours tend to stick to one place, is watered regularly in a well heated house, there's no such thing as pine needles everywhere for years

I'm going with middle class but poor. I have a real tree but it's a potted up one from the garden. It needed moved anyway. Smells lovely and we baked oranges as baubles so it's all citrussy too.

I’m from a mc background, DP from a wc background. We always had a real tree growing up, DP always had fake. When we moved in, we had an artificial one to start - inherited from DP’s mum. This year is our first real tree and he’s a convert. I just think they’re prettier, they smell good. We loved taking ds to choose the tree.

I’m not sure if it’s about class or houseroom. Dps mum’s house is tiny - real trees are quite full and take up a lot more space. So an artificial tree makes more sense. Good artificial trees are really expensive, we saw one we liked for £450! Our real tree is 7ft and cost £43 from a local farm. It’s easier for us to afford - I know over time it makes more financial sense but this way is more affordable for us to have a tree we really love.

Grew up working class and always had an artificial tree. Now more middle class and still have an artificial tree. Frankly, I don't want a real tree sat in my living room dropping needles everywhere.

Christmas tree + decorations need to be:

£500+
Genuine tree (2, actually, because the first is bought so early it's lost its needles by the 20th)
Placed in the house so everyone walking past can see it.
New decorations every year - re-using is so passe.
Colour-themed (you shall tell your relatives what colour wrapping paper they will use for your gifts).
Insta-ready.

I don't think it's a class thing, just personal preference. I like real xmas trees (and real grass in my garden), my sister prefers artificial trees (and artificial grass in the garden ).

Me middle class, dh WC. Since we've been together we've had an artificial tree because of his hatred of the needles so less about the class, more about the vacuuming (which he does).

We have lived together for 20 years and had 2 trees in that time so fairly environmentally friendly I hope. Current tree is 8 and no plans to change.

Also dcs ALWAYS decorate. When they were 3 we bought 2 sets of baubles in their favourite colours and set them at it. We've accumulated more, none of which match. Our tree looks like a vomit of bad taste and I love it.

'real' trees - www.sciencefriday.com/educational-resources/christmas-tree-combustion/.