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?

[BuggerationFlavouredCrisps]

I’m 55 and never had a real tree as I prefer lots of trees, glittery sparkles and strings of lights in virtually every room.
Never decorated with a theme, unlike my sister who always does a theme with a real tree and minimalism, compared to me.

This obsession with ‘class’ and ‘taste’ seems to be a peculiar British idiocy. No-one else really cares. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Eminybob]

We always had artificial when I was growing up, and dh and I had artificial when we first moved in together.
Since having dc, we now get a real one every year and I much prefer it.
Going to pick one out as a family marks the beginning of the festive period for us and it has become part of our family tradition.
Also, I pay to have it collected in January by volunteers from a local hospice, and the contribution goes directly to the charity. So I feel that I’m doing my bit with that too.

[Calmandmeasured1]

I've always only had artificial and don't even think about what others have or why. It just hasn't occurred to me and it certainly doesn't make me think 'working class' if you have artificial trees. I think you just buy the type you grew up with it the type you just happen to see and like.

Some of the artificial trees from Balsam Hill are pretty expensive (£500+).

[Natsku]

We always had a real tree growing up, more of a cultural thing for us I think as my mum would have always had a real tree growing up in rural Lapland so carried that on with us, and of course growing up with a real tree makes me prefer them because the smell brings back childhood christmas memories (especially loved going to a farm to pick one). But I had a fake one for a few years as an adult, when I lived in flats and didn't fancy trying to get a real tree up to the top floor but gave it to a charity shop when we moved into a house and have real trees again now.

[52andblue]

@athousandstrawberrylollys

YES! to the Hans Christian Anderson tale of: The Little Fir Tree.

Growing up (barely even working class tbh!) it was always a real tree as artificial ones were much too expensive.

I now have a good quality artificial tree. Bought for £50 in the sales. Had for 10 years, expect it to last another 20. A mix of glass decs from childhood / charity shops and homemade tat by kids. Happy :)

[damnthatanxiety]

Dated idea that real trees are better class. Now it is considered faux posh to have a real tree and environmentally conscious to have artificial. It's not just the cutting down, it's the environmental impact of farming, felling and transporting real trees that is the problem.

[Natsku]

I like the idea of a living tree though, wonder if I can find one this year

[LadyHedgehog]

To be honest, as long as you keep your fake one a long time I think they are much of a muchness in terms of environmental impact by the time you factor in transport/disposal etc.

[SimonJT]

Don’t really consider myself part of any class, but I’m from a low caste.

I don’t celebrate christmas, my partner does and he sorted our tree, its a real one in a pot, its collected in January and you can then choose to rent the same one the following year, or rent a different one. Fake christmas trees are unusual where he is from. We also have candles on it, we did light them for some photos on Saturday, but apart from that I’ve banned him from lighting them.

[Fandantastic]

@Puzzledandpissedoff that’s the one we have I think and I bloody love it!

[HebeJeeby]

Middle class here, we always had a real tree growing up but I have an artificial one now as I think it’s Better for the environment (we’ve had it well over 10 years) and real trees are soooo expensive, drop needles everywhere and are a pain to get rid of. Plus we have tinsel too. I couldn’t care less what people think about my tree and tinsel choice, my daughter likes tinsel and what she thinks matters to me more than some random person who thinks they have the right to judge others. Each to their own.

[SimonJT]

Also, our dog seems to think the tree is his personal urinal, so the tree is now penned off.

[Whosaysyoucanthaveitall]

Definitely is a snobbery thing, although the last few years the snobby set are moving towards extremely expensive fake trees. Especially this year as people are putting trees up early.
Themed trees/coloured lights - doesn’t matter if you have real tree or fake snobs will turn up their noses.

[pussycatinboots]

I think it depends where you live.
My dads side were all from a town, they all had artificial trees.
My mums side were all from the country, they all had real trees.
Income-wise all much the same, all working class.
My uncle brought one home, way too tall, once he may have been to the pub and got a bit pissed and chopped the top 2 feet off to fit it in their living room.😂

[Judystilldreamsofhorses]

We usually have a real one, but last year's was a disaster and barely made it to Boxing Day. This year I got a lovely artificial one from M&S - it honestly looks great. However, it has already been pulled down by the cat, who never bothered with the real ones, so...

A few years ago I got one of the "tiny trees" from Bloom and Wild to have on the Christmas table, then planted it in the garden afterwards. It's absolutely thriving out there.

[randomsabreuse]

This year we went "real" because 2 yo will shred it so given whatever tree we have will be 1 year only I'd prefer it not to be plastic! Pre kids we had an artificial tree, might buy another one when the kids, especially 2 year old, are less likely to destroy it

[UntamedWisteria]

Always have a real tree.

Yes, it's a class thing.

And artificial trees need to be used for at least 10 years before their carbon emissions offer a saving on real trees.

I bought a living tree last year, and it's still doing well.

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

Sounds good, @Fandantastic

I really have to ask though - does it look as good as that "in the flesh"? Sometimes sellers can be pretty creative with the camera work, but I keep looking from the photo to my real tree and can hardly tell the difference

[Strokethefurrywall]

Is Christmas tree snobbery really a thing? Fucking hell.
I don't place myself in a class because I don't live in the UK and nobody gives a shit about that here, but I can't be arsed with a live tree.

Had one for a couple of years but I didn't enjoy having to string lights, or sweep up pine needles combined with dog fur.
Saddest for me was dragging the poor dead fucker out of the house to the chipper in New Year's Day. Seemed like such a sad waste.

Back to a 9ft fake tree now, on its 5th year I think. Full of tinsel and crap the kids decorate it with!

[mycatlovesmenotyou]

I don't think it's a class thing, it's a "people thing" as in each person is different and has what suits them best. It's pure snobbery if you judge somebody for having something different to you.

I grew up on a farm, working class, not much money. We always had a real tree because you would just pop out to the woodland and chop one down!

I have always had a fake tree because I can't stand needles falling everywhere . I had my first tree for over 10 years, and then got a larger one when I moved house and have had that for another 10.

I have tree decs from when I was a child and I keep adding to them every year. I like to buy things in pairs. They are a riot of colour. What is wasteful is people changing their colour scheme every year and getting rid of everything and buying new. I know a couple of people who do that.

[Maerchentante]

I still have to buy a tree and it will be a real one. Usually I wouldn't get one, as I go and visit my family over the holiday, but this year everything is different and I will not see them.
In the area I am from it is rare that people have a fake tree as real trees are comparatively cheap, IIRC, my sister paid €21 for a six foot locally sourced tree last year. Makes me almost weep, really, when I look at the prices here in London.

[Itawapuddytat]

Very middle class background, and so is DH. My parents have always had real trees, so do the in-laws. For the last 15 years we've had two children and 3 cats, 2 of which with a great passion for chewing anything green and "natural" and then throwing up in random places around the house - so artificial tree all the way for us, I am afraid. Decorated by the children, no real "theme" but lots of fun and it looks cheerful, with a fab mismatch of decorations, from nice baubles and glass and straw ornaments, to Star Wars, unicorns and Frozen thingies. And tinsel, lots of red tinsel. No needles on the floor and safe for the cats. The previous tree lasted us about 10 years and we expect this one to last a while too.

I usually try to get some fir tree/pine branches in a vase if I can, just for the lovely smell - which does take me back to Christmas days of my childhood in Eastern Europe.

[SwedishK]

Middle class here and grew up with a real trees and still have a real tree. Most of my tree decorations are old or homemade by the kids. Every now and again we'll buy a new bauble or so but it's not coordinated in any way. I guess the only thing new that we get every year is candy canes which we eat on Christmas Day.

[BiBabbles]

My maternal grandparents had a ceramic tree with little lights - it sat on their wooden TV stand and presents were handed to us rather than under/next to it. They had the thing for decades, they had a rotation of TV decorations throughout the year - I have their fake flowers that they put out during the summer. I need to get the old electronics in it repaired so it will light up again (awkward as it's both old and American), but the music box still works.

I'm not sure how a ceramic tree would compare environmental wise, I'd guess it depends on where it was made, how far it was it was shipped, whether it has electronics parts (some I've seen, you put a tea light candle in to make them light up), but I'd guess some of them would be better than plastic or real. I've long thought it was more sensible than my parents trying to match all the coloured bases to form their tree, but then I'm not fond of Christmas trees, especially big ones.

No one I knew growing up had a real tree that I was aware of, but I think it more location than class -- the forests near me were for walking or paper mills & while some shops sold them, all the media around them seemed to be going out to the boonies to get them properly. My paternal grandfather was a minister and I'm pretty sure all their many trees in the church and home were fake, though honestly I never paid much attention to them.

[dragonfly132]

We never have a real tree as we have dogs and it is dangerous.