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?

Artificial ones are so much easier. We've done the real tree thing a few times and they are lovely but so much work. Just tell the snobby people at work that you always have a real tree

Always had a real tree growing up, since growing up and having kids had the same artificial tree, but this year we have a real one. We have a few ornaments from when me and DH first moved in together the rest are all ones either made by or bought for our DC.

how funny. Genuine vintage artificial trees are much sought after and sell for a bomb. When I grew up, artifiical trees were expensive and "posh" and real trees were what working class folk like us had, bought from the local market. Real trees did used to last longer in house when i was a child as there was no central heating and rooms were much colder. I too have an artificial tree because of my dog's paws and also my bare feet.

Really trees are super cheap. Ikea do a deal, pay 29.00 and get a voucher to spend back for 20.00...only costs 9.00 then. Most real trees I've ever seen are under 20.00. So I don't know why folk would think they are better 😂. We are very financially comfortable... And never choose a real tree. Don't like to keep watering the base, the pines fall off, you need to buy the tree mid Dec otherwise it looks awful if bought too early... Yep, they are better for the environment.... But it's the convenience of a fake tree I like.

Most real trees I've ever seen are under 20.00. So I don't know why folk would think they are better

Because it's actually a tree. Not a fake plastic thing. Also, where on earth do decent sized real Christmas trees cost under £20? Not round here, and I don't live in an expensive area.

When I grew up, artifiical trees were expensive and "posh" and real trees were what working class folk like us had, bought from the local market.

When was that? I'm 50 and when I was a child most of the mc and posher families we knew had real trees.

you need to buy the tree mid Dec otherwise it looks awful if bought too early

Why would you want to buy it too early? Surely mid-December is plenty early enough?

Artificial, been using it for 15 years and hope to use it for the next 15. Works for us :)

When I lived in the U.K. I always had a real tree, but it's not possible where I live in Spain. The artificial tree doesn't smell as nice, but I like how you can move the branches to where you need them to be and no stuff to clean up.

Definitely a snob factor around people who would never have a fake tree. We have an ancient fake tree and I don't give a hoot. We have a modern house, on the warm side - one year we had had 2 real Christmas trees by mid December as they turned into brown sticks with the heat! Though I must say if I had a cottage/older house I probably would do real. One thing I really dislike this year is the Christmas tree farm Thing has become a Thing, it's very irritating that everything has to be Done or perfect nowadays (I sound so old!).

We put up our artificial tree, chuck Christmas at it and sit in a fog of Baileys, no social media required, bliss.

I would love a real tree but they're too expensive, they drop needles which stick in your feet (despite what people will tell you there's no such thing as a non shedding tree) the smell is too strong and the DH is dead against it.

I've had my artificial tree for 10 years and I'm looking to replace it next year as it's looking a bit sparse.

I have a beautiful fake tree. We got it in a sale when we were skint one Xmas eve years ago. Looks as good as the day we bought it. It’s a shit to put together and it’s the name of my husband’s life to do. I suggested a real tree this year (potted so we could replant in our garden).... for all he bitches about the fake one, he was horrified 🤷‍♀️ I don’t know about the class thing. I’m solid working class, he’s solid middle class (upbringing wise) and growing up we’ve both had a mix of both.

*bane not name 🤦🏼‍♀️

I’m from a working class area in Scotland too, I have family and friends in Glasgow, Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, Fife & I can say I have ever seen a real tree in anyone’s home. That being said we have a lovely artificial snowy tree that probably cost a lot more money than the real ones! I think it probably used to be a class thing but more so personal choice now.

Oops, never seen

We always have a real tree because I like the tradition of going to choose it with the children and I like the smell. That said, there are artificial trees that are so realistic you can hardly tell the difference and I quite like the more modern ones too. Where I live people often have a real one in one room and an artificial one in another part of the house. Unfortunately we only have room for one!

@lazylinguist
"When I grew up, artifiical trees were expensive and "posh" and real trees were what working class folk like us had, bought from the local market.

When was that? I'm 50 and when I was a child most of the mc and posher families we knew had real trees."

lol I am old enough to be your mum!

Middle class upbringing, we put up a real tree some years and our old fake tree other years. I preferred the fake tree because I didn't have to clear up the dropped needles. Now much older, and still middle class, I still prefer an old fake tree because of the mess associated with real trees and I don't like all those real trees being cut down only to be disposed of a few weeks later. The more insta friendly perfectly coordinated trees I see online the more delight I take in my aged lopsided fake one with the clashy mismatched ornaments I've collected, made and inherited over the last 4 decades.

Always had a real tree growing up and always have had a real tree since I had children (15 years) inbetween had no trees as Xmas is for kids right?!
I totally judge plastic tree people, it’s NOT the same thing. Why even bother? They are so ugly and plastic

My artificial tree cost £5 from a charity shop years ago, and it looked fine then and still does now. I expect it'll still be going strong in a decade's time - it's not like it gets a lot of wear and tear.

We had real trees growing up, but it seems like a lot of expense, faff and waste every year to me now.

Grew up on a council estate without much but had a real tree for years. Parents eventually bought a fake but it wasn't the same not getting poked by a random tree needle in the summer. As an adult I've ALWAYS had a real tree, it's part of Christmas for all of us.

That sounds like tacky overkill. How ghastly.

What a jealous, nasty comment. How bitter you sound. Only on this forum could people get so obsessed over so called 'symbols' of class.

Used to be..both types cost the same now. Your work colleagues seem strange

Not from the UK so not sure what class I am. Product of university educated professional parents and am the same. Probably middle class? Always a real tree. We always go top of the range 8 ft Nordmann fir but I draw the line at having a tree designer in to decorate it, unlike plenty of my friends with more money than sense.

I don't judge; for me it's a sensory thing as I love the smell of real trees and it's not a proper Christmas for me without walking into the tree room and smelling it. Sadly the best smelling trees are the worse for dropping needles! So I sacrifice a bit of smell for less carpet carnage.

I completely agree, however, with not liking 'themed' trees. It's the worse kind of plastic excess! We buy a new decoration each year - paper, wood, metal or ceramic - and the tree's character grows over the years.

Someone was selling a themed tree on FB recently - they said it had cost £700 new!

@Lily193

That sounds like tacky overkill. How ghastly.

What a jealous, nasty comment. How bitter you sound. Only on this forum could people get so obsessed over so called 'symbols' of class.

I agree - nasty comments are never classy.