We gave up on tinsel several years ago because there was some campaign against it and was impossible to find. My DH decided he liked the tree better without so you can really see the ornaments on the tree. Can't remember when he stopped putting the garland on the tree. Just one year it just didn't hang well, so it went in the trash, we finished the tree and that was it. I would love to have a real tree but my DH worked with a bunch of firefighters and was warned against them since we live in a very dry area and we put the tree up the day after Thanksgiving. (I'm the one you see wandering thru the tree lots inhaling deeply.) I usually buy a wreath to hang in the house.