It’s the time of the year when we all get bombarded with emotional Christmas ads, abundantly decorated shops and gift ideas for our dears at every corner. If I didn’t have kids I might try to ignore Christmas or have a very reduced one, but since I always loved it when I was younger and my kids do too now, I have to find a compromise.
So what can I do to curb execessive consumption and stay levelheaded with all the trash that I might accumulate?
First I try to find second-hand items for my kids which is not always easy and more time-consuming than buying new stuff. If that doesn’t work I try to stick to items that are non plastic (hard challenge sometimes since the love all things plastic). For example I have started with vouchers for visits to the kids theatre, family excursions to museums etc.
Also I have always tried (since their birth) to limit the amount of presents to 3-4, so they don’t get overwhelmed with too many parcels.
I use an adventkalender with little sacks that is being reused every year and fill it with little items and refuse to buy the plastic chocolate ones from the store, which my older daugther really wants though.
Then I wrap presents in old wrapper paper or newspaper that we can decorate and paint. For a tree I used to buy one from a homeless project, but here in the new place I am thinking og getting one with roots so I can plant it in the garden afterwards.
Finally I refuse to have meat all the time during Christmas holidays (something quite important in German households) and do mainly vegetarian meals. The meat that I have to buy (because my family forces me to do;-) is organic which is very expensive, but I don’t like the idea of them eating meat from cruel mass slaughter houses.
What do you do for a greener Christmas? Do you have any suggestions for me please?
Green behind the ears 