How to Plan a Green Christmas

Make Christmas extra special this year. Plan to have a green Christmas. It doesn’t matter how snowy or cold it is outside if you take steps to have a green Christmas you will feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

A green Christmas is all about the environment and I’m not talking about the weather. Having a green Christmas is about being aware of how your actions impact the environment.

There are several ways you can have an environmentally friendly Christmas this year. It simply takes a bit of planning and some creative thinking. The following are some ideas you can consider when planning your green Christmas.

Gift giving. This is a great place to start your green Christmas. Every year people wrap hundreds of gifts with cheap department store paper. In the excitement of unwrapping the gifts, paper is usually collected in garbage bags and sent to the landfill. This year get creative with your gift wrapping.

There are so many creative ways to wrap gifts you many never buy another roll of paper.

• Use a towel or blanket to wrap the gift and make the wrapping a part of the gift.
• Use your children’s artwork as wrapping paper – grandparents will love this.
• Comic books or the comic section of newspapers make good wrapping since they are bright and colorful.
• Reusable bags. Sew up some cloth bags with draw strings to wrap gifts. They are reusable and can be any color or shape you want.

The door wreath. A wreath hanging on a door is both beautiful and festive. It is also surprisingly easy to make. Simply gather some evergreen branches, dried twigs and maybe some cranberries for a splash of color, then twist them into a circular shape. Add what ever you want for decorations or leave it natural, then hang it up. You may just surprise yourself at how easy it is to make and how great it looks.

By creating your own wreaths you are actually doing to things. First, you are making a biodegradable wreath that is environmentally friendly. Second, you are saving money because all the components that make up the wreath you found outside somewhere and didn’t have to pay for it.

The Christmas Tree. The great Christmas debate is over the merits of a real Christmas tree vs an artificial tree. There are as many pro’s as there are con’s for both sides. Have a look at the following article: A Real or Artificial Christmas Tree – Which Is Better? to get an idea of the arguments for both sides. Then make an informed decision. I don’t think there is a real right or wrong choice but you should consider all sides and be comfortable with your choice.

There are so many things you can do to make this year a green Christmas. This is just a tip of the iceberg. There are opportunities everywhere from Christmas baking to the type of lights you hang up outside. Use your imagination.

Having a green Christmas simply means being aware of the environment and taking action to reduce, reuse or recycle as much as possible. Make it a family affair and challenge your friends and family to come up with unique ways to be green this Christmas.

Here are some other articles you may enjoy:

The Perfect Gift – Does It Exist?

Tips For Including Children In Christmas House Decorating

Shopping Strategies To Help You Save Money