To ask if you worry about your 'real' Christmas tree catching alight?

[Cashmerecardi1]

Just been reading the other thread about when people put their decorations up etc.

The same old sentiment was repeated multiple times about fake trees being tacky (Honestly, can someone tell me why, especially if, like mine they are just a plain green tree?)

But anyway, I have wanted a real tree for a few years, I love the smell of them etc. However, I've been put off by horror stories and videos circulating of them catching alight due to the lights on them....does anyone have this worry? Is it something that's likely to happen unless precautions are taken and if so what are the precautions?

The state where I grew up meant that everyone we knew had a real tree, as did my grandparents and their parents before them. My uncle used to have a Christmas tree farm. I have never heard of any tree catching fire.
My Mil is from a culture where they light candles on the tree (again, only on 24th in evening, and only when people were in the room watching) as did her mother before her. Again, never heard of a bad incident.

Another one here who has a real tree and real candles (German family tradition albeit a few generations back now). We bring the tree in very late and keep it very well watered: obv candles only lit when people sit in the room and stare at the tree.

@limitedperiodonly wow I'd have set fire to the house

I've been alive for nearly 50 years so nearly 50 real Christmas trees. Not one has caught alight, despite my parents boozing their way through my childhood and not exactly being on top of health and safety.

YABVU

[quote dontletthemugglesgetyoudownn]@limitedperiodonly wow I'd have set fire to the house [/quote]
When I saw it, actually I heard it, I thought my husband was playing a joke on me because it was peachy coloured and looked like shiny plastic. But it was moving and I realised it was real. When it escaped I googled "Do UK spiders bite?" and found it. We're still alive. There's a big fat brown garden spider outside the kitchen window. I'm quite fond of her and have called her Charlotte of course, but it's turned really cold today so I bet she'll die soon. I thought of inviting her in to pull up a chair by the fireside but no.