For many people, this is the most wonderful time of the year. Everything sparkles, there is a lot of good food and we can finally spend some quality time with our loved ones. Wouldn't it be great if we could make a big gift to mother nature as well? Let us show you how.
Christmas - nice, relaxing and sustainable at the same time? Yes, it is possible! And you don't even have to let go off any of the typical traditions. There will still be yummy food, beautiful decorations and colorful gifts for everyone. The following five suggestions are some simple ways to make your Christmas season a little more tranquil and eco-friendly. Let yourself be inspired and enjoy the most enchanting time of the year...
1) Decoration
The Christmas tree: an indispensable element when it comes to the Advent season. It is indeed a nice tradition and very pretty as well. But most of the trees are grown far away, often under unethical conditions and using pesticides. There are a lot of nice alternatives though, so we don't have to do without our beloved companion. The simplest way is probably a plastic tree. In this case, you have to use it for at least 20 years to offset the emissions of its fabrication. Otherwise, there is the option to rent your tree or to simply declare one of your other indoor plants this year's Christmas tree.
Or you get creative! There are countless ideas on the internet that can inspire you to create your own little masterpiece. Christmas trees made of wood, branches, books or even egg crates - dare to go crazy! Same goes for the decoration. You can use nuts, fruits, figures made of wood or paper, you can swap your glitter balls with your neighbors to get some new colors. As for the light, I recommend to go for LED light chains. They consume least and can be pretty and colorful at the same time.
2) Gifts
Christmas equals shopping. Nowadays, in most cases, this is the popular truth. But Christmas also means contemplation and unwinding, so how about making some especially thoughtful gifts this year? For example, instead of offering some item that represents nothing personal, you could gift a little bit of your valuable free time. Since we don't have a lot of it nowadays, it means even more! A visit to the cinema together with your little brother, a baking session with your grandmother or a fancy restaurant with your best friend. Let me assure you that the recipient will be thrilled.
If you live too far apart or there are other reasons why it is hard to find a good moment to redeem the voucher, try to find something nice (and useful!) on a flee market or in a second-hand store. Gifts do not have to be expensive to be appreciated, they simply have to come with love. How about crafting something yourself or donating some money in the name of the presentee? You can even gift a tree - what a cute idea!
3) Wrap it up
For all the objective presents that you would like to put under the Christmas tree, there are some very inspiring gift wrapping ideas so that you don't have to rely on single-use gift paper. You could for example reuse the wrapping paper from a gift that has been offered to you. Or you take some old book pages or sheets of music to give your homemade gift paper a special design. Another solution could be to use cloth, a dish towel or an empty jam jar, depending on the size and shape of the present.
Regarding the adornments, you can use a ribbon made of wool or paper. The name tag can be a handmade artwork made of cardboard, and acorns, dried blossoms or other natural components will put the finishing touches on your very unique gift wrap. Almost too pretty to open it!
4) Food
As already stated, Christmas is supposed to be about contemplation and togetherness. This does not mean that everything needs to be fancy and pompous! Quite the contrary. If you keep it easy, you spare yourself a lot of stress, which gives you even more time as well as a clear head and a good mood to enjoy your company. So instead of seddling yourself with a five course menu, ask your guests to bring a small thing themselves. Or you go for some simple yet delicious recipes that are as well zero waste (for example a pizza and some crumble pie for dessert). Pay attention to good quality rather than aiming for a huge quantity. Your stomach will thank you for it!
5) Good resolutions
The last few days of the year can also be a good time to pass the past months in review and to take stock of what was great and what could still be slightly improved. What were the best moments? The greatest experiences? The successes you are the most proud of? And then, turn the focus on the new year that is about to begin. What are your wishes? Your hopes? What would you like to achieve? Which dreams do you want to make reality? And what are the habits you can implement to make the world a better place?
Whatever your answers may be, I highly recommend you to write them down. This will put your thoughts into order and help you plan concrete steps. A so-called roadmap can work wonders here!