What 'newer' Christmas traditions could be scrapped to help save the planet

Where I worked we did a Secret Santa and it worked really well because we all wrote down a few ideas of something we’d like to the value of a fiver. Then our lists were put in a bin, shaken up and we each picked out one. We then knew what to buy and who for but the recipient didn’t know who had bought their gift. No plastic tat, unless asked for. I’ve had some very lovely hand creams, books etc. still got my book of Greek Myths and Legends and still dip into it.

I forgot to say I do all my Christmas cards via Jacqui Lawson, I used to send 120 cards every Christmas and lots abroad, cost me a fortune, now it cost me less than £ 20 per year and I can send as many cards as you like during the year.

I used to hate touching balloons when I was a child, likewise taffeta material, it gives me goose pimples and makes a funny noise too. I am better at it now, but can't blow them up.
We don't decorate for Xmas now as no one comes to see it, it is very freeing not having to worry about it. As we go to my late husband's family for Xmas day, I don't have to think about it at all except for one or two cheques for my granddaughter and family. Bliss.

I have some tartan bedding that comes our every Christmas in the guest room. I love balloons and usually buy a few little ones for the (many) children to play with on Boxing Day, I find that the adults enjoy playing keeping the balloon in the air every bit as much as the children do.
Always bought and received very thoughtful presents when I was involved with secret Santa at work.
I send Christmas cards to let everyone know I’m still alive as I have incurable cancer.
When faced with one’s demise, even the silly Christmas tat is wonderful.
Yes, we all need to save the planet, I am a brilliant recycler and use only recyclable paper and fabric bags for presents but let’s all just enjoy this Christmas, it’s been a difficult 2 years, if they want to buy silly secret Santa presents, let them.

grandtanteJE65 I love that idea - so simple, yet something which is going to make a real difference and hopefully leave a lasting impression in the children's minds too.

I have always opposed the idea of Secret Santa presents in the places I have worked in.

As a student working part-time to earn a living while studying, I was horrified to find myself forced to find a preseent for a person I didn't know who was. It made a significant hole in the money I had put aside every month in order to be able to make or buy Christmas presents for friends and family.

As a teacher, I have explained to the parents of my classes that I appreciate them wanting to teach their children to give and to think of others, but that having to provide the secret Santa present can be hard for parents with nothing but social security to live on.

Instead I asked that we explain at the start of the school year that there would be no secret Santa presents.
They agreed to my idea that each child put the smallest coin we had, (about equal to 5 p) in a piggy bank on the first day of the month throughout term. This gave 57 p or thereabouts from each child in the course of the school year.
Multiplied by 24 (the number of children in the class) this gave about £13.

This money was sent to a charity that the class chose from a list that their parents had approved in advance.

This way no child was forced either to admit that he or she could not afford to take part in Secret Santa, or as was more common was forced to buy the very cheapest thing they could find, which every other child in the class knew was cheap as it was bought in the equivalent of the £ store.

Even the poorest family could afford 5p a month and the children were still learning consideration for others.

So we discussed charities and giving to charity, and, as the children grew older, why some people dislike the thought of donating to the large charitable organisatins, whether giving to charity actually solves anyone's problems, how else we could solve famine, or the lack of clean drinking water etc.

Oh TanaMa, why don't you get someone to get you down a few of those old memories & put up just a few? Maybe you can relive a few good memories, & maybe donate a few decs that are still in good conditon to family so they can share the memories, or give to someone less able to afford any this year?Don't go climbing in attic yourself though eh ?

I did buy a warmer brushed cotton fitted sheet this year, but as its got robins on (&not just christmas things) I'm going to wash & reuse it all winter not just christmas.

I don't decorate now I live alone and send a few cards to friends in distant places I don't get to see any more, it is the only way I know who is still alive and kicking!!
As a family in the past, we always saved wrapping paper and tags. My bag of Christmas tree decorations, now permanently in the loft, contains the same ones we used every year, loved for the memories they brought.

Even the choc coin wrappers got washed & recycled.?

I agree Nicaveron- i got some for 3 youngest of gc last year as i wouldn't be with them, i put in new pyjamas, & a nice book for them & some chocolate coins (which i usually give with their gifts anyway) etc, nothing plastic, and the boxes can be reused, i think their mums are refilling them this year, as i don't live near them)

A close relation obeyed orders to the letter many years ago about not sending Christmas cards, for many years I still sent theirs. They were caught out when very unwell and wanted to tell me when they phoned I had moved in January they realised I had put the new address and telephone number on the card. I have since stopped sending them a card and considered sending only people I have not seen in the last 12 months.
Yet why cut out good friends who I have not seen regularly in the last two years and really matter they are the ones I want to wish a Merry Christmas.

We Always reuse all the old decorations, but i do try to add just one bauble each year, for something special though, like the year my grandchildren are born, or in remembrance of someone passing away or a special trip away (not added to to for 2years) it balances up as often there's a broken one at bottom of box.Try to use same artificial tree except last year for some odd reason we couldnt find it(maybe I'd donated very old one tofreecycle & forgot?) Anyway not adding to planet chaos this year, got another fake tree but going to keep it as long as possible, and got any wrapping paper & cards which can be recycled as usual.(even cards can be turned into gift tags or put in a frame) But secret santa's you would have thought would have gone right out due to possible covid spread.??

I agree about balloons - we release them (with lovely thoughts)on someone's death, but how many more deaths do they cause?

eazybee

Well, our Secret Santas used to be very amusing, with carefully chosen, appropriate and cheap presents. We were not amused when a senior manager decided of his own volition that we would instead donate to a charity of his choice, (particularly as many of us had already bought our witty, amusing and cheap presents.) and sent an envelope around for the £% donations. He also banned the sending of Christmas cards. Ignored.
You don't like them personally, therefore they must stop, under the pretence of Saving The Planet. Lot of that about at present.

My old office broke from tradition. Disaster.

Instead of our Christmas bonus ( £20 each as a voucher for a shop of our choice from a list) they decided they'd use the money for a staff buffet lunch. Bought the cheapest of foods, all put out at once so the people on second lunches just got the tatty remnants and then donated the rest of the money to charity. If people couldn't go at all due to work rosters it was tough.

Well, I like the idea of Christmas Eve boxes! I bought 4 last year for my granddaughters aged from 12-21 years. They loved them as each returned them recently and asked me if I would do it again for them. I put in a Christmas mug filled with chocolates, a chocolate drink, special biscuits and a pair of fluffy socks.
This year I bought the mugs and socks in charity shops - all new. It’s just something for them to enjoy on Christmas Eve that’s all.

I just love Christmas and the traditions that goes with it. Same tree and decorations are brought out year after year. Maybe buy one or two new ones added every other year. I try to use only recyclable wrapping paper now . Gifts bags are reused and reused. I do have themed bedding and I have to admit a Christmas shower curtain. It’s fun. Everyone has a laugh. Tis the season to be jolly!

Is he a narcissistic controller by any chance

I started packing all Christmas gifts in boxes to ease wrapping eons ago. I saved all the family boxes, bows, ribbons etc and many are still reused 30 years later. The children used to gather up all the packaging and enjoyed sorting through to see what could be saved. It’s a standing joke now to see if anyone recognises the box!!

Absolutely agree about halting all the plastic tut/battery operated toys etc. Not much point in wasting hundreds of pounds in gifts children don’t need or really want if their future is to be so parlous.

We had a £5 Secret Santa and I learned very quickly that one colleague always bought a Christmas tat present, everyone else put in simple toiletries or chocs. I used to watch her wrapping her tat and avoid it! Because of her, it soon died out.

I got something last year that looked like a tiny hammock you'd put a doll in. I mean, who on earth thought that would be a good idea for a Secret Santa present? It was neither funny nor useful.

I love the idea of a charity shop gift with a limit of say £5. Good for the charity shops, good for our pockets too. I remember getting a wine bottle holder in a Secret Santa and thinking what a useless object.

With family overseas, I’ve acquired quite a collection of Amazon gift bags. They’re being recycled, with new labels on. It has the added bonus of making gift-wrapping very quick - just pop the gift inside - needs no sellotape and is perfect for weird-shaped presents. Oh, and can be reused year after year!

The balloon arch/tat trend infuriates me - so much waste and must cost a fortune too. Similarly with Elf on the Shelf - utter nonsense and would not have been entertained in this house! I have drastically cut back on present giving and son/daughter and their partners now get experience/getaway vouchers instead. I think so many people have lost sight of what Xmas should be about these days and try to outdo one another with the amount of presents/lights/decorations etc for their social media likes.