Fluff: Which better reflects the hope of the season?

[TechBear_Seattle]

An interesting debate has come up between me and my beau. Which type of greenery better reflects the spirit of hope: natural evergreens or artificial evergreens?

The question came up while we were talking about traditional symbols of winter, specifically using fir, holly and mistletoe to decorate the home. My take, drawing my a Wiccan background, was that the greenery represented a message of hope in the depths of winter, that no matter how cold or dark things got, there was always life waiting for conditions to change and return in abundance. He immediately pointed out that fir trees, pine wreaths, holly garlands and mistletoe sprigs were sentenced to death the moment the plant material was cut off, and thus they carried a message of death and decay. He said that artifical greenery, such as a plastic tree, was much more suitable because it would not die.

I'm curious as to what others might think about this question, and why. :hi:

[Ron Green]

1. Neither: a live tree that's planted in the ground after Christmas.

This is what we've done for the past few years. It gives a great-looking tree in the house, and then a healthy young tree in the garden.

[TechBear_Seattle]

3. Good point

The discussion came up over my tradition of buying a fir wreath, which is kind of hard to replant. I like the idea of a living tree, though; I might go that route this year (if I can find one I can set up in my small apartment.)

[beam me up scottie]

4. I agree. Live trees are wonderful.

Years ago I went home to my parent's for the holidays and I went out into the woods to cut down a tree. I found a beautiful spruce, it was perfect.
I grabbed my ax and noticed my fingers were already getting numb. It reminded me of how cold Vermont winters are, and how long.
I started thinking about how many years it takes for a tree to reach that height, and how so many saplings never make it past their first.

I couldn't go through with it.

It deserved to live, the thought of cutting it down and watching it die slowly in our living room was repulsive.

I went back home and explained to my mother why I didn't have a tree.

We went out the next day and bought a beautiful (and very expensive) artificial tree.

I don't do Christmas anymore, but every time I see a dying tree in someone's living room, or their skeletons lying out on the curb in January, I mourn a little.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

6. I own a Christmas tree farm here in Tallahassee

and planted every single one of them, along with my husband. And I have watered them, fed them, talked to them and protected them. The thing is, they are Virginia pines, and if they aren't cut down before, say 10 feet, they grow into awful gnarly things and just flat out die. Not even the woodpeckers will sit in them. So, at least in the south, when you cut down a sandpine or Va pine, you are just beating mother nature by a year or so. Oh, for every one that we take down, we plant a seedling. So there's no oxygen issue. And when we bought the land it was just dirt.

I vote for natural, but don't put them up too early! Then they will stay green.

[phantom power]

2. Death is *part* of life.

At least, until I purchase the secret of immortality. But I've said too much.

[bloom]

5. Ideally

If you had access to a pine tree - you could trim some branches and it's just like pruning - it doesn't hurt the tree.

And there is the point about death/life - the whole symbolic thing - which plastic does not address.

I like the smell of pine/evergreens.

Last year - I created an earth/planet/space sort of still life - with a few cut greens around.


This year I may do something with some recycled materials - or whatever I have around. With some cut greens, as well (but I have them right outside the door).