Umm...thanks! (I think.)

[JerseyJanice]

So I didn't go into the office yesterday. I came in this morning to find one of our wastebaskets filled with holly branches--prickly leaves and berries.

Asked my coworker what it was and she said that one of our consultants brought it in yesterday wrapped in newspaper. The consultant told her that it's good luck to bring holly from her home to someone else's. My coworker said she dumped it on the floor and asked my coworker to find some vases for it. My coworker told her no, that she was busy. After the consultant left, my coworker put it in the wastebasket. The janitor didn't take it last night, probably because he's afraid of getting scratched. Those holly leaves are sharp!

This particular consultant is on the wacky side and can be very annoying, but still--what a ridiculous "gift." It looks like she pruned a holly bush in her yard and brought in the debris. I walked past it today and one of the leaves snagged my sweater. Not exactly what I'd call good luck.

If I were going to give a gift from my yard, I'd at least try to present it nicely. Maybe wrap a pretty bow around it or bring it in a nice vase; I wouldn't bring it in a bundle of newspaper and throw it on the floor.

 

[Micca]

Sounds like a mess. I agree that the consultant could have brought some vases along to put the stuff in. Good thing your consultant doesn't believe a 5 gallon bag of popcorn brings good luck.

 

[Stacerita]

Kinda rude of her to just dump it on the floor.

 

[disykat]

While it seems a little late in the season, since many people use holly to decorate on tabletops, mantles, etc. she probably thought she was doing something nice. We had holly when I was growing up and people used to ask us for it all the time. They didn't want arrangements, they wanted sprigs to use in their own arrangements.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Has anyone ever heard that it's lucky to give it?

She told my coworker that she brought it because it's good luck to bring holly growing at your home to someone else's home. She brought it to our office, not our home, but I guess she thinks it means the same thing? My coworker is a little nervous that she's going to be hexed now by throwing it out. Or at least attempting to throw it out--the janitor didn't take it last night. He's probably wondering why we put landscaping debris in a wastebasket. Or he pricked up his hands trying to dig it out of the can. It was a load of branches.