Well, Christmas isn’t coming all that soon, but some people are already thinking about it, like my sister who told me the other day that she has already decorated her apartment for Winter Solstice, Christian style.

But I’m not here to talk about Christmas in general, just about Christmas presents! Adbusters magazine promotes Buy Nothing Day (which is just around the corner by the way), but also Buy Nothing Christmas. The idea is to get away from the consumerism that has been so deeply ingrained into Christmas and to focus on the “true meanings” of the season, family, friends, kindness, love, spirituality (if that’s your thing), and giving.

Last year my family agreed to buy as little as possible, and make as much as possible, in the way of Christmas gifts. I knit a lot of my presents, and my brother made us all beautiful cutting/serving boards out of perfectly good wood that he saved from rotting in a landfill. In terms of the presents, it was the best Christmas we’ve ever had. Not only does the giver feel good about making the present; being able to give somebody something that you have created yourself is a great feeling, but the receiver gets a pretty great sense of  “Wow, this person actually spent the time to think of something I would want or need, and then made it!” I won’t go into all the other benefits, but you can imagine them: less waste, more frugality, less waiting in line, more time with family and friends, less money in Walmart’s pockets and more joy in your holiday!

So, I guess this will go into the “Ideas” category, because I’m sharing an idea with you. This Christmas, take a bit more time than normal to think of presents you can make for your friends and family. Take a bit more time to sit around the fireplace or the living room and chat with your friends while you knit up a storm. Take a bit more time to think about the idea that Christmas is about family and friends, not about spending and spreeing.

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