Irish santa hat

So you want to be festive in Ireland for Christmas, but maybe red isn’t your colour?

Well, with the simple purchase of a particular major brand american-made, non-caffeinated soft drink you too could be the owner of a green santa hat. It’s part of this soft drink’s seasonal Irish Christmas marketing; I see the hats every year. Just ask at your local cafe or bar when ordering. One size fits all (munchkin not included)!

I happened to pick up one of these little numbers at a cafe in Dublin airport on my way to the UK. Upon arrival over the pond, many British folks commented on my unusually coloured headgear. I told them that where I was from it was culturally sensitive seasonal attire – wearing a red hat in Ireland is a political statement.

Some of them, I’m afraid, actually believed me.