Season's Greetings... Unwrapped

Happy holiday season, dear friends and family! I hope that you are all enjoying the new change in weather; we have only 29 more days of 2009.

I went to the grocery store last week, and there were already big red and white signs up encouraging people to buy, buy, buy! There were "gift" ideas displayed almost aggressively, and wrapping paper and gift bags had their own display. As you know, we started sending out electronic Xmas greetings last year to decrease the amount of waste that we traditionally
accumulate at Christmas time.

Today someone asked me if I celebrated Christmas. My response was that we do celebrate but perhaps not in the traditional sense that we would have a big decorated tree and a turkey (or any meat, for that matter). The other person commented that she just wanted to spend time with people; she didn't want any gifts that were not needed. That's what I find most important too, is enjoying quality time with the people we love - and I hope to be able to pass this very important message on to my children.

Of course people want to give, and sometimes people really do need things so there's nothing wrong in giving gifts. I do have some gift-giving suggestions that aren't the traditionally advertised.

1. Give the gift of time or service
If you have time to spare, you could offer to babysit, dog walk, cook, do some housework for someone who has no time for herself. This really is invaluable! And this sweet gift has no wrapping paper to throw away ;) (more on wrapping later)

2. Give home-made food
I find it really special that someone would spend the time and care to prepare preserves, bread, soup, etc... then give some to me! This is really thoughtful, and it makes you feel special too.

3. Give home-made crafts
How long do you think it takes to knit a pair of mittens, or sew an apron? How much sweeter is it to receive a hand-made card than a commercial one? These are gifts from the heart made especially for the person.

4. Give something a new home
I know that many people have made it clear to me that giving a "used" gift is just not right, that it's not the tradition. Well, did you know that real candles used to be used on real pine trees? Most of them are artificial now (trees and lights) - still carrying on tradition, just altered a bit to make it a little safer. What's the advantage of giving something previously enjoyed: there's probably no packaging and you're making use of something that might just be someone else's clutter or landfill. Of course you should probably give something used to someone like me who really dislikes excess and irresponsible packaging - and not to someone who thinks you're being rude or cheap.

5. Plain money (not gift cards - do they recycle those?) is very liquid, very useful. I've also been told that this is not a good gift idea, that it shows no thought. Well, really, I think it's the most practical - or just ask the person what they want, and get that. But if people are far, you can send money, and your recipient can get what he wants with that money. I find that this creates less waste: no receipts, no time waiting in line to exchange/refund.

6. Donate to the food bank or other charity in the person's name.

7. Just a phone call would be nice - especially long distance. I get really excited to know about friends far away.

A few suggestions for gift wrapping:
1. reuse children's artwork (that you don't intend to keep or hang up), flyers, old big calendars, newspapers - and decorate a bit
2. reuse a gift bag, or even make a reusable gift bag (it's a gift in itself)
3. wrap the gift with a part of another gift (example: use kitchen towels to wrap up a toaster)
4. no gift wrap at all - hide the gift, and make the person find it ;) - I love games!
5. if you have collected too many gift bags, boxes, wrapping (I am notorious for unwrapping gifts neatly and slowly to reuse the paper), consider giving it away to someone else like Value Village

Happy Holidays!