5 Christmas Traditions I'm Starting This Year
(to minimize my environmental impact)
As I enter adulthood, I’m starting to reflect on the traditions I want to carry forward and the new ones I want to create. I am especially guilty of overconsuming during the holiday season, but moving forward, I want to take a more mindful approach to minimize my environmental impact. If you’re looking for some fun and low impact ways to celebrate this year- whether it’s through decorating, mindful gift-giving, or even sustainably gift-wrapping- here are 5 traditions you can start this year:
2. Thrift Your Decor
I hate to be “that guy” but from an environmental perspective, all the pretty Christmas decorations can’t exist without some sort of repercussion. I can’t claim to be carbon neutral, but in an effort to move in that direction, I am thrifting any of the decor I do buy. I’ve been thrifting a majority of my room decor for years, here are some pro tips:
- Let the thrift store guide you – I always have a general idea of the color-scheme, theme, or vibe I want to go for, but thrifting requires going in with an open mind. I hold onto things I’m unsure of until the very end. Usually, by the time I leave, I know if I really want them. The rule is: if it’s not 100% a yes, it’s a no!
- Test any lights before purchasing them – Most stores have GFCI’s available so you can test electrical items before buying them.
- Look for multi-use items: Choose decor that can be used year-round or repurposed for different holidays to maximize their value. For example, I have a green Christmas plant pot that I just turn around once the holiday season is over!
- Check for quality materials: Items made of wood, metal, or glass tend to last longer. Even though you’re shopping secondhand, the goal is still to buy good quality items that will last.
The holidays can be a challenging time to focus on sustainable living. However, small changes, such as shopping secondhand, can help you celebrate without sacrificing your traditions. Remember, “It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do little” (S.S.)!
3. Craft Your Stocking Stuffers
I have way too many hobbies and I’m always looking for more, which is why I’ve decided to make some stocking stuffers this year. My latest obsession is airdry clay, here’s a pic of a cute gnome home I made for my bestie!
- A few other ideas:
- Clay picture holders
- Jewelry dishes
- Resin keychains
- Handmade jewelry
- Mini paper pinatas
- Baked goods
- Salt dough ornaments
- Clay incense holders
- Mosaic coasters
Checkout my Pinterest for some more unique ideas and tutorials!
4. Shop Small
For the gifts I’m not making myself this year, I’m shopping small! Shopping small is a revolutionary way to gift this holiday season. The products are high-quality, and the passion these artisans have for their work shines through. They often use more sustainable materials than large retailers, and, as a bonus, their packaging is the cutest! It comes in super handy during the holiday season (Amazon could never!).
5. Recycle Your Gift-Wrap
Not-so-fun-fact: about half of the gift wrap used during the holidays isn’t recyclable and ends up in landfills! This is because of the decorative elements like foil, glitter, plastic, lamination, tape residue, etc. Fortunately, you can stop contributing by collecting paper from your daily life and repurposing it into gift wrap!
I made a bigger effort to keep paper, boxes, and bags the past year. You can use any piece of paper that’s large enough to wrap the entire present, I’ve even seen people repurpose old clothes. Get creative! This is how I made a gift bag from an Amazon package:
- Tip: If you have some paper that looks a little bland, customize it with some markers or wrap a ribbon around it to make it more flattering!
These are a few great ways to spice up your holidays while minimizing your impact, but we’re just getting started! Be sure to checkout my socials to see the process for all of these and follow along as I try new things!
1. Make Your Own Decor
The past few months, dried fruit ornaments, wreaths, and garlands kept appearing on my Pinterest feed—if you use Pinterest, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Sometimes they’re combined with cranberries, acorns, pinecones, or cinnamon sticks. I live in an apartment and have a tiny Christmas tree, so when I found some tiny pinecones rolling across the sidewalk, I knew it was a sign. My mom gave me some leftover cranberries from a sangria, I grabbed a tangerine from work, and everything fell into place. I ended up drying some tangerines, adding snow to the pinecones, making a cranberry garland, and adding them all to my tree.
The Method:
- Drying tangerines takes a while, so start by slicing them across the equator and placing them in the oven at 200 degrees, flipping the slices every 30 minutes. They take about 3-4 hours to become completely stiff and not sticky.
- Disclaimer: I used tangerines and small pinecones for my small tree, but feel free to use regular-sized ones for regular-sized trees!
- While the tangerines are in the oven, you can start working on the pinecones. If you want to add fake snow— I found some white glitter at the thrift store last year—brush glue on the tips of the pinecones and dip them into the glitter. Let them dry, then place them on the tree. If you’re adding lights, put those on first, trust me.
- Tip: Don’t underestimate the thrift store! I’ve found tons of—usually unopened—arts and crafts materials for a great deal. And don’t be afraid to use whatever you have in the house (e.g., white paint, a crayon, white eyeliner, haha).
- Tangerine check—did you flip them? To make a cranberry garland, grab a needle and some thread. Decide how long you want your garland to be and snip it accordingly. Tie a knot at the bottom and thread the cranberries through one by one. It’s super easy, but it takes some time—perfect for watching a Christmas movie! Once you’re done, tie a knot at the end and hang it up.
- Once the orange slices are completely dry (stiff, not sticky, and slightly brown), let them cool down and add them sporadically throughout the tree. If you feel like you need to secure them, use floral wire or some thread.
And voilà! There you have it—your Christmas tree decorations for the season. These are just a few of the DIY ideas out there, and I can’t wait to try more before the season ends. Be sure to check out my Pinterest for more ideas I’m loving!