TO BE OR NOT TO BE is not the question. Rather, the question is this: Real or artificial? Do you prefer a real Christmas tree or an artificial one?
There’s no right or wrong answer here. Rather tree choice is a matter of personal preference. But I am unequivocally a real Christmas tree kind of woman.
Given my farm background, my strong connection to the land, my love of simple and natural, I have always selected a real tree. Even when I lived in a college dorm and my own apartment, I had real trees. The dorm tree was a small potted Norfolk Island Pine, gifted to me by my Secret Angel, Elise, during my freshman year at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato.
My preference for real Christmas trees, though, traces back to my childhood. Each December our family trekked to the local grocery store—back in the days when Vesta had a corner store and a whole block of businesses—to peruse the trees leaning against the exterior storefront. I don’t recall details, only that our tree was small, short and short-needled, intentionally so.
I lived in a tiny 1 ½ story farmhouse during the first 11 years of my life. An oil-burning stove and several pieces of furniture filled the living room, leaving no space for a Christmas tree. Our tree sat on the end of the Formica kitchen table, next to the west-facing drafty window. Remembering it from an adult perspective, that tree had to be really small. But I loved the imperfect Charlie Brown tree. Everything from the colorful bulb lights to the ornaments to the tinsel draping the boughs delighted me.
Today that childhood nostalgia deeply influences my tree choice. I prefer imperfect and smallish to anything sculpted or over-sized. Seven foot ceilings also limit the height of our tree.
When my kids were little, our friends Joy and Steve invited us to their rural property to cut down a pine tree from among those they intentionally planted for Christmas trees. I hold fond memories of our young family weaving among the trees to find just the right one. Eventually that forest was depleted and it was on to other options—like Farmer Seed and Nursery, Faribault Garden Center or Donahue’s Greenhouse. The nursery and garden center are permanently closed now, Donahue’s no longer open at Christmas.
Our go-to tree source now is Ken’s Christmas Trees, a temporary tree lot set up in a parking lot next to the now-closed Taco John’s. Ken Mueller started his holiday side business years ago at a north-side Faribault site along a busy thoroughfare. Eventually, he had to move and we followed him to his new location.
Ken has since retired. Sort of. On the December day Randy and I stopped by to buy our tree, he was vending trees, wreaths and more. His kids have taken over the business, but can’t always be there. So Ken steps in. And when he’s not around, he’s still there. A life-size photo cut-out of the Christmas tree vendor stands next to a row of trees. It was a surprise to Ken, who, even if he may not admit it, appreciates the unexpected, humorous recognition.
Ken’s Christmas Trees seems to have a loyal following of customers who appreciate his fresh trees, trucked in from Up North. Sizes and shapes range from the short and Charlie Brownish to larger, sculpted. Every year I bundle up, head to the west side of town and search for my imperfectly perfect Christmas tree.
TELL ME: Is your Christmas tree real or artificial? Why? I’d love to hear your stories.
© Copyright 2023 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
love the tinsel ! We always had tinsel on our tree as kids in South Dakota. but the best part of the photo were the bow ties that your brothers were wearing. my brothers did the same:) loved it!!
Merry Christmas. lov your tree!! Kathy
Kathy, I didn’t even think about the bow ties. So thanks for pointing that out. My son likes to wear colorful bow ties. Or at least he did a few years back. Merry Christmas to you also! Thanks for sharing your SD memories.
Yay for your real tree! I love them. The smell, the memories… ❤
So much tied into a real tree, including the scent.
Growing up we had a real tree from a tree lot. We did put tinsel on it too. These days I have replaced tinsel with glass icicles. Also, downstairs in our finished basement my mom put up a sparkly aluminum tree with a color wheel shining on it – remember those?
When our boys were growing up we would go to a tree farm and cut a fresh tree. One year when the tree was placed in the warm house, a nest of bugs hatched and we had to fumigate the house. ;-0
Valerie, thanks for sharing your memories. How awful that a nest of bugs hatched. I’ve never seen an aluminum tree with a color wheel. I’m glad you appreciate Ken’s as much as I do.
I love seeing your childhood family and tree! that is such a precious photo. also enjoyed your story of your trees over the years. I love real trees, the hunt for them, the smell, everything. your post has reminded me of a post I put a number of years back about the local place where I go, and the very funny experience there. keep your eye out for it!
I’ll be watching for your Christmas tree post. And, yes, that childhood pic is precious. I have so few photos from my childhood.
These are lovely memories. I don’t have a tree this year. I gave my 7’ prelit one to my son for his new place. I was going to get one, but I’m not feeling it this year.
I’m sure your son appreciated getting your tree. Some years we feel less in the Christmas spirit than other years. I’ve been in that spot, too. If you don’t feel like putting up a tree, that’s OK.
You posed a good question! I love real trees and have yet to succumb to an artificial one. Growing up we went to a tree farm just a few miles from home. Now I find one at our local farm/home store which is the only place to get a real tree. I try to go when there is 20% off because trees have become very expensive. But, the scent and the fact that each tree is different is well worth it. I too need to have a smaller tree – 7 foot ceiling in the sunporch where it goes. Enjoyed seeing your childhood Christmas photo. In color too! What memories!
Colleen, thanks for sharing about your Christmas tree.
The childhood photo was taken by an aunt, thus the color film. I love that image, one of my favorites.
Our tree this year cost $30, which I consider reasonably priced.
Most of my life we always had a real tree. But the last 14 years, we’ve had a fake tree. It’s been nice to have less mess. The grandchildren love putting it together and decorating it, while we listen to Christmas music. The joy hasn’t diminished because the tree isn’t real. 🎄
Excellent point about joy not being diminished by the type of tree you have. Sounds like you have a good time decorating with the grands.
REAL all the way!! And yes, they’re always imperfect but I love them for that!
Imperfect is perfect, indeed.
OMW – Beauty of a Tree you have – LOVE 🙂 I still remember my grandma and her formal white living room and her hot pink Christmas tree that she would put up in the room. When I was a kid I loved the tree just as much a the presents that slowly start appearing under it. Now as an adult it is more about the tradition, the gathering, the making of memories with loved ones this time of year. The time to just unwind from the busyness and the go, go, go pace of life. We went to the Christmas Parade this past weekend and it was just amazing to see the kids anticipation about Santa (as well as the Grinch), the little candies and treasures (baseball hats, rubber ducks, beads), and just their overall excitement and joy. Our baseball teams go all out and then you have the local fire department and Santa coming in on the Fire Engine. Then of course Operation Santa where for weeks Santa goes through every neighborhood on the Fire Engine. Tis the Season – Happy Day – Enjoy!
It sounds like you are very much enjoying the Christmas season. Thanks for sharing memories of that hot pink tree and of what your Florida community does today.
Love your tree memories. As a child of the 40-50s, the folks rural and German ancestry, we had lots of tinsel on the real trees brought over from St. Mary’s school vs. letting them dry up. We tried real trees for a while, but hot apts, then the house, gave way to little table artificial trees. Now I decorate the patio for the winter, a real table top with big bulbs that shine through the snow, when it arrives. If it goes up in Nov., stays up until March. And lots of glassware inside! Merry Christmas! loving all the FLS videos and celebrations!
Thanks for sharing your tree memories and your current day decorating.
Definitely a real tree enthusiast here although this year we opted to not but one and have decorated a “volunteer” pine in our yard that has grown exponentially this year! I love it!
Sounds wonderful to decorate a volunteer pine in your yard.
I love real trees at Christmas – I love the smell and feel of them. We have a tradition of getting our trees from the University of Minnesota forestry students at their annual lot near the St. Paul Campus and the University golf course. In years past, we often got our trees from the local Lions tree lot. Mick and I have gone on the Saturday after Thanksgiving for our tree for many years now. We had a few years when we had an artificial tree, which we’ve long since given to my son Shawn and his wife; it was a slimline tree that fits in tight spaces. Serves them well. My parents sometimes had real trees, but, more often put up an artificial one. I do remember the rotating light wheel and an aluminum tree when I was very little; that fascinated me.
Kathleen, thank you for sharing all your family tree memories. I have really enjoyed reading the comments here about Christmas trees.