How to put the Saint back in Christmas

Tips for a more meaningful festive season

Nov 12, 2009 Rebecca Lane

Christmas is a great time to be with family, catch up on the years' highlights and feast like no other time. It's also a time of over-indulgence and consumption.

What better opportunity than Christmas to exercise some self-control so that when it’s all over, your stomach will be content but not bursting, your wallet light but not empty and the children excited but satisfied.

Buy Local, Organic Food and Reduce Waste

• Before you do your shopping, take stock of the ingredients in your cupboard. You may already have what your need. Take out what you don’t need and pack it into a box for charity Christmas appeals.
• Think carefully about whether you really need all of the meat options. Can your family of four really eat a large turkey, ham, beef, lamb, chicken, pork and seafood?

1.02 billion people do not have enough to eat - more than the populations of USA, Canada and the European Union. (Source: The Food and Agricultural Organisation of the UN, 19 June 2009).

• Choose organic. We don’t need scientific evidence to assure us that something without chemicals is better for our health.
• Buy locally. Buy from your local farmers market instead of the bigger supermarket chains. Farmers face stiff competition from their larger counterparts but probably use more organic, simple practices and produce better quality produce.
• Buy ethically. Support ethical companies by reviewing this guide http://www.ethical.org.au.
• At the end of the day, you might spend the same amount of money but you won’t waste as much and your health will thank you.

Common Sense Entertainment Ideas

• Use a faux tree instead of a real one. Although these trees may be harvested from pine plantations, original forests were sacrificed for that purpose. There are plenty of realistic looking faux trees on the market.
• Don't buy paper plates. If you want disposable options, choose bamboo materials.
• If you’re hosting, keep it simple. People don’t expect elaborate decorations or an open bar. They’re there for your company so focus on creating an environment that’s inclusive and informal.
• If you’re being hosted, try to control yourself. If you’re a person that doesn’t handle alcohol well, then drink slowly and eat more.
• Regardless of personality clashes, control yourself, be polite and mature. A positive attitude will inspire energy in others and makes the festive season happier for everyone.

Eco-friendly, Sustainable Gift Ideas

• Gift-giving is about the children – sharing their eager excitement early in the morning. But try not to focus all of your excitement on gifts. Instead, get the children involved in other aspects of Christmas such as preparing the meal, serving drinks and decorating the Christmas tree.
• Buy quality. Gifts should mean something to the person receiving them. Buy quality rather than quantity. Especially since children accumulate so many plastic toys, do your best to limit these to one or two, or buy organic materials.
• Buy locally. Think about paying a little bit more for a locally-handmade gift. Not only does this support local artisans, but your gift will be more unique.
• Buy sustainable or organic. Find gifts that use sustainable materials and processes that are less harmful to the environment. For example, build a cubby house for the kids out of bamboo.
• Buy fair trade. There are plenty of websites and shops selling fine quality, reasonably priced handcrafts from around the world. Profits from these sales usually go directly into the hands of the artist. For more information, go to http://www.fairtrade.net.
• If your budget is running low and time is short, food hampers are a great idea. Although there are some great websites for ordering hampers, it’s cheaper and more meaningful to do it yourself. Find yourself a variety of recycled fruit boxes and fill them with exotic bright fruits such as cherries, mango, dragonfruit or pineapple. These are a practical, reliable gift that everyone can enjoy.
• Give something back. If you can, donate some money to a reputable charity or give some food to some people you know personally who may be struggling. Visit http://www.karmacurrency.com.au for ideas or visit the website of your local Red Cross, Smith Family or Salvation Army.

Low impact festive holidays

• If you’re travelling over the festive period, be sure to be safe and tread lightly.
• Visit this site for eco-tourism tips and destinations http://www.ecotourism.org.
• If you’re going camping, always take your rubbish with you. Do not feed any wild animals and stay on the walking track to prevent damage to vegetation.
• Choose bicycles, walking and snorkeling over cars and motorboats.
• Don’t order any wild animals from the restaurant menu to avoid contributing to their quickening extinction.

Remember, Christmas is about health and happiness. A healthy conscience creates a healthy body and a happier one.

The copyright of the article How to put the Saint back in Christmas in Green/Simple Living is owned by Rebecca Lane. Permission to republish How to put the Saint back in Christmas in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Use cinnamon sticks for a spicy Christmas aroma

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