Post by seeyalater52 on Dec 28, 2021 11:33:39 GMT -5
The past couple of years we have left the (fake) tree up for a good long time out of a combination of inertia, depression, and enjoyment of twinkly lights. I expect the same this year.
Post by icedcoffee on Dec 28, 2021 11:57:22 GMT -5
We used to keep them up until after the old calendar Xmas (1/7) but the past few years we have put up our tree thanksgiving and by 1/1 I am over it so usually the first day everyone is out of the house after the NY so this year it will be Monday the 3rd.
The dry tree worry is one of the several reasons we don't get real trees. When I was a kid I had a friend whose family would take their tree (sans decorations and lights but full of tinsel and garland) outside the week after Xmas and set it on fire. It hardly took anything to get that sucker blazing. Whenever I was over at their house when they did it I'd always think, "That was in your HOUSE." No thank you.
My dad was a volunteer firefighter for 20 years and has worked a career in risk management, which is why I SMH when I see people driving their real trees home the day after Thanksgiving. How freaking dry and dead will that thing be by Christmas?!
I feel like we've had this conversation before, but I've had a live tree every single year of my life and for the most part as long as you actually keep it watered, a fresh cut tree does fine from the weekend after thanksgiving through christmas.
Like this year we let it dry out completely at least twice, which was bad so it has to come down. But as long as it never goes dry, they really will just keep drinking and stay fresh for a long ass time. I cannot say the same is true of trees that came precut from a lot and were cut for who knows how long, or trees that may have been a bit rough before you even cut them down.
I know once upon a time there was some sort of study that found artificial and real trees actually were actually similar levels of fire hazard (i.e. artificial trees were way more flammable than people assumed, which makes sense - long skinny pieces of plastic burn just fine) but that was long enough ago that I'm assuming they've changed standards on those trees to make them less flammable.
My dad was a volunteer firefighter for 20 years and has worked a career in risk management, which is why I SMH when I see people driving their real trees home the day after Thanksgiving. How freaking dry and dead will that thing be by Christmas?!
I feel like we've had this conversation before, but I've had a live tree every single year of my life and for the most part as long as you actually keep it watered, a fresh cut tree does fine from the weekend after thanksgiving through christmas.
Like this year we let it dry out completely at least twice, which was bad so it has to come down. But as long as it never goes dry, they really will just keep drinking and stay fresh for a long ass time. I cannot say the same is true of trees that came precut from a lot and were cut for who knows how long, or trees that may have been a bit rough before you even cut them down.
I know once upon a time there was some sort of study that found artificial and real trees actually were actually similar levels of fire hazard (i.e. artificial trees were way more flammable than people assumed, which makes sense - long skinny pieces of plastic burn just fine) but that was long enough ago that I'm assuming they've changed standards on those trees to make them less flammable.
But everybody makes their own risk assessment.
I don't care that people get them, but it's fun to revisit the argument. I just personally don't because lord knows I'd forget to water it and it would go up in flames.
We don't decorate until on or after St. Nicolas Day and it comes down sometime after epiphany, which means it is up for about a month. We will sometimes take the outdoor stuff down earlier or put it up sooner, depending on weather.
The dry tree worry is one of the several reasons we don't get real trees. When I was a kid I had a friend whose family would take their tree (sans decorations and lights but full of tinsel and garland) outside the week after Xmas and set it on fire. It hardly took anything to get that sucker blazing. Whenever I was over at their house when they did it I'd always think, "That was in your HOUSE." No thank you.
My dad was a volunteer firefighter for 20 years and has worked a career in risk management, which is why I SMH when I see people driving their real trees home the day after Thanksgiving. How freaking dry and dead will that thing be by Christmas?!
My understanding is that if you’re buying pre-cut (which is what my family always has done) they’re all harvested at the same time, so buying closer to the holiday doesn’t actually get you a fresher cut tree than getting it Thanksgiving weekend.
Ironically, our volunteer fire department does a Christmas tree sale every year as their major fundraiser. I always joke that they’re drumming up business. But they open the weekend before Thanksgiving and are sold out and closed by early to mid December. We often buy our trees there.
We usually do it New Year's Day, but it's been a crappy week, so we'll likely leave them up for a while longer (also, I might not be out of my quarantine at that point). Maybe a week or so into January.
It’s always a huge debate. I insist epiphany, H is ready by NYD. Maybe I won’t be so insistent this year, as I like them up so the house is lit up when I get home at pitch black 7:00. But, WFH means I, not driving up in the middle of the night/evening. Blech! I hate dark winter.
My dad was a volunteer firefighter for 20 years and has worked a career in risk management, which is why I SMH when I see people driving their real trees home the day after Thanksgiving. How freaking dry and dead will that thing be by Christmas?!
I feel like we've had this conversation before, but I've had a live tree every single year of my life and for the most part as long as you actually keep it watered, a fresh cut tree does fine from the weekend after thanksgiving through christmas.
Like this year we let it dry out completely at least twice, which was bad so it has to come down. But as long as it never goes dry, they really will just keep drinking and stay fresh for a long ass time. I cannot say the same is true of trees that came precut from a lot and were cut for who knows how long, or trees that may have been a bit rough before you even cut them down.
I know once upon a time there was some sort of study that found artificial and real trees actually were actually similar levels of fire hazard (i.e. artificial trees were way more flammable than people assumed, which makes sense - long skinny pieces of plastic burn just fine) but that was long enough ago that I'm assuming they've changed standards on those trees to make them less flammable.
But everybody makes their own risk assessment.
Some might argue that buying it the week of Thanksgiving, and then immediately putting it in water is better than buying one off the lot mid-December. Because they were probably cut down the same time. One has been drying out on the lot with no water. 🤷♀️ I’m a live tree lover, so I might just be enabling.
I feel like we've had this conversation before, but I've had a live tree every single year of my life and for the most part as long as you actually keep it watered, a fresh cut tree does fine from the weekend after thanksgiving through christmas.
Like this year we let it dry out completely at least twice, which was bad so it has to come down. But as long as it never goes dry, they really will just keep drinking and stay fresh for a long ass time. I cannot say the same is true of trees that came precut from a lot and were cut for who knows how long, or trees that may have been a bit rough before you even cut them down.
I know once upon a time there was some sort of study that found artificial and real trees actually were actually similar levels of fire hazard (i.e. artificial trees were way more flammable than people assumed, which makes sense - long skinny pieces of plastic burn just fine) but that was long enough ago that I'm assuming they've changed standards on those trees to make them less flammable.
But everybody makes their own risk assessment.
We are live tree people (lol) and what i have noticed is that if you cut them from a farm, they last much longer. The live ones you buy in a large metropolitan area have usually been cut weeks to a month before they get put on a lot, so they tend to dry out and loose needles quickest. I feel like this board should do a non scientific study on it next year Our trees are always fine through and beyond Christmas, very few needles being dropped too.
hey man, if people want to provide weekly assessment of tree crispiness levels i'll keep the spreadsheet...
The past couple of years we have left the (fake) tree up for a good long time out of a combination of inertia, depression, and enjoyment of twinkly lights. I expect the same this year.
I was going to say that I leave everything up through the 12th day, but this is a more honest assessment of my reality. I usually manage to get it down some time in February.
We went away for Christmas this year, so I never got around to putting the ornaments on our tree. I'm sure it will still take me ages to take it down.
Post by litebright on Dec 28, 2021 14:16:07 GMT -5
Ours is already out. We always get a real tree, and while this one was still soft and in good shape, DH gets antsy and starts looking for things to do, lol.
@@@@ Normally it's not quite that lickety split, but we also have a kiddo with a birthday the first week of January and we definitely make sure all holiday decorations are down so that her birthday feels like its own celebration.
Super local assessment of time, I just remembered my neighbor asking if our lights were going to stay on through the Denver National Western Stockshow (end of January). Which I think is actually a legit thing in the area, especially for the older local folks. CO locals - confirm or deny?
We got a real tree this year and I love it. It's the perfect size and shape and we finally figured out the best place to put it. I love seeing it every morning and every evening before bed. I hate to take it down, but we will probably do it on Jan. 1. The years we've had an artificial tree we usually started to take ornaments off the weekend after New Years (whether than was Jan. 2 or Jan. 8) and then took way too long to completely un-decorate and take it down. Hopefully having a real tree will at least motivate us to finish the job more quickly.
H has fond memories of his dad burning their trees in the fireplace after New Year. It is supposed to bring good luck. We don't have a fireplace, but H has burned our previous live trees in a fire pit outside if the weather was cooperative (live in Michigan so it can be too cold to make it worth standing outside long enough to burn a tree).
If it were up to my husband, Dec. 26. I think I can get him to New Year’s Day, though. I’m still getting and hanging what I call “retaliatory” Christmas cards, though, and I love them, so I may keep that part of the “decor” going a little longer.
I put the cards on my fridge and leave them there all year!
The trees come down whenever we get tired of them...so I guess sometime between Epiphany and the end of the month.
The outdoor stuff usually stays lit until Epiphany, and then we take it down and put it away when we have time. Since DH wfh, it's an activity that he does whenever he wants a little time out of the office, instead of waiting for the weekend.
In Canada, around New Year's. Often on New Year's Day.
In Brazil, after January 6th, All Kings Day. My husband is adamant about that tradition. But I am so sick of my Christmas Tree by then. I think next year, I will put it out a little later.
Post by RitzyHeifer on Dec 28, 2021 18:05:45 GMT -5
I used to be a strict Christmas tree up the weekend after thanksgiving and down on New Years Day, but now it’s more tree comes down at some point while my university workplace is closed for winter break.