A Tree Here, A Canadian There
Photo Credit: Peggy Truong
The Christmas tree vendor on Columbus Avenue and West 81st Street knows a thing or two about people’s personalities and the way they choose their trees. She says if someone decides on a tree right away, that person is certain about things in life. Others will look at dozens of trees, only to end up walking away with the one that was originally unwanted.
“It’s a visual. Everybody comes searching for something different. When they really want a tree, you can see it in their faces,” said Gezaloo, 29. She goes by a nickname because she is a Canadian citizen and doesn’t have documentation to work in the United States – even selling Christmas trees on one of the busiest corners of the Upper West Side.
Every year around this time, she and hundreds of other French Canadians make the trip across the border to sell Christmas trees on New York City sidewalks. Most of them get into the business through word of mouth. And most of them have other jobs for the other 11 months of the year.
One recent morning, Gezaloo walked back and forth with a young couple, who were deciding among Fraser fir, Boston fir and Douglas fir.
“It’s her choice, whatever she wants,” said the man, while his wife stared at the tree that towered over them. “How much?”
“It depends on the type,” Gezaloo said, “and the height, wideness and fullness – the space between the branches. The wider and fuller, the more expensive the tree will be.” Her hands, which were kept warm in brown and blue gloves, gestured to show what she meant by wide and full.
For Gezaloo, a Montreal native, the tree selling business is an adventure. A red van with blinds and a Quebec license plate is her bed every night. She works with two others, also Canadian. Her shift usually starts at 8 a.m., when she has a quick breakfast and coffee before fighting off the cold weather for a solid 15 or 16 hours. Weekends are the busiest. She rarely takes breaks. Bathroom breaks are also rare, depending on what kind of coverage she has from her small staff.
“I slept in a van last year with no heater and it was fine. It’s about having the right clothes,” said Gezaloo, who got into the business four years ago when a friend told her about it.
In the offseason, Gezaloo is a tree planter. She got into the Christmas tree business because she likes interacting with people and the vibe of New York City.
“I’m around people all the time right now. This is not a product you have to sell, because people come to you. And they leave happy,” she said.
Upper West Side resident Diane McCoy, 70, doesn’t remember a recent Christmas without tree vendors on this corner. “I look forward to this every year, this is my little forest,” said McCoy, a gospel singer. However, she said she doesn’t buy Christmas trees because they’re too much work.
“This is where I get to sit and enjoy the beautiful trees. I don’t have to put it up, and I don’t have to take it down,” said McCoy, who has lived in the neighborhood for 25 years.
McCoy has heard the rumors about these Canadian vendors, but she said that’s not the main attraction. “They’ve become part of my community. You can come here at two or three in the morning and get yourself a Christmas tree. How cool is that?”
More than 30 minutes passed before the young couple decided on their Christmas tree. In exchange for $75, Gezaloo sent them off with a 6-foot Douglas fir, neatly wrapped in nylon netting. She advised them on proper tree caring etiquette – always have cold water in the tree stand. She wished them a Merry Christmas.
“Vingt, quarante, soixante, soixante-dix et soixante-quinze,” she said in French, counting the money.
“I have a lot of patience. It’s just one of those jobs.”
Tree sales will end on Christmas Eve for Gezaloo and many French Canadian vendors. But she’s in no rush to get home. She used camping as a reason to cross the border in late-November. And she’s already planning to come back to New York City next year, selling trees at the same corner.
“You’re never totally safe, but maybe it’s already known that we’re out here, and they’ve accepted it,” she said.
“It’s a visual. Everybody comes searching for something different. When they really want a tree, you can see it in their faces,” said Gezaloo, 29. She goes by a nickname because she is a Canadian citizen and doesn’t have documentation to work in the United States – even selling Christmas trees on one of the busiest corners of the Upper West Side.
Every year around this time, she and hundreds of other French Canadians make the trip across the border to sell Christmas trees on New York City sidewalks. Most of them get into the business through word of mouth. And most of them have other jobs for the other 11 months of the year.
One recent morning, Gezaloo walked back and forth with a young couple, who were deciding among Fraser fir, Boston fir and Douglas fir.
“It’s her choice, whatever she wants,” said the man, while his wife stared at the tree that towered over them. “How much?”
“It depends on the type,” Gezaloo said, “and the height, wideness and fullness – the space between the branches. The wider and fuller, the more expensive the tree will be.” Her hands, which were kept warm in brown and blue gloves, gestured to show what she meant by wide and full.
For Gezaloo, a Montreal native, the tree selling business is an adventure. A red van with blinds and a Quebec license plate is her bed every night. She works with two others, also Canadian. Her shift usually starts at 8 a.m., when she has a quick breakfast and coffee before fighting off the cold weather for a solid 15 or 16 hours. Weekends are the busiest. She rarely takes breaks. Bathroom breaks are also rare, depending on what kind of coverage she has from her small staff.
“I slept in a van last year with no heater and it was fine. It’s about having the right clothes,” said Gezaloo, who got into the business four years ago when a friend told her about it.
In the offseason, Gezaloo is a tree planter. She got into the Christmas tree business because she likes interacting with people and the vibe of New York City.
“I’m around people all the time right now. This is not a product you have to sell, because people come to you. And they leave happy,” she said.
Upper West Side resident Diane McCoy, 70, doesn’t remember a recent Christmas without tree vendors on this corner. “I look forward to this every year, this is my little forest,” said McCoy, a gospel singer. However, she said she doesn’t buy Christmas trees because they’re too much work.
“This is where I get to sit and enjoy the beautiful trees. I don’t have to put it up, and I don’t have to take it down,” said McCoy, who has lived in the neighborhood for 25 years.
McCoy has heard the rumors about these Canadian vendors, but she said that’s not the main attraction. “They’ve become part of my community. You can come here at two or three in the morning and get yourself a Christmas tree. How cool is that?”
More than 30 minutes passed before the young couple decided on their Christmas tree. In exchange for $75, Gezaloo sent them off with a 6-foot Douglas fir, neatly wrapped in nylon netting. She advised them on proper tree caring etiquette – always have cold water in the tree stand. She wished them a Merry Christmas.
“Vingt, quarante, soixante, soixante-dix et soixante-quinze,” she said in French, counting the money.
“I have a lot of patience. It’s just one of those jobs.”
Tree sales will end on Christmas Eve for Gezaloo and many French Canadian vendors. But she’s in no rush to get home. She used camping as a reason to cross the border in late-November. And she’s already planning to come back to New York City next year, selling trees at the same corner.
“You’re never totally safe, but maybe it’s already known that we’re out here, and they’ve accepted it,” she said.