A Christmas tree tale

Abstract

The season of Christmas is heralded universally as a time of peace and contentment, filling people with a sense of goodwill towards their fellow man. No doubt all Coillte people enjoy this peaceful interval – with the exception, however, of those involved in the Christmas tree trade. For these people, especially managers of Christmas tree depots, a more turbulent season is experienced. Once their involvement in the “sales scene” is confirmed, the individual managers undergo a sudden physical and mental change which is brought about by the drama, trauma and excitement associated with the sale of Christmas trees. This transformation begins in November and ends abruptly on December 24th. This account describes the extent of this effect and draws some timely if salutory advice for survival of the period. This prize-winning article by John Greehy was published in Coillte Contact, Vol. 9, No. 4, Winter 1997. It is reproduced here with the kind permission of Coillte.