Vault: Do you put up a Christmas Tree if you're single?

Summary

The Bert Show: "Vault: Do you put up a Christmas Tree if you're single?"

Date: May 22, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode dives into the sometimes surprisingly emotional question: Should single people put up a Christmas tree? The Bert Show crew—Chris, Derek, Emily, Frank, and callers—share perspectives, memories, and logistical challenges behind solo holiday decorating, exploring whether the tradition is reserved for those partnered up or hosting, or if it should be embraced as a self-care ritual. Listeners chime in with their passions, doubts, and clever hacks, making this a lively, relatable exploration of holiday traditions when flying solo.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Central Dilemma: To Tree or Not to Tree? (01:30)

• Chris introduces the topic, relaying her social media poll and her own hesitance about putting up a tree as a single woman in a large space ("to tree or not to tree?").
  • She questions the logistics, effort, and whether it's “worth it” if it’s only for herself, especially with the physical challenge of hauling a tree alone and the expense.
    • “Is it worth it to spend the money on it… if anybody else is even going to see it?” (02:06)

2. Perspectives from the Panel (02:10 – 03:54)

• Derek reassures Chris about managing a tree solo, playfully dismissing the idea that only couples do it.
• Emily shares that she only did a small fake tree:
  • "All I did was put up a little fake tree...and it still made me more depressed because there's not gonna be any gifts under that tree." (03:01)
• Frank says he’s always decorated, single or not, seeing it as part of life’s continuity:
  • “When I was single, my life was still the same as if I was dating somebody.” (03:24)
  • Proposes it shouldn’t just be about partnership, but the spirit and personal joy.

3. The Gender Divide? (03:17 – 03:54)

• Derek notes that as a single dude, it never crossed his mind to put up a tree, implying maybe it resonates differently for women.

4. Social Media Feedback (04:45 – 05:14)

• Chris summarizes varied listener feedback:
  • Some steadfastly say “no sense in a tree for one person.”
  • Others share hacks like using evergreen room spray on fake trees.
  • “Bought some evergreen room spray from Bath and Body Works to spray on the tree. Maybe it'll fake people out. Lol.” - Listener Monica (04:45)

5. The “Do It For You” Mantra (05:14 – 06:40)

• Notably, Brittany (@middaybritney) offers the sentiment:
  • "I always decorated for me, not for anyone else, so do what you want to do." (05:14)
• Other callers and panel members echo this:
  • “To me, I mean, it's Christmas. Whether it's me in the house, I'll decorate for me.” - Frank (05:27)
  • Repeated advice from listeners: decorate for yourself, regardless of outside validation or visits.

6. Real Tree vs. Fake Tree? (04:36)

• Debated briefly, with the panel noting it depends on whether you’re hosting and how much “trouble” you’re willing to go through.

7. Callers’ Experiences and Pep Talks (05:43 – 07:11)

• Nicole:
  • “I'm a total Christmas person, and I just—I would live in Christmas decorated anything all year round…It'll help her get in the spirit. It'll always keep you in a good mood.” (05:50)
• Christina:
  • “Do it for yourself. Don't do it for anybody else. Worrying about a man coming over, anybody seeing it…it's all about, what are you willing to do to make yourself happy?” (06:14)
• More listeners encourage Chris to “put up that tree,” with repeated refrains about it being for your own enjoyment and that if someone comes into your life, it won’t be a major production.

8. The Holiday Mojo & Practical Side (06:23 – 06:46)

• Derek assures Chris it’s a “mojo thing” (doing what energizes you), but Chris brings up practical points: money, the quantity of ornaments, and whether half-hearted decorating is worth the effort.

9. Expanding on Holiday Decor (07:42 – 08:34)

• Chat turns to how else one can decorate, with playful banter: fancy dishes, themed towels—even a tally on how many Santas Derek’s wife Stacy owns (guessing game: more than 35 or 50 Santas!).

10. Lighthearted Religious and Tradition Jokes (07:17 – 08:10)

• The crew jokingly suggests not having a tree equates to not caring about Baby Jesus or being an atheist, all in good playful spirit.
  • "Unless you don't care about the birth of baby Jesus, like Melissa doesn't." (07:18, Host)
  • "So I think what the callers are saying are put up a tree or go to hell." (07:31, Host)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Chris (on logistics):

  • "First of all, how am I gonna get it into my car and into my house by myself?...It's the balancing act of getting it into the Christmas tree stand and screwing it in." (02:06)

• Emily (on singlehood and the holidays):

  • "It still made me more depressed because there's not gonna be any gifts under that tree." (03:01)

• Frank (on why traditions shouldn’t be dependent on relationship status):

  • “My life was still the same as if I was dating somebody.” (03:24)
  • “To me, I mean, it's Christmas. Whether it's me in the house, I'll decorate for me.” (05:27)

• Listener Brittany (via social):

  • "I always decorated for me, not for anyone else, so do what you want to do." (05:14)

• Derek (joking on tree and religious symbolism):

  • "Unless you don't care about the birth of baby Jesus, like Melissa doesn't." (07:18)
  • "So I think what the callers are saying are put up a tree or go to hell." (07:31)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:30 – 03:54: Chris introduces the conundrum and discusses with the panel
• 03:54: Listener/social media responses on singlehood and tree tradition
• 04:36: Real vs. Fake tree debate
• 05:14: “Do it for you” becomes the central rallying cry
• 05:43 – 07:11: Uplifting caller responses and advice
• 07:17 – 08:34: Holiday jokes, Santas, and exploring decorating beyond trees

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Recap & Takeaways

• The consensus is clear: single people should decorate for themselves if it brings them joy—the effort is worth it if it lifts your spirit.
• The episode playfully affirms holiday traditions don’t need external validation or company—they can be sources of solo happiness.
• Listeners and cast balance heartfelt advice and light, self-deprecating humor, making a relatable holiday chat for anyone who’s ever questioned the point of pulling out the holiday boxes alone.

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In short:
Put up the tree. Do it for you. And maybe count your Santas while you’re at it.

Transcript

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[Chris]

show I have a question for the single people.

[Derek]

Oh, it's single.

[Emily]

Oh, that's me.

[Chris]

Oh, the single ladies. Do you put up a Christmas tree or do you not? And this is something I asked on my Facebook page yesterday, like, to tree or not to tree? That is the question when you're single because you want to get a Christmas tree and get into the spirit of everything. And like last night I started, like, cleaning up so I could, like, pull out the Christmas decorations that I have. And I've got these, like, dishes that I only use during Christmas time. I've got little gold trees on them or whatever. And so I was like thinking, okay, first of all, how am I gonna get it into my car and into my house by myself? Can I?

[Derek]

You're not Some like weak woman that can't handle a Christmas tree herself.

[Emily]

Yeah, but they're heavy.

[Chris]

They're heavy. And there's sometimes, especially if you want to get a big one. And I live in a loft with humongous ceilings. So it can't get like a wimpy tree. Like it'd have to be a pretty good size, you know, a good size one so that it sort of like fills out. And then like the, it's the balancing act of getting it into the Christmas tree stand and screwing it in and all that kind of stuff. So I started going through the logistics of it in my mind and then I'm like, okay, is it worth it? Is it worth it to spend the money on it? Is it worth it? If anybody else is going to see it, I'll probably have girlfriends over this holiday season and you know, like might have some visitors from out of town. And so I was thinking, you know, that would be kind of a cool thing to do. But is it worth it? And do single people always get Christmas trees or not? And then the response on the Facebook page is like more comments than I've ever gotten on anything else I've ever posted.

[Derek]

404-741-Q100 what are some of the things on the Facebook page?

[Chris]

Hang on one second, let me pull it up.

[Emily]

I say if you have friends over and you have guys that are coming over, I'd say put up a tree. But all I did was put up a little fake tree. Like it wasn't anything spectacular and it still made me more depressed because there's not gonna be any gifts under that tree. I mean all the gifts are gonna be like. Cuz you don't have anybody to give you a present.

[Derek]

Never even thought of this, this may be a woman thing. When I was a single guy, I never even thought about putting up a Christmas tree.

[Frank]

I'm fascinated because I've, I mean, in my dating life I was single far more than I was dating somebody and I never, I never did anything different. Like I put up a tree and I did put up decorations and everything because just because I feel like. Yeah, because when I was single, my life was still the same as if I was dating somebody. So it sounds like, it almost sounds like it's not. Your singlehood is not as fulfilling as if you were with somebody. Like it's only if there was a guy in your life. Is the only reason to put up a tree?

[Chris]

No, not necessarily that, but like if you're not hosting any parties or having people over and you're only putting it up for yourself.

[Derek]

You don't have family here, and you don't have family.

[Chris]

Is it worth the effort of putting it all up? I don't think it's necessarily just about a guy in your life. I think it's about having anybody else over to your house to actually see it, or are you just gonna see it and enjoy it? You know?

[Derek]

Hey, Chris.

[Guest]

Hey, guys. Thanks for having me. I just want to say, if you're gonna have guys come over, like, and they're potentially gonna be dates, then definitely put up a tree. Because last year I went to a girl's house, and we were just starting to date, and she didn't even want to put up a tree because of the whole I'm single type deal. But if you're just having friends over and it's nonchalant and it's just gonna be a couple girls, then, yeah, put up a fake tree.

[Chris]

That was the other debate. Real tree, fake tree.

[Emily]

I'd say get a real one if you're gonna have friends over. I think if you're hosting parties, you definitely need a tree.

[Chris]

I mean, it seems split down the middle. Some people are like, no tree. No sense in a tree. Just for one person. Other people says, Another one says, I'm surprised. I bought a real tree for several years, and then it became too much trouble. So I bought a fake one a couple years ago. This year, I bought some evergreen room spray from Bath and Body Works to spray on the tree. Maybe it'll fake people out. Lol. That's from Monica. And so everybody kind of had a different take on it.

[Host]

I thought Brittany's advice to you was the best.

[Chris]

Which one was it?

[Host]

I don't know if it came in on Facebook or Twitter or whatever, but

[Chris]

it probably came in on Twitter.

[Host]

Brittany, Midday Britney wrote, I always decorated for me, not for anyone else, so do what you want to do.

[Chris]

That's what Melissa was saying.

[Frank]

That's what everybody seems to be calling.

[Chris]

Yeah. I think it's sad that you don't

[Frank]

think that even if it's just you, it's enough for the effort. Because to me, I mean, it's Christmas. Whether it's me in the house, I'll decorate for me.

[Chris]

But the tree thing, it seems like the next level.

[Derek]

If I was single and alone, I wouldn't even decorate the house, honestly.

[Frank]

Yeah, I always had a tree.

[Derek]

I wouldn't have anybody around. Hey, Nicole. Go ahead. You're on Q100.

[Caller 1]

Hi, guys.

[Chris]

Hi.

[Caller 1]

I completely agree with Melissa, but I'm a total Christmas person, and I just. I would live in Christmas decorated anything all year round. But I definitely think it would. She should definitely put up a tree. It'll help her get in the spirit. It's one of those things that'll always keep you in a good mood. I think she should definitely put up a tree.

[Derek]

Yeah, it's like, unanimous on the phones. Everybody's saying, do it for yourself. Hey, Christina, good Morning. You're on Q100.

[Caller 1]

Hey, how are you?

[Derek]

Okay.

[Caller 1]

Yeah.

[Caller 2]

I said do it for yourself. Don't do it for anybody else. Worrying about a man coming over, anybody seeing it. It's all about what you're willing to do to make yourself happy.

[Guest]

If you want a tree up, put a tree up.

[Derek]

This comes back to that mojo we were talking about. Do it for yourself.

[Chris]

I don't know that it's necessarily mojo either. It's really more of a practical. It was really more of a practical decision, like, you know, spending the money on all that stuff. And then I thought, okay, if I put it up, do I have enough ornaments to fill the tree, or is it gonna be a tree with just lights on it?

[Host]

We could do a paper mache thing during one of our. And make you some.

[Chris]

Or I am scared of whatever you would make me.

[Derek]

Good morning, Alisa. You're part of the Birch show.

[Caller 2]

Hey, good morning. I say put up that tree. Do it for yourself. I mean, I could just sit by the lights and just drink some hot chocolate, listen to some music, and it makes you feel good. So regardless, if anybody sees it, you have it up. And if somebody comes in your life, it won't be such a big thing to, you know, to start from scratch. So go ahead and put your tree up, girl, and enjoy yourself.

[Chris]

Okay, you got it, tree.

[Derek]

Unless Christmas just isn't as important to you as it is to these callers. I mean, unless.

[Chris]

No, it definitely is.

[Host]

Unless you don't care about the birth of baby Jesus. Like Melissa doesn't.

[Derek]

Yeah. So if you don't put up a Christmas tree, you're an atheist.

[Frank]

I care about baby Jesus, but only beginning the day after Thanksgiving.

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[Caller 1]

You know what?

[Host]

So I think what the callers are saying are put up a tree or go to hell.

[Frank]

Well, I just. When you said about decorations, it's funny how I don't consider decorating for Christmas to be legitimate. Unless there's a tree.

[Chris]

Unless there is a tree.

[Frank]

Yeah, it's funny. Yeah. Because I'm trying to think, what other decorations would I put up?

[Chris]

Oh, there's all kinds of different, like

[Emily]

dishes without a tray, hand towels, and you change your bathroom scenery up.

[Derek]

Why don't you come on over to my house and Stacy will school you on exactly what you can do in the house even if you don't have a sand.

[Frank]

But no, I said without a tree. Now Stacey's got 15 trees in your house.

[Derek]

There is one in every room, but if we took those out, I think she would just replace it with more Santas. I'm going to count today how many Santas we have around the house.

[Chris]

Do you guys do the Nativity?

[Derek]

Is there any Nativity? There's like my little Nativity in Hayden's room, but there's not a major one in the living room. But the amount of Santas that Stacy has collected over the years. Look, I'm going to give you a number now. You guys guess if the final number will be over this number or under and I'll count today. 35 over. Definitely over 35. Santa's in our house. You'll go with the over over, over, over for sure.

[Host]

Are you counting yourself in costume for the romantic nights?

[Derek]

Not else Santa's okay.

[Host]

Hey, I got some dynamite in my bag, honey.

[Derek]

If I raise the number to 50, would you say over or under? Over 50.

[Host]

Yeah, if he raises the number to infinity plus one over the Birch Show

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