.

Fakey McFakesalot over here. I put real trees in the same category of real pets; too much damn cleanup involved. Sap is the work of the devil, no doubt. And as I believe has been mentioned, in hot climates half the time the real trees look like shit anyway.

Ours has held up for 5, maybe 6 years now, and still looks great.

People should have whatever sort of tree they want. If people don't feel good about their tree then it's their right to do what they want with it. Unfortunately, a lot of people don't feel good about their tree because of what society tells us all trees look like.

Nobody would ever argue that we don't have a inalienable right to a real tree.

Oh I'm sure somebody could argue about it. That's why it's not really a right, because not everyone would agree. If we all agreed, then it would be a right.

Just ask Radar

lol! Jinx likes the link!!!
Please...help me spread the gospel of Jim Gaffigan!!! In fact- buy the whole routine..."Beyond the Pale"......hilarious! Good Christmas idea for a friend with a good sense of humor actually!

JINX!!!!!!!!! Fabulous! Laughed 'til I cried.

As to the tree: Fake in our house. I decorate the day after Thanksgiving, disassemble the day after new year's. No way could I keep it alive that long.. and I'm not cleaning up after it. Regarding the pets: I actually put our ex-pen around the tree this year. Between the cats and the puppies... fahgedaboudit.

Maybe I'll hang candy canes from the gate. Festive!

You think American Christmas traditions are silly?
Australians do the same things ... sit inside at 2 pm and feast on roast turkey, roast vegetables, ham, cake, set fire to a pudding, wine, port/sherry ... but we do it in the middle of a blazing hot summer day that is maybe 39 degrees centigrade (100+ Fahrenheit). :eyebrow:
Shops paint pretend snow on their windows on days where the roads are becoming sticky from the heat. And pity the poor bugger who has to wear the Santa suit anywhere that isn't airconditioned.

Bwahahaha!
Inheriting the Christmas traditions from a different hemisphere!

On the subject of tradition, I was so proud of Leicester for its multi-faith approach to festivities. Now I find it followed me to London. Okay I saw no local (official) celebration of Diwali or Eid, but a 30 foot Menora was erected in Trafalgar Square (central London) as well as a Christmas tree AND a nativity scene. I took a couple of pics, but they are even worse than the ones I've already posted of my days out.

We missed the free potato latkes and chocolate coins, but I was glad to see it nevertheless.

What's happened to your skills, SG? Your earlier pictures and videos, were great.

We're having bbq and seafood for lunch with my Dad this year. After that we'll probably have a swim in the dam...maybe suck on a few mangoes and then have a watermelon fight. After that we might need another swim.

We gave away the hot lunch thing years ago in our family. It's just too stupid for words in my opinion.

Fake tree, with some natural pine wreaths around for their scent -- for the sake of conserving trees, mainly. Incidentally for not getting dropped needles all over the floor from door to living room.

Also, a wreath for your car's grill, according with the graceful custom that has grown up in the last few decades. This may as well be artificial for durability.

Conserving trees? Sustainable farming, dude.