A More Meaningful Holiday
| November 28, 2010 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Green Holidays |
My brother, husband and I went to Norman/OKC on Black Friday, we left later in the day hoping the shoppers would have been back home. For the most part the craziness had died down and we were mostly wanting to eat and do just a small amount of shopping at the less busy stores (mostly locally owned stores).
After lunch we drove by a group of about a half dozen homeless people. I really wished I had gotten my leftovers to give to them or had some kind of food with me, it was such a sad sight. This group was near the mall that was packed and I had to wonder how many people going to the mall, to buy gifts that would be forgotten about in a few weeks, even gave those people a second thought. While people waited in lines for hours to get some cheap piece of plastic crap these people were going hungry and living in the below freezing temps.
While I don’t think we should have to forgo all gifts this holidays, I think that our focus should be on other parts of the season. I believe we all could do with a little less consumerism this holiday season and a bit more love and meaning. Here is a video that while made for Christians I think we all can get a good message from it.
Powerful isn’t it? We could do so much with the money we spend on gifts that will be forgotten. I’m not saying we shouldn’t buy any gifts this holiday seasons, there are already some under my tree but I think we should think more about what kinds of gifts we give and give less stuff and give more of ourselves. Here are some ideas on how to make this holiday season more meaningful.
Watch Your Favorite Christmas Movie Together
My family has watched It’s A Wonderful Life for as long as I can remember. I think we all know every word. My husband and I have also been making a point to watch at least one Christmas movie together a week.
Bake Together
My husband and I like to make gingerbread cookies each year. I guess I really bake them but we eat them together. Even if only some of the family is doing the baking the smell of the baking is likely to make everyone happy!
Make Decorations
Making decorations can be fun for adults and child. So far this year I made a rag wreath and plan to make some other things as well. Keep watching here for ideas and also a quick Google search will find you lots of great ideas.
Give Back
Giving back can be very rewarding for your family as well as the one you are giving to. You can sponsor a kid from the Salvation Army Angel Tree, help at a soup kitchen, volunteer at a local animal shelter, make scarves and blankets for your local homeless shelter, the ideas are endless.
Have a Handmade Christmas
Make a rule that at least one gift for each person has to be handmade. This can mean either by the person or from a store like Etsy. It can be fun to see whatever one comes up with. I try and do as much of my shopping as possible from stores like Etsy and also from handmade Fair Trade goods that help those that are making the items.
The traditions don’t even need to be normal holiday traditions. Last year my family went to a Flaming Lips concert on New Years Eve as part of our Christmas. Just do something together and have fun, you will remember the things you did together more than the gifts.
Have you started any green holiday traditions? Will you be starting new ones this year?
Also here is a beautiful song that goes right along with this topic.
Wonderful post! I'm working on our annual Christmas newsletter today. Would you mind if I use this?
Don't mind at all. You will want to proof it as I just wrote it quickly this morning and I'm sure I missed typos.
We do all these things at our house!
I'm totally with you. Up with meaningful traditions, down with meaningless stuff.
Since I shop for meaningful gifts and gift ideas year round, I was able to finish my holiday shopping on Cyber Monday. I have a few small food gifts to make but for the most part I'm done! That means more time for holiday events
Such great ideas Lisa! Thanks for helping me think of ways to bring more meaning to my family's holiday!!
The video was great-thanks for sharing. We try to do many of the things you listed-but there are so many more we could do. It is such a perfect time of year to do things together. My fav on your list is to have at least one handmade gift-my kids are so into that.
Don't forget white elephants! I love those as a way to give what we already have. They are usually quite entertaining, low stress and take almost no natural resources.