We will still have a real tree - usually UK grown. They are a crop like any other - it's not like destroying rain forest - and incidentally fast-growing pine/fir trees do use up a lot of carbon dioxide, so I don't see the need to change. Plus I really don't like fake trees - none of that lovely Christmassy smell!
We use the same tree decorations every year - some go back to the 50s. I might buy the odd new bauble occasionally, but that's it. I used to have a neighbour who bought a whole new set in a different colour scheme every year! She once asked me what colour tree we were having that year. 'Er, green?'
I make my own mincemeat in recycled jars, my own mince pies and puddings - same old ceramic basins every year - and just about everything else is cooked from scratch. Just about every scrap of the (free range) turkey is always used up. From all I hear there's an awful lot of food waste at Christmas - but never in this house. Or at any time, come to that.
However I will still buy jolly Christmas wrapping paper, if there's not enough left from last year, though not the glittery or plasticky sort, crackers (cheap ones, we rather like the tat!) and jolly paper napkins - about the only time of year we use them.
I do like the idea of fabric napkins, though - if I can find any festive-enough material I might have a go. I feel a trip to John Lewis coming on!
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