Confessions of a Practical Blonde: Real or Fake?

By Sharon Leary06:00AM / Wednesday, December 19, 2007Print Story | Email Story

The Christmas tree debate Real or fake - which do you prefer for your Christmas tree? Admit it, you thought this article was going to be about something else. It occurred to me recently as I was walking to the pet aisle in Wal-Mart that there were a lot more types of artificial trees this year. What dazzled me the most was the tree that plays music while the lights and bulbs danced in a uniform cadence. As I prepare for the season, memories of past holidays and traditions fill my thoughts. One family tradition in particular sticks out the most: picking out our Christmas tree. For a lot of the early years of my life, we would just stop at a tree outlet and pick out a tree. But in my teen years that changed; our family would get together with other relatives and pick out Christmas trees. Three of my Dad's eleven siblings would designate a date and, with families in tow, we would all venture to a local Christmas tree farm, which I believe was in Hampden. When we arrived, the cousins would run around throwing snowballs and taunting each other. After about an hour of this, the older folks would decide it was time to get serious and pick out trees. Once the tree decisions were made, it was always fun watching my dad and uncles try to cut down the trees. Inevitably there would be some swearing, which we would always giggle about until we were told to go bug our mothers. The trees would get tied to or vehicles or thrown in the back of my Uncle Tommy's truck. While my Grandmother was still alive, we would head over to her house. After she passed, we would end up at my Uncle Tommy's or Aunt Chrissie's house. There we would eat pizza and play board games until well into the evening. When we finally arrived home, the real fun would begin. We laugh about it now, but back then it was serious business. First we had to move the furniture in the living room to accommodate the tree. Then we had to get the tree relatively straight in the stand. Dad would then get the lights and test them out before stringing on the tree. This usually was a good time for us kids to go upstairs and play. As I recall, stringing lights and hanging garland included a variety of curse words that weren't often spoken. When the lights were up and garland was strung, Dad would sit in his chair. We would descend upon the living room where Mom would have the boxes of ornaments ready for us to decorate the tree. Handmade ornaments, plastic bulbs, fine china ornaments and tinsel! I loved to throw the tinsel on the tree. So to answer the question real or fake, I would have to say I prefer a real tree. Unfortunately, I have not had a real tree in more than eight years. I think the last time was in 1999. I make do with a 3-foot artificial. I posed the question "real or fake tree?" to a bunch of friends and co-workers and here are just some of the submissions: My friend Jennifer Civello is a "realist, meaning ... I'd really like to have a real tree, but my kids want it up so early that I have to have a fake one! I actually prefer a real tree, but own a fake because I was alone for so long that I couldn't navigate the cutting down and setup of a real tree." Local resident Dee Burdick loves the smell of a real tree, but hates the cleanup. As mother to several golden retrievers she added, "real trees aren't practical with pets - some like to climb the tree, pull on it or drink the water." Rod Bunt, my favorite go-to-guy, has a slightly different perspective: "To my way of thinking, the question is not 'real or fake.' The question is, why do I spend $30 on a tree that gets thrown on the trash heap at the landfill on January 2nd, while at the same time spending hours storing preserving and then untangling $3 worth of Christmas lights each year?" Another close friend of mine, Kelley Courtney, always sees the beauty and pageantry in life, "Of course I love real trees. The smell of it throughout the house, the fun trying to get it up straight, watching the cats climb it and Mom going crazy yelling at them, stepping on the needles with bare feet and the sap in my long hair when putting on the bulbs! That is Christmas. Every year, we would get the biggest tree we could find. We would get home and my Dad always had to chop some off the top because it was sooooooo huge. Then to get it in the house ... OMG! What a sight it was!" My friend Tracy Fresia loves this family tradition. "Definitely real. It's a tradition that my family goes to Santa's Tree Place on Barker Road. They have great trees and loud Christmas music. You get a tree-shaded wagon, a sharp saw and a little mat to kneel on. Then it's off tree hunting. They have so many great trees that it never takes long to find just the right one. We cut it down and take it back in our tree wagon to be shaken and wrapped for easy transport. It's a great tradition especially if there's snow and it really feels like Christmas. I love the smell in the house that lingers long after Christmas thanks to vacuuming of the pine needles." My good friend Tonya Rossi is the only one to respond to me about her preference for artificial trees. She says she would prefer a fake tree simply because of her love for clean floors. "I would not be able to stand getting needles all over the floor EVERY DAY. I would literally have to attach a hand vacuum to my hip 24/7 just to pick up the littlest tree needle that fell." Many folks who responded to my question came to the same conclusions. As my best friend Billie Jo Sawyer put it, "I prefer a real tree â€“ you have the nice pine smell and obviously it looks real. Fake is good cause they are usually easy to set up and you can get them pre-lit, which is a huge time-saver. Ultimately, I find comfort and beauty in the real tree and when my kids are older I will probably go back to a real one." Iâ€™ve saved the best for last. Here are comments from my co-worker Paul Hopkins and sometimes co-conspirator Keith Bona. Paul Hopkins wrote, First of all, real trees rule. We've used an artificial tree for several years now and while it's convenient, it just takes some of the magic out of the season. It's a crazy tradition anyway - bringing a live tree into your house, and then (at least many years ago) decorating it with lit candles ... I did know a German family who used real candles in the 1970s. Here in North Adams, a specific memory comes to mind. It was years ago so beg pardon if not all the details are exact. When former North Adams wire inspector John Law was involved in decorating the downtown area, he was also involved in an effort to provide trees to the city of Boston for display in various locations. I had John and some of the guys from Boston on my daily radio show ("Opinion," for those who remember it!) and it was lots of fun. A day or so later, I arrive home to find a large tree resting against the back of my house. I don't mean an 8-foot tree. It was 17 feet from top to bottom! A little large for my living room, but we chopped from the top and bottom and made it fit. It took me a few hours to make the connection to John and his buddies because there was no clue as to who left it at the house. Won't forget that one soon. "How to have a fake tree with a real tree experience," by Keith Bona If you still want to get the whole real-tree experience with a fake tree, drive your family to the back roads and walk around the woods for an hour arguing about which tree looks nicer. Then cut a couple branches off an evergreen to use later. On your way home, stop by the landfill and get an old mattress to tie to the roof of your car. Stop at a convenience store to pick up a pine tree air freshener. Once home, move the mattress from place to place in the living room for some good exercise and then throw it in the back yard. Have someone follow you through the house shaking and whacking the evergreen branches on the walls and doorways. Set up the fake tree. Rub the air freshener all over your hands and sniff it until your eyes water. Place a pot under the tree and add a cup of water once a day for the fun of it. After the fake tree is up for a few days take the dead branches you plucked and shake them around the fake tree once a day. That way when you take the fake tree down, you can still have the enjoyment of pulling all the little needles out of the carpet. After all the snow melts in spring, you can either illegally burn the mattress in the back yard or pay the garbage man to take it. There you have it. The majority rules in favor of real trees. So why do we all have artificial? Happy Holidays everyone!

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Your Comments

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I prefer real trees. Fake trees are hard to assemble. Real trees smell good too.
from: C. Annable	on: 12-19-2007 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Do you have anything else to do besides wander a WalMart? There are real issues out here in the real world.
from: Louise Kempler	on: 12-20-2007 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Hey Louise...what to read "real" issues? Then pick up the Wall Street Journal....otherwise, there are many types of journalism, lets be respectful of ALL of them. Happy Holidays :)
from: JR	on: 12-20-2007 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Real tree all the way, the fun frustrations of the activity, kids whining it's too cold, parents bickering over the "perfect" tree, having to cut and haul the tree to the vehicle only to find out that each of you thought the other was bringing the rope! oh the memories, but when it's all done and the smell is through the house and the last decoration is placed you sit back and enjoy! It's a tradition the I'm sure I'm not the only one to say, it's a pleasure and pain, the anticipation of getting the tree gets me in the Holiday spirit every year. Oh, and some of the best ideas come from when we are wondering or walking about, whether it be Walmart or anywhere else. Don't worry so much, live a little, share alitte and love alot! Great article Sharon!!!! Alicianna
from:	on: 12-20-2007 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Louise I can see you are full of the "holiday spirit"...NOT. Sharon I always enjoy reading your articles. Louise might not realize you are a columnist not a reporter. Your writings always remind me of good times from my childhood.
from: Fake Tree	on: 12-20-2007 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Sharon, As always, I enjoyed your article!!! I sit here reading with a huge grin on my face just thinking back to when I was growing up! Real all the way for me as you know! Keep you wonderful articles coming my way. I love them. -KC
from: Kelley C	on: 12-27-2007 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

SteepleCats Shut Out on Road

iBerkshires.com Sports09:56PM / Monday, June 08, 2026

MONTPELIER, Vt. -- Four Vermont pitchers combined to strike out 11 and allow four hits Tuesday as the Mountaineers beat the North Adams SteepleCats, 11-0, in New England Collegiate Baseball League action.

Evan Meier, Bobby Stang, Tonny Woodie and Chris Diaz each had a hit for the SteepleCats, who used five pitchers in the loss.

North Adams (0-2) comes home Tuesday to host the Mystic Schooners at 6:30 p.m. at Joe Wolfe Field.

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