Hi Reader,

At the start of every month, I like to kick things off with a question—something light, seasonal, and maybe a little bit spicy.

This month’s:

🎄 If Christmas is your jam, are you Team Real Tree or Team Fake Tree? 🎄

Growing up, we were solidly Fake Tree folks. My parents didn’t have a car, and we didn’t live anywhere near the kind of woods you’d want to wander into for a tree (unless you count the weedy strip behind the laundromat). So out came the same dusty box every December, filled with scratchy plastic branches that looked vaguely tree-ish if you squinted and dimmed the lights.

Then came college. Enter roommates with a strong preference for real trees and enough optimism to think we could keep one alive in a freezing New England rental. We made it a whole production: tree farm, roof rack, hot cocoa, carols, the works.

That’s also when I discovered I’m near-deathly allergic to live Christmas trees. One minute I was decking the halls; the next, I was wheezing, sneezing, and blotchy from head to toe. Good times.

Also—and I know I’m not the only one asking this—why are we dragging dead trees into our homes, wrapping them in electric lights, and calling it festive? It’s basically a seasonal fire hazard we decorate and pose in front of. Nostalgia is a hell of a drug.

These days? I keep it simple. I put up my little porcelain tree, plug it in, watch it glow, and call it a day. No needles, no sneezing, no sap. Holiday magic with none of the ER visits.

So what about you? Are you Team Real, Team Fake, or Team “I Lit a Candle and Called It Merry”?

Hit reply and let me know—I live for these monthly debates.

Warmly (but not too close to the open flame),

Best,

If you’ve got a holiday tradition that beats the porcelain tree for low-maintenance cheer, I’m all ears.