Sustainable / Explainable: Dreaming of a Green Christmas

Fueling festive creativity

"Suddenly it's Christmas" is the title of a brilliant Loudon Wainwright III song depicting the holiday season as a crass frenzy of consumerism. With the holiday season comes lots of gift guides, and each can be taken on its own merit (or lack thereof). However, it's possible to make the holidays meaningful on your own terms – and be sustainably minded in the process.

There can be a lot of elitism in green circles, with an attitude that suggests you must take things to the "bleeding edge" of technique or technology, lest you be labeled a poseur. Truth is, something as simple as the everyday items you choose to buy can make a big difference. Shoppers beware: With the marketing gimmick of "greenwashing" on the rise, you need to be educated beyond the labels. Being an educated consumer and using a bit of common sense can be a year-round green gift to the planet.

The Giving Tradition

Many things we can do for the holidays to make them more personal and green minded come down to things that our great grandparents would have considered common sense. Passing on family heirlooms, such as home furnishings, is a somewhat fading tradition in the age of semi-disposable Swedish furniture. Something as simple as a framed photo of the grandparents you never met, or a pocketknife your great uncle used as an engineer on the railroad carries enormous sentimental value. Imagine how special that can be to your kids if you sit down during the holidays and make time to tell the tales behind the items.

There's probably at least one on your list: the impossible giftee. When it comes to children, an ostensibly lame rucksack suddenly becomes  cool when given with a calendar to mark the dates for a big summer camping trip with you. That is lightning in a jar. Children want good times more than they want stuff – believe it.

As for the adults, try a gift certificate with a twist. Make it for an antiques shop in the country, with the promise of finding a one-of-a-kind treasure; add a map and a flyer from the quaint local restaurant down the road from it. It will make for an afternoon adventure whose memory will last longer than any gift.

It's obvious, but often forgotten: a homemade gift is from the heart. This is a great option, especially if the kids want to make something, but you can get more interesting than crocheted pot holders and macaroni jewelry.