Christmas is well upon us (it comes earlier and earlier every year), so this is a good time to talk about how we celebrate special occasions. Many people mourn the excesses of the holidays, and yet, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, Americans continue to create 1 million tons of additional waste. That's 2 billion pounds of food, gift wrapping, unwanted gifts, and so on, which contain an outrageous amount of embodied energy, only to end up in a landfill. By some calculation, 18% of gifts are unwanted, and 4% are thrown directly in the trash. We can do so much better than this!
We need to contemplate how we hold celebrations, and whether the way we celebrate helps or harms the earth. I invite you into a holiday season that is not only good for the earth, but good for your mental health as well.
Instead of dividing this post into "Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced," I've decided to group it by category. Pick what feels right for you.
GENERAL:
Don't compare. When planning any celebration, from a Christmas potluck to a birthday party to a wedding, it's tempting to get caught up in what you "should" do, often to the detriment of both the planet and your sanity. Fussy goodie bags, extravagant gifts, pop-culture-referencing plastic decorations, and huge meat-heavy dinners are bad for the environment; a hospitable attitude, long walks, foraged decorations and a simple meal with meaningful conversation are good for the environment— and for you.
Remember what's important. Focus on the purpose of the celebration: spending time with family, congratulating a particular person, having a good time with friends. Gratitude and focus help you to let go of the unnecessary (and again, get off the hamster wheel of keeping up with societal norms).
Incorporate nature into your celebrations. From the Christmas tree to the Easter bunny to the pumpkin pie, nature is in the background of most holidays, and I like to honor it with foraged decorations and seasonal food. Put some twigs or wildflowers in a vase, learn what's in season in your area, and if possible incorporate a nice walk or some open windows to keep you in tune with what's going on outside.
Celebrate the seasons. I wrote a whole blog series about this! I have come to enjoy observing the solstices, the equinoxes, and the waxing and waning of the moon. Celebrating the rhythms of the earth helps remind you that you're connected to nature, not apart from it, and what happens to the earth happens to you too.
EVENTS:
Say no to disposables. If at all possible, focus on using real rather than disposable items: tablecloths, dishes, silverware, glasses, and/or napkins. Offer to bring the dishes and clean them up afterward. Carry a reusable kit with you (a plastic plate, some silverware and a cloth napkin, and a small mug) when you go to a party.
Choose sustainable food for your gatherings. If you're in charge of the food (even a single dish), try to make it as eco-friendly as possible. See Finding Earth-Friendly Food for ideas of how to do that.
Combat food waste. Food waste is a huge problem this time of year (it's a big chunk of that 2 billion pounds of waste!). Check out this previous Greener Year post if you need a review of how to prevent it.
GIFTS:
Have a conversation with your family about presents. If you're reading this in December it might be a little late, but better late than never. I'm lucky to be from a family who have low expectations about gifts, but in many families, the season begins with a fevered pitch of anxious one-upping. This is bad not just for budgets, but for the millions of new items that will quickly end up in a landfill. Again, remember the embodied energy: one of the most helpful things we can do for the planet is to consume less— including gifts! Here are some tips for heading off an influx of gifts.
Give consumable gifts. Eco-friendly gifts are those that don't become trash the instant they break. Think food, package-free body care products, candles, art supplies, and so on. Consumable gifts are easy to make homemade, too: bread, any sort of dessert or baked good, homemade candy, caramel corn… the list goes on. Think of how much plastic, embodied energy, and unnecessary packaging you're saving!
Give non-material gifts. Also think beyond material goods, using your creativity. For instance, you need a last-minute gift for your niece and your niece likes Frozen, so clearly you need to buy her an Elsa doll, right? But that doll is likely made in a pollution-belching factory in China (often by a worker who is not making a living wage) and is made of polyester that will never biodegrade. This is where creativity comes in handy. For instance, instead of a doll, you could give her a card inviting her to a Frozen party where you and she bake snowflake-shaped cookies, then make a "ice castle" blanket fort and watch Frozen while eating cookies and loudly singing along to all the songs. (Actually, that sounds awesome, invite me too…) Other common non-material gifts include trips to a museum or swimming pool, tickets to the theater or a sports game, or simply an offer to make dinner for someone.
Go gift-free. This isn't for everyone, but it can be a great way to reduce stress, refocus the season— and help the environment! If you're intrigued, explore more here.
Use reusable or secondhand gift wrap. There are dozens of ways to wrap presents without using wrapping paper, ribbons, and bows that get tossed (or at best, somewhat recycled) in January. Litterless has some great ideas for doing this in a classy way.
Which of these challenges would you like to take on this month? What would you add to the list?
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