The Woodcutter's Christmas

by Brad Kessler

Each year a New York family looks forward to the day in early December when the Woodcutter arrives and sets up his Christmas trees on the sidewalk below their apartment.

Genres: Christmas

60 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2001

About the author

Brad Kessler’s novel Birds in Fall won the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. His other books include Goat Song, Lick Creek, and The Woodcutter’s Christmas. His work has appeared in The New Yorker, The Nation, The Kenyon Review, and BOMB, as well as other publications. He is the recipient of a Whiting Writers’ Award, a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship, and the Rome Prize from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Reviews

[Sheri · Rating 2 out of 5]

This short story started out with a nice sentimental style, but that sentimentality was lost for me as I moved further into the story. I think it was perhaps due to the fact that the story moved in a different direction than I expected with its surreal moments. I may try this again in the future to see if a re-read has me more in tune with and appreciating the message.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Life's like that," she said. 'One day you're the center of the universe with a star overhead, and the next you're on the street.'


The sight of his Christmas trees abandoned so soon after the special day ends proves to be a real epiphany for a man who makes his living cutting wood.

This is the perfect holiday tale for tree huggers.



A melancholy Christmas read.

[Amir · Rating 4 out of 5]

کتاب کوچیک و روونیه. عکس هم داره. می‌شه با یه لیوان چای آخر شبی خوندش و خوش گذروند.
از کسلر کتاب مهجور "پرندگان در پاییز" رو خونده بودم. به ترجمه‌ی همین خانم شمیم هدایتی -خدابیامرز-. زندگی کسلر هم به لطف اینستاگرامش انگار همچین زندگی روستایی و لای بزها و باغ‌ها و درخت‌هاشه.
هیزم‌شکن کریسمس داستان کوتاهی درباره یه هیزم‌شکنیه که هر سال دو سه هفته به شب سال نو درخت‌ها رو از کوهستان‌شون میاره توی خیابون پهن می‌کنه و می‌فروشه. راوی تعریف می‌کنه از یه سالی دیگه نیومد و نشونی‌ای نداشتن ازش جز اسم روستاش. سه سال بعد از سر اتفاق از حوالی روستا رد می‌شن و تابلوی روستا رو می‌بینن و می‌رن به دیدار هیزم‌شکن و داستانش.

[Navid Taghavi · Rating 3 out of 5]

داستانی ساده و دلنشین
به خصوص برای کسانی که به طبیعت و محیط زیست علاقه مند هستند

[Nika Strawberry Shortcake · Rating 5 out of 5]

شاید اگر این داستان رو توی بهار یا تابستون میخوندم ایتجور به دلم نمی‌نشست
اما چون نزدیک کریسمس هستیم
بشدت برام لطیف و زیبا بود

[Masoud · Rating 4 out of 5]

ترجمه ی فارسی اش با عنوان کریسمس هیزم شکن را شمیم هدایتی انجام داده و نشر نیلا چاپ کرده است.

[Fateme zavarikia · Rating 2 out of 5]

درختها
درختها
درختها

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

January 2026
This evening I sat on our comfy couch with my kitty on my lap, a fire in our fireplace and once again read The Woodcutter's Christmas by Brad Kessler. It is one of my all time favorite books. I found my copy shortly after it was published in 2001. Taking a break from holiday shopping, I sat down at a table with a cup of tea in Barnes & Noble and read the entire book. It was one of my best buys ever. I have reread it almost every year since and have never tired of the story about the woodcutter and why he quit selling Christmas trees in Manhattan. The story is heartfelt and I tear up every time I read it. Not sure if it's still in publication, but it's worth looking for... definitely a good read.

December 2024
I couldn't let the holiday go by without revisiting The Woodcutter's Christmas. Once again, I took a few quiet moments during the busy holiday and sat down with one of my all-time favorite holiday books. It's short and sweet. I get teary eyes each time I read it. The Woodcutter's Christmas is like an old friend, one I'll never let go.

December 28, 2023 Just finished another reread of The Woodcutter's Christmas. Took a few quiet moments for myself in the rocking chair. Loved it as always. A holiday tradition at its best!

January 3, 2022: I hadn’t read The Woodcutter’s Christmas since 2018 because of our move to Virginia. On January 3, 2022, we lost all of our electricity for 24 hours during winter storm Frida. There was nothing else to do, so I got out the book and read it aloud to my husband by the light of our fireplace and candles. The snow and wind outside was similar to the winter setting in the story. We weren’t in Vermont, but the story made a cold, dreary evening in Virginia seem warm and cozy. It remains one of my all time favorite books. It’s definitely a good read and reread!

January 2018 The Woodcutter’s Christmas is one of my all time favorite books. I first read it in a bookstore. I started and couldn't put it down. I love the sweet romance between the woodcutter and the homeless woman. The fate of the trees is a sad lesson and one of the reasons I use a good, old-fashioned, fake tree. My own copy of the book is now old and worn. I reread it at least once a year, usually out loud to my husband. It is a beautifully written, wonderfully simple book.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short story from a while ago about a magical night for the woodcutter first, then a family who watched him sell his trees each Christmas near their Manhattan apartment. They knew only a name and one word of a destination. One year he did not return. What happened after that is the woodcutter's story, a sweet and magical tale about love and acceptance and a lot of joy. Photographs by Dona Ann McAdams accompany the story.

[°•.Melina°•. · Rating 5 out of 5]

🎄وای کاش یه کارگردان تو هالیوود بودم و همین الان ازش فیلم میساختم!:)) خیلیی خلاقانه و قشنگ بود لذت بردم.‌.از عطرِ هیزم و چوب و برف و قهوه‌ای که توی صفحات میپیچه گرفته تا احساسات مختلفی که تو هر صفحه ایجاد میکنه: امید عشق غم ترس... به خصوص اینکه پای کلبه و جنگل و درختها و یه مفهوم عمیق هم وسط باشه...عالی حتما بخونید.

پی‌نوشت: کتاب عکسهای بسیار زیبایی هم داره که همسر نویسنده گرفته و به لطف نشر نیلا رو گلاسه چاپ شده و تجربه‌ی خوانش رو چند برابر شیرین تر میکنه..🦢🌨❄️🌲

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely short story for the holiday season, accompanied by snowy, atmospheric, black-and-white photos by Dona Ann McAdams. This is only the second of Kessler’s books that I’ve read, but I appreciate in both this book and North his affinity for the natural world and his concern that we attend to and learn from vulnerable people. A cozy winter’s read for the fireside and a cup of gratitude.

[Ruth E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting little book. It was a nice story and had nice pictures with it. I liked how the woodcutter changed to grow the trees and not sell them since they are thrown away. I don't think it is always the day after Christmas though. I also liked that he met and married the homeless woman. I do think the story was a bit fantastical though, but that was alright.

[Karen Glass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book. A tory with warmth and compassion set in vermont.

[Valerie L · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short great little read for Christmas. I would have loved to have learned more about the woodcutter and the story he tells the family. That would have made it a 3 star. Otherwise, it turned into just a sweet short story about love of land, family, christmas trees, and opening your heart to something new.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warm,magical. Talks about homelessness. Brought some meaning to the holiday season. Short enough to read at a busy time.

Jean

[G · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short story, maybe even a little sappy, but I liked it.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Loved this little book! It is such a good story, especially for the Christmas season; one to read every year. It warms the heart!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful.