I'm dreaming of a Green Christmas, with up cycling and real hugs the norm….
Christmas has turned into a celebration of commerce and consumption, with Santa Claus its greatest salesman. 'Tis the season to spend stupid amounts of money on extravagant, largely useless gifts that occupy our ever-expanding storage space.
Before the 19th century, Christmas remained a relatively minor holiday rooted in pagan rituals and enter America consumerism and cleaver PR, we are now gorging on frenzy of buying buying buying!
Time to embrace "Green Christmas" and bring back the love of our friends and family. And Love is having a healthy Planet over consumerism.
Green Christmas bring back the meaning of what Christmas is supposed to be about, gets everyone creative, saves a lot of money and interesting stories to talk about.
Presents
There is a stigma around giving presents, how much you spent equals how much you love someone. Absolute nonsense. We have so much stuff already all waiting for a second life. And if you don't have the exact 'stuff' then simple 2nd hand and add love. Plus you will save a fortune.
First time giving a preloved gift to anyone can be a bit nervous, just explain to them it preloved and why you are doing this. If they love you then they will understand, if they judge you then great time to speak about your concerns about the environment.
So the Rules
Presents can be pre-owned, up-cycled, consumed or made.
Pre-owned preloved presents make great gifts. My sister gave me an electronic back massager that was used once and gathering dust and I use frequently after hard training sessions. My younger sister gave a box of kitchen contraptions to my baking crazy brother.
Up-cycling is a great way of giving love to something that would end up scrapped or dumped. My sister (I have lots) bought an old play kitchen and spend weekends "renovating' to create a wonderful unique present to her daughter.
Santa even gave her son a wonderful cleaned up 2nd hand bike. He asked why there was a scrape on the handlebars, she explained that Santa is concerned about the environment.
Consumables – concert or theatre tickets, vouchers for a nice restaurant or for the brother in-law a bottle of Irish whiskey!! If it can be used once without ending up in a box somewhere then these counts. Shopping vouchers are a no no.
Homemade gifts – this is where creativity flows, and secret talents comes to the forefront. My god daughters monster painting is now pride of my study. My mum gives homemade marmalade to neighbours and has even started re-using Christmas cards. So, get creative and make that homemade wooden cheese board for dad or write a song for your loved one. Guarantee when you give something homemade, people appreciate and remember this more. Embrace imperfections.