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?

Well here was mine last year - haven't yet bought for 2020.

Real with ornaments collected over 30 years.
No blue IRL - that is reflective shine of the lights.

This year's model will look more or less the same.

Takes more imagination to think of a theme, how much imagination do you need for mismatched baubles and a bit of tinsel?

Not a lot - the kids do it - otherwise it's a massive faff! I am in awe of people who have perfectly decorated trees.

@Janegrey333, if you object to being told you’re talking bollocks, the solution lies in your hands - don’t do it.

Are you the one who had already said today, to someone else, she could start an argument in an empty room?

Hmmm

"Are you the one who had already said today, to someone else, she could start an argument in an empty room?"

One of my patients did exactly this today.

He started an argument in an empty room.

The demon drink.

And, I believe, rather too much of it...

Or the opposite. Takes more imagination to think of a theme, how much imagination do you need for mismatched baubles and a bit of tinsel?

I was really thinking of those people who ape what

“fabulous Christmas tree experts” declare is the theme for the year.

@Janegrey333

Are you the one who had already said today, to someone else, she could start an argument in an empty room?

Hmmm

...has already...

I've had a potted one for the last 3 years - it stays in its pot and I just wheel it in and out each Christmas on a sack truck. (it's about 7 feet now and must weigh close on 100kg with the large pot as well).

However, it is trying hard to die on me and has lost quite a few needles, especially around the trunk and inner lower branches. It still puts on new growth each year though, I disguise bare patches with tinsel and lametta and it looks fine! Not sure how much longer it will last however, and it would be too big a job to plant out and uproot each year.

We've got two artificial trees - one is in the living room, one on the landing. The one in the living room was bought by DH when he got his first flat. Which makes it about 30 years old. The one on the landing is the first one I bought when I was with my ex. Which would make it 36 years old this year.

The baubles have just been replaced as they break so are a mish mash as fashion in colours change. Oh, and I've still got some of the glass baubles my aunt gave to me when I first got married to my ex. She'd had them for about 30 years so that makes those baubles about 60 years old plus now. A total smash up of colours but they'll go on the tree regardless of the fashion as they remind me of her. The star on the top of one of the trees was made by DS when he was at nursery. It's lopsided but it's tissue wrapped every year to keep it safe.

I think Christmas is a theme. 😂

I doubt if we would have such snobbery at work, not that it has ever been discussed.

Growing up we had a mix of fake and real. I seem to remember our fake tree breaking when I was about 8 and my parents buying real trees until I was around 16 and going back to fake. I seem to remember most people had fake trees in the 80s?

We normally have a real tree but this year we bought a fake for £30 in a sale. Paying £60-70 a year for a tree was just ridiculous. I also hated having a tree dumped in the garden waiting for the tree collection service mid January. I’m now a fake tree convert.

I bought an artificial one 15 odd years ago- I got fed up going to buy a real one with little children
Still looks great - 6 ft tall and doesn’t seem to have lost its ‘foliage’.
I get the distinct feeling my friends in real life judge me when they talk about going to buy their tree, and I say mine is artificial.
I couldn’t care less.
Also have loads of decorations which don’t match and have lovely memories attached.

I have animals and toddlers - no way am I dealing with all those needles in paws/feet/mouths!

You're right though - there's SUCH snobbery about it.

We have an artificial one I paid €19.99 for in Tesco about 8 years ago. For perspective (not bragging before I get shouted down) I could afford pay 1000 times that for a tree but I don't. Our artificial Tesco tree does the job. We've got many sentimental baubles and decorations that we've gathered throughout the years.

I couldn't care less what people think of my tree. It's like a family member at this point

I grew up with an artificial tree and adored it . Got married for the first few years we had artificial and then as the children grew we bought real trees and have done so for the last 26 years . I love both middle class if that means anything

Oh we also use the tree after for fire wood

I grew up with real trees every year. Now I have a cat and two DC under 3 so am very happy with my artificial one and not having to worry about it dropping needles. And anyone that says real ones don't drop needles is lying!

Definitely a real snob factor by the smugs who love to point out they have real tree. We have two artificial trees and I have had them 13 years. Still going strong. Look fabulous and cost me £30 for two in sale from Homebase 🤣👌🏻👌🏻

I grow up in very middle class family and we always had artificial. My mum still does. DH (middle class but poor upbringing) always had real. However, I do know what you mean. I prefer real, DH and DC prefer artificial. Since DC born, we have always had real. I said next year, we can have artificial but it has to be a decent one.

We flip between the two depending on how bothered I am about Christmas that year. Real tree feels more Christmassy, fake tree easier to manage. Solid council estate upbringing, now somehow middle class. Social mobility, innit

We must be the total Hyacinths of this world because we always have a real Christmas tree and the ornaments are a collection of shop-bought (18 years agoish) and done by DD.
After Christmas we chop the tree and burn it in the fireplace.

And for the record, I don't give a shit about how others decorate their real or plastic trees. As long as Christmas isn't a pissing contest or a reason for trauma, insults, hidden grudges being aired out in the open, it's all fine to me.

I don’t think there’s any link between money or class etc and whether a Christmas tree is real or not. I have a real one. I always have a real one. Most of my friends and I are in similar financial situations from similar backgrounds and I would say it’s probably a pretty even split between artificial and real trees. None of us are judging one another for it.

Real tree for me. Working class. Only have tree in the house for about 2 weeks and try too keep it in the pot, in the garden, for next year. Usually make it to June/ July then lose it when we go on holiday. This year it has survived and grown . So I will be seeing just how many years I get out of it.

I have an artificial tree which I've had for about ten years. I can't stand the smell of real one's, it makes me feel so sick.