Real Christmas Tree vs Artificial Tree
What is your Preference?
Real Christmas Tree vs Artificial Tree
There is something quite magical about taking your family to a Christmas tree farm and choosing a live tree for your Christmas celebration. For many people this tradition of choosing just the right tree is the perfect beginning for the Christmas season. Other people prefer the convenience of an artificial tree. Whatever their preference many people feel adamantly about their choice and feel it is the only way to go.
Over the years I have had both live trees and artificial trees. My parents owned a choose and cut tree farm for many years and for that reason the live trees hold a certain nostalgic value for me. On the other hand now that I'm a bit holder the prelit artificial trees sure make decorating for Christmas easier.
In this lens I will give you the opportunity to weigh in on your favorite type of tree.
photo by mbgphoto
Christmas Tree Preference - a quick poll
What type of Christmas tree will you have this year?
Christmas Tree Farm
choose and cut farm
I will have to admit that one of the reasons I love a real Christmas tree is that my parents owned a choose and cut tree farm for 15 years. After they retired from their business in the city, they opened up Grandpa Erv's Christmas Tree Farm about 45 minutes from St. Louis. My dad was Grandpa Erv to all his grandchildren and the name seemed fitting for their tree farm. They did a lot of research on different types of trees and started their planting 7 years before their retirement so that when they were ready to move to the farm the trees would be ready to cut.
The farm was on 70 acres and Mom and Dad worked hard to make the Christmas tree experience special for their customers. Every year they opened up the day after Thanksgiving and they would have 4 very busy weeks. My three siblings and I each came for one of the weekends to help out and the experience was wonderful.
They had a wagon that would bring the customers out to the fields, where they would pick out that perfect tree, cut it down and then bring it to the barn to be shaken and wrapped for travel. Mom and some of the women from their church made wreaths and grave blankets that were for sale in the garage, along with ornaments and a few Christmas craft items.
I always enjoyed helping to sell the trees. Everyone is always happy when they come and it was a fun experience.
Now Let's Hear From You - real tree or artificial
I love the fun of choosing a real tree and the wonderful smell that it gives to the house. I will admit though as I grow older and my kids are now grown for convenience sake, most years I put up my artificial tree.
Which type of Christmas tree do you prefer?
Real Christmas Tree vs Artificial Tree
Prelit for Easy Assembly - beauty and convenience
One of the features I love about the new artificial trees is that they are already strung with lights. Putting the lights on the tree was always my least favorite task so this new feature is a real plus!
Alpine Christmas Tree - a special tree
I love these small alpine type Christmas trees. i have a big tree in my family room but for other rooms I prefer these small trees to add to my Christmas decorating. I have one small tree with dated ornaments from each year that my parents had their Christmas tree farm.
Share your traditions - I'd love to hear from you
I've put up both types of trees, but I usually put up an artificial tree because I put it up so early and am scared of fire, so I play it safe(r)
My favorite newer Christmas tradition is to take a walk on the beach, now that we live in a warmer clime.
I love the smell of a real tree but an artificial tree really is much more convenient and less wasteful. You can use most of them for at least ten years or more.
Perhaps I'm getting old and sentimental, but when I see the cut trees I turn sad. I want the trees to live too! We're cutting way too many already, be it for construction or paper or others.
We've bought an artificial tree two years ago and will use it until it lasts. I hope that there will be less and less trees cut each year.
There is nothing like the smell of a fresh tree, but then again the ease of an artificial tree is always nice. At my house, it depends on what year and how many of the family will be gathering. When all the grandkids come it's a real tree for sure!
Christmas tree shopping was always a big event when the kids were little -- getting just that 'right' one. Decorating was also a family event. Miss those days. Two of the funniest tree getting times were once before kids and once after the kids were grown and left home when we 'acquired' a real tree and had to get it home in a tiny car (one VW bug, one Austin Healy.). :)
We have actually been know to have several trees. I usually put up an artificial tree, but my whole family knows how much I love live trees that can be planted in the yard so we often end up with a couple of trees each year :)
Super debate lens, nice work!
Cool your family had a tree farm. Love the scent of a fresh tree from out in the woods or the tree farm. It really makes it seem like Xmas. The last few years we have had an artificial tree as it's easier to look after.
Great lens on Christmas trees.
We sometime use a small real tree or a piece of gum tree as we live in Australia as Christmas decorations.
My tree has always been purple but I've been thinking that one way or another, I'd love to change it to a lighthouse theme. I saw your lens above with lighthouse ornaments. I think this is a great debate. Great job.
Choosing a real tree out in the woods is fun. But if you don't have the time, going for the artificial tree would be alright. I love Christmas and the spirit it brings! Sundae ;-)
We have our grandchildren decorate our tree. Each one takes turns decorating it the way that they want it to look. Since being down here in South Texas, we have had to use an artificial tree as the live ones don't last very long.
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