Fresh or artificial?

[NightOwl]

Fresh. We usually cut it at a  tree farm. With a lot of careful  watering and keeping the room cool, the tree lasts from right after Thanksgiving until 12th Night.  We've found that Frazier Firs are almost indestructable.  After we are through with it, we put the tree in the yard where we can see it and the birds love it!  (It stays green for months, literally.)  Lots of times I hang suet or seed bells on the tree for them.

My Dad's mother was born in Norway so I grew up keeping those traditions and Epiphany was a big thing in our family..

Alas, I have been known to keep some of my "red" decorations around until after Valentine's Day   ( well, you gave to admit the colors are cheerful)  One year (ONLY one year) I actually hung red wooden hearts on the Christmas wreath and left it on the door.  Everyone thought it looked very pretty.

We have boxwood and holly and pine growing on our place so we make our front door wreath using  them and also make wreaths to decorate the family graves with.

[B-flat]

Although I use an artificial mountain pine, I do use some fresh cut things for other decorations like wreaths and table centerpieces, but I don't leave the fresh ones inside for very long.

[Joe Buskirk]

We are having both. One artificial in the living room and a fresh in the family room, located in the basement.  We have tried to migrate to the artificial but my DD wants a real tree, so in an effort to spoil her, I have agreed to get a fresh tree.

[gsm x2]

For the last few years we've gone camping the day after Christmas, so we found this very cute wooden tree with lights on it at a craft fair.  That serves the purpose of a Christmas tree.  Better get it out of the garage soon.  23 days until Christmas. 24 days until camping.  Don't know which I am looking forward to more.

gsm x2

[vjm1639]

We broke down and bought an artificial tree this year.  I spend so much time every year dragging poor DH around to find the "perfect" tree that will fit in our small living room!   We finally found a beautiful artificial one (really can't tell it isn't real) that is both tall and thin (diameter wise) but also full.   Even at that, we still had to send a recliner down to the basement for a few weeks.   Hard to really get a fresh one around here.  The last two years ours have barely made it through Christmas.  With a touch of Claire Burke's "Scent of the Tree" oil on a lamp ring and the same potpourri around it smells just like a real tree is in the house!

[Gone-Camping]

Update....

We bought a real tree this evening! Grandma's tree has been retired, perhaps we'll give to the local Goodwill or Purple Heart...

[B-flat]

Gone-Camping, make sure the dog doesn't come over to visit your tree this year.

[chasd60]

Fresh tree every year about 10 days before XMAS, fresh cut on the bottom and plenty of water, stays like it was still in the ground. Usually down right after XMAS (next day)

[aw738]

Ok I'll be the first to say "none". I would have to say that I can only remember having a tree twice in 28 years.

[garym053]

Family tradition the day after Thanksgiving- Hunt for the perfect Christmas Tree!
Usually end up walking miles at the tree farm and quoting one of my favorite movies: "She'll see it later, her eyes are frozen"