I don't know about you, but I get totally excited about Christmas. I know some people think "yeah, whatever, I don't get into the Christmas spirit until Christmas day." I'm not one of those people. All through December I like to listen to good holiday music, bake Christmas goodies, and I even have an advent calendar. Like with trick-or-treating, the advent calendar will never get old for me.
But there's always one thing missing in my house every year: a Christmas tree.
Don't get me wrong, we do decorate our house for the holidays; we just don't have a tree. My parents stopped buying them a few years ago, simply because it's bad for the environment.
But this year we really, really wanted a tree, so we bought a plastic one.
I wasn't so sure about this fake tree business. It just seemed not-so-special and like we were cheating Christmas or something. But now that it's in our living room, I love it! It's so cute! Unless you inspect it close-up, it totally looks real.
And we can use it year after year, so fewer trees will be killed. I'm proud.
How do you feel about fake Christmas trees?
Notice Olive, the psychedelic cat, having a moment under the boughs.
I haven't done tons of research on the environmental effects of Christmas trees (though I'm aware that they exist), but I see a plastic Christmas tree the way I see a plastic, reusable water bottle. Yeah, it's plastic and it will eventually end up in a land fill, but the amount of bottles of water not being bought (and therefor ending up in recycling/landfills) outweighs that one that will one day get thrown away.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on finally getting your tree. Christmas will be even more special this year. My favorite part is sitting next to it at night, with the twinkly lights on, sipping hot cocoa and watching Christmas movies.
That's a good point. I guess everything ends up polluting the planet after all.
DeleteBut one plastic tree over, let's say, 10 real trees is pretty good.
I can't wait for the nights to come of what you described! Hot cocoa and moves!
Your Christmas tree looks real!! We personally use a fake Christmas tree as well because it is just easier. I personally like real trees, but it's not my choice sadly so I will just go along with it until I am an adult hehe.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE christmas a lot too! My whole family isn't that into Christmas, but I am crazy about it. I listen to holiday music, watch christmas movies as I pack gifts and drink hot coco. I love it so much!
http://www.mybrokeneggshells.com
by the way- I noticed your cat in one of the photos and I must say that I love the color of your cat's fur!
Oh thanks! I love my cat too. She's a crazy gal. :D
DeleteThe tree is so pretty! Actually though, live Christmas trees are just another crop; you are not harming any natural forest land by purchasing a live tree. In fact, they are ground up into mulch and topsoil at the end of the holiday season, so you could argue that they are environmentally friendly since they never end up in the landfill like plastic trees. Yes, farmers use water and fertilizer to grow the trees, but factories pollute the air when they create plastic things. Either way they are really pretty and special! Ask your mom about the paper tree we made the first year we lived in Abidjan and couldn't get a live tree! It is one of our most memorable Christmases ever! (also because we peeked at virtually all the gifts and ruined all our surprises!)
ReplyDeleteHaha! I'll ask.
DeleteI too like lights and decoration to celebrate the holidays. For years now, we hang ornaments and lights on our ficus tree. Looks cheery! Wishing you and your family Happy Holidays and a grand New Year!
ReplyDeleteHappy holidays to you too!
DeleteWe almost always have a fake tree too, but mostly because my mom and a couple of my siblings are allergic. Also the needles are a pain to have to sweep up every day :p
ReplyDeleteAnd we have used probably more fake trees than most people. One year our cats broke the stand for the tree (it was plastic -_- and not very durable) so we had nothing to do but throw it away and get a different one.
We have another fake tree this year but I think it will last longer than the previous ones we have had.
Merry Christmas! :)
p.s. Olive is pretty! :) We have two tortoiseshell cats and Olive looks kind of like a mix of both of them with her facial features/coloring in specific places.
Oh that's funny! Tortoiseshells rule. I'm going over to your blog now to see if you've posted some pics of your cat :]
DeleteDecember has come out of nowere, I totally agree. Its flying by and guess what my fake Christmas tree is not up yet. Wishing you a happy Christmas from South Wales, U.K
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by!
DeleteYour tree looks very pretty and your little cat looks very curious about it. We always used to get real trees but when we moved often we had a fake tree. We found however you can get real trees in almost every country. I don"t think its too bad for the environment as they come from little Christmas tree farms where families can go and pick a tree and cut it themselves . It has become a family tradition for some people. They replant every year and the trees grow very fast. I like a real tree because they have such a lovely fragrance. Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas. We had alovely snowfall yesterday. So pretty with the Christmas lights on homes around the neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteI love your tree and I love the photo of your little cat. She is very curious about the tree. I wrote before but don"t think I sent it correctly. I love having a real tree for the wonderful pine fragrance but a fake tree is easier to take care of . All those needles will still be around by summer. As for the environment I don"t think it is harmful as the trees come from tree farms and are planted each year and constantly replaced. It is a tradition for some familie to go to the farm and pick a tree and cut it themselves. Fun to walk through the snow and examine each tree for the perfect one.. Have a wonderful Christmas.
ReplyDelete