Is it embarrassing to have a fake Christmas tree?

Is it like a shameful act or is it acceptable in society? People at work were like “real trees only!” “The smell is vital!” and I was afraid to admit I had a fake one in the basement. I’m not sure if really want the house to smell like pine tree anyway? Am I the social outcast I always knew deep down that I actually am? For the record I grew up Jewish but now don’t follow any religion and a tree seems like a fun thing to have. But not a real one.

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Heartlander · 80-89, M

In general, real trees are very, very flammable. If you want it, you can get the "pine smell" with just a tiny pine branch. My preference is to skip the tree, whether real or not, and instead get poinsettias ...

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAf8Le4Qr7M]

Fallflower · 46-50, F

@Heartlander I actually have a huge poinsettia. This video makes it seem on par with taking care of a newborn.

Heartlander · 80-89, M

Yes, that probably accounts for why most poinsettias don't survive much beyond the Christmas season :)

In a previous life (years and years ago when the kids were young) we had a real tree we bought from one of the corner Christmas tree venders. After Christmas, rather than just pitch it out, I thought I'd experiment and see just how dangerous they were. So I took it out to the back yard and put a match to it to see how fast it would burn. It didn't burn, it EXPLODED. The entire tree ignited instantly in one big, intense fireball.

Sort of like this but our's was much faster. It was a few days after New Year and probably much drier than one here ...

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQT8yOYJKxQ]

Fallflower · 46-50, F

@Heartlander holy crap that is terrifying