To think having candles on a christmas tree is unbelievably stupid?

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I said as much recently when a mumsnetter was boasting about hers.

But have just seen a neighbour has them too.

Why!?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZFhbe6tQLo

Wow, wish the wood in my log burner caught that fast.

Perhaps tis best to not leave candles unattended.......... wait, we all know that, right?.....

YANBU. My colleague got a plastic tree for the first time this year after being made to attend fire safety training. The fireman tried to make it seasonal and showed them a clip of a real tree going up in flames. Scared my friend half to death.

Oh but surely a plastic tree with real candles would be slower but much more toic when burning?

I actually know a couple who had a fairly major house fire due to having real candles on their Christmas tree. Thankfully they were insured and nobody was hurt, but they had to move out of their home for a good few months while everything was sorted out in their house.

Don't do it kids!

I can't actually believe in this day and age (when we are all supposed to be well educated) that ther are people still stupid enough to do that. Truly shocked!

Years ago my flat was set alight by a candle left unattended. It was one of the worst things that ever happened to me although no one was hurt in any way. Not my fault I hasten to addd.

(not bitching about the mumsnetter)

But really I am.

She sid something like ' we enjoy guessing which will burn down first'

Christmas trees burn like you would not believe - we've burn ours on the fire in the New Year in the past and they go up in a flash. So yes, having candles is barking mad.

Agreed. We still haven't bought our tree because I'm terrified it will dry out & catch fire. Using anything other than electric lights is madness! I hate dislike plastic trees.

Apparently you should stand your tree in water (or buy them with the roots still attached if you possibly can) to stop them drying out so much. Though I dunno how you would reconsile standing a tree in water with stringing electric lights around it

We always buy the rooted trees - they are only a fiver more and never drop needles.

I use normal lights too, you only water the base.

My dsis has proper candles on her tree, but she and her husband have no children and are very very careful.

In fact, the one time we visited on Boxing Day, she insisted that the dses sat still and watched the tree whilst we talked - and they were only little at the time, so in the end, dh had to take them outside to play.

They weren't even allowed to blow one out either.

Candles are pretty but no way, i have a lovely fibre optic lifesize tree, no need for lights and looks fantastic.