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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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NaughtipussMaximus · 07/12/2020 13:16

We were proper Northern working class as I was growing up, and we always had a real tree. And they always died! Plus they were harder to decorate as they were always somewhat irregular.

We now probably pass as middle class now, but maybe not as we have an artificial tree and open our presents before lunch!

480Widdio · 07/12/2020 13:16

As a child we had an artificial tree,it was hideous,the same one every year.

Now I always have a real one.Last year I got an artificial one in B and Q,they were selling it off ridiculously cheap,so I had two trees,one in the dining room and one in the lounge,I will have the same this year.

Fluffybutter · 07/12/2020 13:18

Middle class and used to have fake ,then real and now fake again.
It makes me sad that we cut down these lovely trees just for a month of the year or in some cases a couple of weeks .
Our fake tree is huge and I love it , covered in multi coloured lights and loads of different baubles .
Don’t have tinsel though .

FitterHappierMoreProductive · 07/12/2020 13:20

I have quite literally never heard the idea that what Christmas tree you have is related to class / is a status symbol. Mind totally blown!

ramblingsonthego · 07/12/2020 13:21

I did some research into this a few years ago for a work thing.

So for an artificial tree to be the same carbon footprint as a real tree you have to use it for 10 or more years. I have an artificial tree and its currently on its 14th year and still looks like new.

Research also showed that some people buy a new artificial tree every single year and bin the old one. This is really wasteful.

The best for the environment is to rent a tree, this gets delivered to you, you water the pot and they come and collect it and replant it for next year. Some people even rent the exact same tree year after year.

hansgrueber · 07/12/2020 13:21

@BashfulClam

Always artificial. Last for years, is the perfect size and no having to get it specially picked up. Plus no needles dropping on the carpet.
A good real tree hardly loses any needles if it's looked after.
justlonelystars · 07/12/2020 13:22

Solidly middle class, artificial. I have a lovely one from John Lewis. I can’t be dealing with hoovering every 5 minutes and the faff of disposing of it. Ours is pre lit and the lights are far better arranged than anything I could manage to do myself.

oblada · 07/12/2020 13:23

I prefer a real tree. Just preference really.
In terms of the environment impact - the trees are grown during the year for that purpose so it's not actually a bad deal. If we didn't want Christmas trees the land would be used for another purpose and plastic isn't great anyway. I couldn't be bothered with keeping the same artificial trees for years, I'd want to change it or it'd get damaged somehow. So much rather go and pick a tree as a family. The local place delivers it for free so no issue there.

SlopesOff · 07/12/2020 13:23

@ChloeCrocodile

I have a real tree. Nothing to do with class - I just don't think it is christmas without the smell!
Pine disinfectant or a bottle of the stuff soap makers use would give you that smell.
MillieEpple · 07/12/2020 13:24

i love a real tree but the price of them now.
we have a real tree outside

Elai1978 · 07/12/2020 13:24

Always real growing up and always real as an adult. DW had artificial growing up and. Ow would never go back. White lights only, no tinsel and heavily decorated with a complete mix of high quality baubles etc that we’ve collected over the years. Always looks stunning and attracts compliments. I hate themed trees, just so impersonal.

Tehmina23 · 07/12/2020 13:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

emilyfrost · 07/12/2020 13:26

Middle class, always had an artificial tree because I don’t want the hassle of a real tree with the needles etc. Also never been a fan of plants and foliage in the house.

I don’t particularly care whether people judge us for it; it’s what works for us Confused

BashfulClam · 07/12/2020 13:26

@hansgrueber I’d rather have no needles at all. My carpet is really thick so the hoover wouldn’t get them up. I only have a small space too so most real trees would be too big.

Roominmyhouse · 07/12/2020 13:27

I’ve only got a small space for a tree so have a slimline artificial one. It’s on year 15 having cost about £80 back then. If I had a bigger house I’d think about a real tree but it’s not a option for us currently!

Either way it doesn’t matter and people should absolutely not be snobby about it!

SlopesOff · 07/12/2020 13:27

Once I got my tree looking the way I wanted I removed the batteries from the lights and stored the tree in a box, complete with decorations and lights. If I can be bothered I will drag it out and straighten it up a bit on Christmas Eve, it will be put back in the box the day after Boxing Day.

HitthatroadJack · 07/12/2020 13:28

A tree should make you happy, that's what it's all about.

Newkitchen123 · 07/12/2020 13:28

@dragonfly132

We never have a real tree as we have dogs and it is dangerous.
How? Dog owner here. Always had real until last year
vintageyoda · 07/12/2020 13:28

The snobbery is when people judge others for their choice. The tree and the decoration is totally personal. Different scenarios demand different solutions.
I live in the country, I love a real tree and I am that person who 'heavily directs' the decoration of it as I love it to be kept simple and elegant. However, we have an ancient fake, small tree that the kids do what they like with and have in the dining room or their bedrooms.

I grew up pretty poor in the city and our fake trees were a great big, glorious mish-mash of gaudy tinsel. My mum loved it that way so that is what happened. I'm mum now. Smile

Anon22 · 07/12/2020 13:28

If you have limited storage space then its probably more practical to have a real tree.

I have an artificial one as the house has underfloor heating. This will be it's 10th Christmas, I love it because it is pre-lit, so no fiddling around trying to get the right lighting balance.

Brefugee · 07/12/2020 13:28

it's just another way for some people to feel superior.

Environmentally, current thinking is that after the 12th year your artificial tree is more environmentally sound than a real one. I think there are issues around using land to grow trees but i can't remember offhand what any of them are. Then there is the roots/no-roots thing. And when you actually put it up etc etc

Not to mention the Tinsel Debate.

Whenever my workmates got onto this subject i used to say "Jesus didn't say 'kill trees for Christmas' did he?" and leave the conversation.

FatCatThinCat · 07/12/2020 13:28

I bought a real tree once. Lasted a week before DD touched it and all the needles fell off in one go. So I bought an artificial one which is still going strong 25 years later and is sturdy enough that it stays upright despited the efforts of the cat to bring it down.

HitthatroadJack · 07/12/2020 13:28

Cats are a pain with trees, any tree, but dogs? Never had a problem with mine.

Allergictoironing · 07/12/2020 13:29

Brought up middle class, DF was working class and DM was very much upper MC. Always had a real tree, though TBH fake trees in the 60's and 70's were pretty awful. It was part of the ritual going to select the tree each year, potting it and leaving it to settle for a couple of days, then decorate about a week before Xmas day.

The style was all DM's, and a mix of glass baubles ranging from really expensive to comparatively cheap, tiny silk Chinese lanterns, fake icicles, hanging seasonal wildlife like robins & reindeer, loads of tinsel and lametta, bits of cotton wool draped along branches to look like snow.

The lights would be multi-coloured (but NOT flashing), and at least 1 or 2 sets would be wired in that looked like little lanterns, or fairy coaches, or fibre optic balls that would be the "outside" lights. The overall effect would be rather gaudy and completely over the top, and we (and all our friends) LOVED it.

Nowadays I live alone and got myself an artificial tree first year in my own house about 25 years ago - that one was donated to where I was working this time last year as their office one had gone missing in a move, still looking great. I had another one too, that I used to put up in the porch so was a very narrow one that I used battery lights on (about 15 years of use). But I have cats now, so only have miniature trees like solid clear ones that light up inside, or fibre optic ones that aren't decorated.

Gooseygoosey12345 · 07/12/2020 13:29

I'm not sure if it's a class thing. I'd say we're working class and we've always had a real tree. I just prefer them