I want to start by saying that I love Christmas. Especially the candles and beautiful lights everywhere. And the jolly festive feeling amongst friends, colleagues, and family. And the Glögg. And the snow. But with all this joy comes the dark side of Christmas – the side that is consumed by consumption.
New singular-use decorations every year. Loads of presents to those close to us as well as those who are not. And shopping just for the sake of it because of all the various sales over the festive period.
This December is my very first back in Sweden in 14 years and the first in my very own flat so I’m trying to make the most of it. But I’m also trying to do it by not adhering to the consumption craze, and instead exploring a more conscious Christmas. Here are my thoughts and tips (and please do share any you have in the comments):
Conscious decorations. There are always new Christmas decoration trends to make us buy new ones every year, whether it’s gold, boho chic, playful, Scandinavian minimalist etc etc. But resisting trends and finding your favourites that you can come back to every december is a better option for your wallet as well as for the planet. Keep it simple. Maybe use something you already have by turning it in to something a bit more Christmassy (like adding lights to a big plant, bringing forward whatever red items you have, or adding glitter to just about anything). I haven’t been able to find an advent candle holder (with room for four candles) that I like so I’ve simply made my own by using a small tray I normally use to store small beauty products, and fill it with dried moss and some token mini baubles I’ve got at home (see picture above). If you want to make some additions to your Christmas decorations stock then check out charity and vintage shops or your grandparents’ attic, or maybe create some Christmas bunting from some old red/white/green sheets.
Selective buying. Every family is different and sometimes it’s hard to avoid not buying something for every aunt, sibling, and cousin. But dare to suggest something different. Maybe you only buy for a few family members, or perhaps you do a Secret Santa family version where you all pick a name out of a hat and that’s the family member you buy for. And dare to not buy loads of presents for everyone. Instead, just buy one thing you know the person you’re buying for definitely wants, and focus on things that will last. And on things where you know how and by whom they were made – telling a story of how the present was made will be a great way of sharing gifts and stories ’round the tree.
The gift of experiences. It’s nice to be able to wrap something up nicely and put under the Christmas tree, but it doesn’t mean it has to be a big box filled with stuff. It can be a small box or envelope filled with a beautifully decorated card announcing that you are giving away an experience. A fancy dinner, a spa day, a wine tasting, a cooking class, a concert ticket, a sewing class, a trip to a nearby forest for a day of outdoor activities. The best thing with giving away experiences is that you can often enjoy them yourself by coming along! Win-win.
Boycott office Secret Santa. If you work in a small team and you know you’ll be able to buy each other nice things you know you’ll like, then maybe go ahead. But in a bigger team where people might not know each other very well, people more often that not just end up buying cheap (often non-eco-friendly) things no one actually wants. So, don’t be afraid to say that you wish not to take part. Or perhaps convince your colleagues that all gifts must be from a social enterprise, or organic/Fairtrade food, or a donation to a charity of your choice. Any business interested in doing some good / showing off great CSR initiatives / promoting sustainability efforts should be welcoming your suggestion.
Conscious Christmas jumpers. Another office craze I feel has got slightly out of hand is the Christmas jumper obsession. In the UK it has somewhat got to do with the fact that Save the Children run their annual Christmas Jumper Day to help raise money for children in need all around the world, which is a very worthy cause at all times of the year. And I would of course encourage everyone to get involved (this year it falls tomorrow, 15 December). But if you do, or if you just fancy rockin’ a jolly jumper at Christmas time, be conscious of where you’re getting yours from. If you’re wearing it for the cause of supporting children but you cannot confirm whether it has been created by children workers in a foreign land then it’s high time to get priorities straight. The most conscious ways of getting jolly with jumpers is to buy one second hand, or upcycle a jumper you’ve already got with some mini baubles, bunting or anything festive you can find at home that you can stick to your jumper with some string or a safety pin or two. Or ask around amongst friends and colleagues to organise a Christmas jumper swap as many will have some old ones laying around at home that was only ever used that one Christmas.
Arts and crafts season. Christmas is the perfect time to support local arts and crafts as homemade decorations made from natural materials will fit perfectly in your cosy Christmas home. Markets are also perfect for getting in to the festive feeling with friends and family, sipping on some mulled wine and tasting treats. Some can feel too busy and commercialised but look out for smaller local ones where you are more likely to find genuine artisans selling their products that you can in turn pass on to friends and family as Christmas presents.
Enjoy the holidays. Make Christmas less about consumption and stress and drunken parties, and more about truly enjoying time with family, new and old friends. Have friends over for Christmas treats, go to a carols concert, take part in community events for the elderly, or volunteer at a soup kitchen.
Happy holidays!