Christmas Tree

[Mizu no Tennyou]

Every year my family always gets a live tree. Ever since I was a kid it has always made me a little sad. It just hurts. I don't want to impose on my familys beliefs, though I have made passive suggestions of getting a artificial tree. Any way, I want to know if there is anything I can do to honnor this tree.

Any suggestions? I really want to do something for it.

[DarkDancer]

Well, you could always visit this (http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=78121) thread, or you could try to convince your family to buy a live tree with the roots still intact and plant it after Yule......(you have to pre-dig the hole I'm thinking before the ground freezes, unless that is not an issue where you are.).

[Élistariel]

I agree, try to get your parents to get an artificial tree.
Benefits of a fake tree:
No needles to clean up
Don't have to water it
Saves money, don't have to buy a new one each year

My family has one. Then again, our tree has been up for like 6 years straight if not more. That is right, our tree does NOT come down. :woot: Yeah, we're lazy :lol: but hey, it's in a part of the house we aren't in very much so no one really notices.

Also, if you have a decent sized tree in your yard, why not decorate it with naturey things, like some dollar store birdfeeders, or squirrel cubes and whatnot. Y'know like those peanut butter and birdseed covered pinecones..

darn it now I wanna makea naturey tree.

[MorningDove030202]

I have an artificial tree, but I want a real one this year to make a wand, and possibly a staff from, and some pine insence..... So, every once in a while I get a real one.

Dove

[halfwaynowhere]

since my dad is allergic to pine trees, we use an artificial tree. our current tree is 7 feet tall, the lights were pre-strung, and they dance to christmas songs! lol, anyways, i don't like real trees either, i don't like the idea of cutting them down just so we have something pretty to look at for a month or so, even though the ones you buy are generally grown on a christmas tree farm specifically for christmas trees so they aren't really contributing to deforestation or anything. i still don't like it.

[Amadore]

My family gets a live tree every year. I just love the smell of the tree... and just the feeling of having a live tree in the house full of sparkly glass... it pumps me with all this happy energy :D You don't quite get the same feeling from artificial trees (or maybe that's me)

Like somebody mentioned earlier, you can use the tree's wood later on to make things (wands, staffs, runes, incense, carvings, etc.) although I understand why you would want a fake tree :) I don't see why your parents would refuse to switch to fake trees. Just ask them, and tell them about the benefits of having a fake tree.

[Mab]

another advantage to real trees (though I do have a fake one)---yule log burning.

[Willow_starr]

Letting your family know you'd prefer an artificial tree isn't "imposing your beliefs" and people have already posted many of the benefits of artificial trees. But can I ask why a real tree makes you sad? When you think about the amount of trees we kill uselessly through wasted paper, the turkey on your holiday table, and the polution caused by plastic manufacturing (to make artifical trees) one tree cut for Yule isn't that big of a deal and if it done with honour (leave a gift if you're cutting the tree yourself, plant another tree in the spring, use as much of the tree as possible as firewood, much, for next year's log etc. after the holidays).
I don't mean to imply that your beliefs are stupid or anything and certainly if having a real tree makes you uncomfortable definantly go with the fake, I just like to challenge people's reasoning on many issues.

[Suzy-Anne]

Well... If you think of it this way, the tree is decorated and given a really special make-over! ^^ And strung with ribbons and beads and colorful orbs. I'd kill to be a Christmas Tree (no pun intended o_o), more so a Noble Fir, they have sturdy branches. Besides, fake trees are just so... fake. Though one time I used a floor lamp as a Christmas Tree.

[Élistariel]

floor lamp tree, that must have been interesting.
I wish I could do the yule log thing. We have two fireplaces, but they're the iron stove kind. You wouldn't be able to see the log burning.
Also if you, like me have indoor pets... artificial may be the way to go.
It was interesting enough having my cat climb an artificial tree, I can't imagine him getting stuck up a real one. :lol:

[Suzy-Anne]

Yeah, when my mom was still with my dad he got a new job at a hotel and we were going to move in january so we came up and stayed in a hotel and there was nothing else to use so we used a floor lamp. xD I can't do a yule log, I'd want to though. We have an electric fire place so we can't eally have one. But sometime I take a twig and make it pretty then lite it on fire. o_O;

[Élistariel]

I know how you feel. I live in an apartment. I can't have fire outside my fireplace, where I can see a log. (I go to my house for yule/xmas). Besides the fireplace I could use for a yule log is hidden by a desk and tons of other crap. My apt fireplace hasn't seen the light of day since 2002 :lol:
back to trees! lol

[lil_suzie]

...er, it's not like they cut the tree down out of a forest or
anything I mean christmas trees are farmed just like vegetables are,
they are planted to be christmas tress and they plant new ones for
every one they harvest, no diferent then any other crop so whats
there to feel sad about?
To honor the tree i'd say not feeling sad about it is a good start,
I mean that it should be celebrated instead, like when we get our tree
we honor it by having fun and singing holiday songs while decorating
it and dancing around it and just goofing off.