12 Days of Green Christmas
Be Environmentally-Friendly During the Holiday Season
Small changes make a big difference in striving for a more earth-conscious holiday. With alterations to Christmas traditions, celebrating a green holiday is simple.
Give Mother Nature a present by celebrating a green Christmas with these concrete steps to a more environmentally-conscious holiday.
On the first day of Christmas, get a live tree.
The smell of an evergreen tree is a strong part of many families’ Christmas traditions. A live tree can be re-potted in the yard to bring joy for the rest of the year. If a live tree is not manageable, at least recycle the tree at the end of the season. Many cities will grind them up for mulch and wood chips.
On the second day of Christmas, limit gift purchases.
How many new things does anyone need this year? Skip store-bought items and exchange home-made gifts, housecleaning or babysitting certificates, or go in together on a professional photographer for a family picture. Instead of a traditional gift exchange have a white elephant Christmas exchange, make a group donation to a charity of choice, or give the gift of time instead of things. Stick to the list and don’t get sucked into last minute must-have purchases.
On the third day of Christmas, re-use wrapping paper.
Instead of buying multiple rolls of wrapping paper, get creative with how to wrap presents. Try to re-use wrapping paper from previous years, use paper bags or sections of newspaper, or even cloth napkins or dish towels. If bright Christmas wrapping paper is an important part of holiday joy, then at least recycle the wrapping paper.
On the fourth day of Christmas, decorate with natural items.
Pine cones, cinnamon sticks, and cranberries make beautiful table décor and have the dual benefit of being both environmentally friendly and inexpensive. Forgo purchasing additional holiday decorations and use branches from the evergreen Christmas tree instead.
On the fifth day of Christmas, burn beeswax candles.
Burning candles at Christmas-time is both beautiful and energy efficient. Instead of traditional petroleum-based candles, purchase candles made of biodegradable and renewable materials such as beeswax.
On the sixth day of Christmas, limit errand trips.
Instead of driving back and forth, try to get as many purchases and holiday errands done on a single trip. Both the earth and your pocket book will thank you for limiting oil usage as the cost of gasoline skyrockets.
On the seventh day of Christmas, get new lights.
Ditch the incandescent bulbs for decorating the tree and house, and use light-emitting diode (LED) lights. In addition to using less energy than conventional bulbs, LED lights last longer and do not get hot so children won’t burn their fingers and the tree won’t get singed.
On the eighth day of Christmas, give green gifts.
Help make the rest of the year environmentally friendly as well, and give those on the Christmas list useful green items as gifts. Whether it is Burt’s Bees lip balm or Method hand soap, eco-friendly products are useful and good for the earth, and feel decadent at the same time.
On the ninth day of Christmas, make a donation pile.
Instead of throwing out old items that are being replaced during the holidays, donate them. From cell phones to winter coats, someone else probably needs it and the landfill does not.
On the tenth day of Christmas, re-use holiday cards.
In addition to getting back in touch with friends and family and providing table decorations, holiday cards can be recycled for the following year as name tags, place cards, or for gift cards. Cut out the pictures and put them away with the rest of the holiday decorations. Or use them with children for collages and decorating.
On the eleventh day of Christmas, buy local.
Whether it’s holiday crafts or local eggs, supporting local producers is a win-win for everyone. Local farmers have fresh meats and produce, and transporting supplies over a short distance burns significantly less oil and supports the local economy.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, plan a jolly earth-friendly new year.
Enjoy the Christmas holiday and think about ways to celebrate integrate green practices beyond the holiday season and into every day life.
