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#Post#: 19256--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Great Christmas Tree Debate
By: sandisadie Date: November 18, 2018, 12:00 pm
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When I was growing up (in the 1940s and 1950s) we always had a
real tree. Most people where I lived did too. I continued that
tradition the first few years I was married. Then we switched
to live trees that you planted in the yard after the holiday. I
really enjoyed doing that and watching them grow. We had 5
acres during those years. Then we divorced and after I
remarried a couple of years later we decided to always have an
artificial tree. So, through those 30 years we would purchase a
new artificial tree every few years when better ones came out.
My favorite kind are the ones with lights already attached.
Nowadays those look just like the real thing. And - yes, we
also buy real evergreen branches sometimes just for that
wonderful aroma. I still remember, as a little kid, the
adventure of tramping through the woods with my family looking
for that perfect tree to chop down and bring home!
#Post#: 19264--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Great Christmas Tree Debate
By: gmatoy Date: November 18, 2018, 2:11 pm
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Artificial tree here. I'm allergic to the real thing. My husband
gets a kick out of the fact that I'm a native Washingtonian,
which has the slogan of "Evergreen State" and I'm allergic.
Yeah, really funny.
Our first Christmas, his mother's tree was falling over, so she
put out a call to my DH and we raced across Queens (NY) to put
her tree back up. I reminded him that I'm allergic and he said,
"I know."
However, when we got there, he kept telling me to do stuff with
the tree. We got home, I went to take a shower and he saw that
my arms were a rash horror story. He wanted to know what had
happened there. I just looked at him and said, really slowly,
like I was talking to a not very bright person, "I'm. allergic.
to. evergreen. trees."
I've never had to touch an evergreen since. ;D
#Post#: 19267--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Great Christmas Tree Debate
By: Luci Date: November 18, 2018, 2:39 pm
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In 1955 we figured out that my brother was allergic to evergreen
so we had to get one of those aluminum horrors and the light
wheel that rotated and made the tree different colors. As
artificial trees improved, parents got artificial trees. Then
our first Christmas DH and I went to get a real tree. I
remembered how I hated going out to the Boy Scout sale and
picking out a tree. I hate being cold and it was never perfect
enough for me. Then at the end of the season we bought an
artificial tree on sale. Way cheaper to have that for several
years than a real tree each year. One year DH bought a huge tree
with gold tips. I hated spreading the branches each year and the
tips kept falling off. We had a huge porch that we used year
around for entertaining and this tree was absolutely beautiful
and the ideal size. After 15 years the poor thing was declared
dead, so we tossed it. We would find those tips year round. Even
though it’s been gone 2 years and we have moved, it’s still a
joke. DH is cleaning the basement. Yesterday I found one of
those tips upstairs.
#Post#: 19276--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Great Christmas Tree Debate
By: Thitpualso Date: November 18, 2018, 5:29 pm
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When I was a kid almost everybody (except for the new people who
moved here from NYC) had a real tree. Buying the proper sort was
a test of civic responsibility. Real trees were available at gas
stations and supermarket parking lots but they didn’t quite cut
it. To be a REAL citizen of our little town, you had to spend
an extra five dollars or so to buy a scotch pine.
The scotch pine is more full and beautiful than the average
parking lot tree. It’s also a pain because that variety seems
to have both a twist in the trunk and two equal tops. They
almost never looked quite right when you put them up. Getting A
scotch pine looking as it should in your living room could lead
to major family ructions.
Still, people bought them because they were only available at a
tree lot established to benefit the local volunteer fire
department and ambulance corps. Anyone who lived in our little
town for any length of time couldn’t say ‘No’ to that.
#Post#: 19283--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Great Christmas Tree Debate
By: Asharah Date: November 18, 2018, 7:13 pm
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[emoji319]My Dad got one of those shiny aluminum trees. It went
in the big front window decorated with blue balls and lit with
two color wheels. Mom wanted a real tree, so we got one of those
too and put it in the basement. When Dad dies, the aluminum tree
was put away for good and the real tree went in the big window.
I wonder how many people with those aluminum trees did what we
did and took it apart every year to put it away. We even saved
the individual paper sleeves to put the individual branches in.
I imagine most people with the aluminum trees probably just
threw a big sheet over it and stuck it in a closet or attic
corner still decorated.
#Post#: 19286--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Great Christmas Tree Debate
By: Wanaca Date: November 18, 2018, 8:20 pm
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When I was growing up, we had real trees. One year my dad hung
it upside down. Another year he cut down a holly tree instead.
Both occasions were very memorable but bad ideas.
We get a real tree out of practicality. We have nine adult,
indoor cats. The cats will get into the tree. Plus it's always
a pleasant surprise to be looking at the tree and then see a
mischievous kitty face smiling at you from between the branches.
Yes, real trees drop needles. We use a large round tablecloth
for a tree skirt. The needles don't stick to it so they are
easy to vacuum up. With this many kitties, vacuuming is a
necessity anyway and it's no more trouble to clean up needles
than cat fur.
We've modified the tree stand to keep it from tipping over and a
real tree's branches will generally hold the weight of our cats.
We keep a basket by the tree to put ornaments into that have
"fallen" off the tree and redecorate it every Saturday. I
really don't mind the messes the kitties make because I expect
it and they have such fun playing.
In January after the holidays, we have a ritual to say good bye
to the tree. It's fun. We make toasts to the tree, say
farewell, etc then DH cuts it up with a hacksaw and burns it in
the fireplace. Yes, adult beverages are consumed ::) I love
that tradition.
#Post#: 19296--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Great Christmas Tree Debate
By: TootsNYC Date: November 18, 2018, 10:47 pm
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I have a philosophical objection to artificial trees; it just
seems to me that if you're going to bother, you should have a
real tree. I haven't been able to bring myself to get an
artificial tree.
But I am really tired of the mess. And I'm into the idea of
streamlining things and eliminating unnecessary labor.
We also live in an apartment building, and we have to sweep up
needles from the 2nd floor all the way down.
The last few years, we haven't really had room for a full-size
tree, so we had one of those coat-hanger trees that my DD
learned to make when she was 7 or so (she wrote a how-to one day
when she was hanging out with me at the magazine I worked at,
where we did a lot of how-tos).
That was actually fun! We didn't use a lot of ornaments, because
it's so small, and you can't really hang anything heavy on it.
We set it on a tray table and put a small string of tiny
battery-powered lights on it.
And it might get me ready for an artificial tree.
#Post#: 19299--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Great Christmas Tree Debate
By: Hanna Date: November 18, 2018, 11:16 pm
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We always had real ones. Now I get one some years but skip it
sometimes, too. I might get one this year because I think the
cats would be delighted! (The tree might be de-lighted by the
cats, too!)
I can see the benefit of artificial. Had a friend who got an
artificial one, decorated it and every year just stuck it in the
attic full decorated so they could pull it out the following
year without doing much else.
#Post#: 19311--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Great Christmas Tree Debate
By: STiG Date: November 19, 2018, 7:02 am
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I've had the environmental debate with myself and ended up doing
some research. Real trees would appear to be more
environmentally friendly. They are a renewable resource and
they can be composted afterwards, in my area. Artificial trees
use non-renewable resources and a lot of chemicals. But you use
them over and over again.
Turns out, if you are buying your tree at a tree lot, it works
out about the same in environmental cost in terms of carbon
footprint as an artificial tree if you keep it for at least 7
years. So you're ahead of the game financially with the
artificial tree, most likely.
If you are cutting your own tree on your own property or
property close to where you live? You come out ahead,
environmentally. And maybe even financially.
We had real trees growing up. Sometimes cut ourselves,
sometimes bought from a neighbour who cut them for a living.
Then my Mom started having a Christmas party the first week of
December. So she got an artificial tree so she could have it up
for the party. My brother was appalled. :D She only had 2
trees over about a 20 year time period.
I was never at home for Christmas so I didn't bother with a
tree, especially with cats. But my husband and I were given a
tree that we've put up the last couple of years. So we'll
probably put that up this year, again. With ornaments that
won't break if they get knocked off the tree! My lovely,
antique glass ornaments will have to wait until we are either
petless or we have a way to keep the animals away from the tree.
We'll likely have to have two trees, as my husband is partial
to stuffed ornaments. The two don't exactly go together on one
tree! And we're actually home for Christmas Day this year for
the first time ever for me, except for the one year I hosted
because I was in my new house.
#Post#: 19315--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Great Christmas Tree Debate
By: Wanaca Date: November 19, 2018, 8:00 am
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Because of the cats, we only put shatterproof ornaments on the
tree. We put our special ornaments on nice, lighted, artificial
garland that is hung over our windows and archways. Kitties
can't reach there.
I've been pretty good about always keeping the cats in mind when
decorating. Except for the time that I thought it would be a
great idea to buy a bunch of those cute little feathered
cardinals to put in the tree. They looked so nice. For a day.
They all passed away in an unspeakable manner.
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