Author Topic: Anti-Consumerism Christmas Traditions  (Read 6673 times)

FeelingRosie

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Anti-Consumerism Christmas Traditions
« on: December 15, 2015, 04:30:21 PM »
I hate gifts. I don't like spending a bunch of money on presents for all my friends and family when they inevitably only kind-of-like the gift. And I personally HATE the gifts that people give to me and hate feeling like I have lie and tell them I appreciate it. So, from this year on, my husband and I have decided to not buy any Christmas gifts at all. However, I still want Christmas to feel really special. Do you have any anti-consumerism Christmas traditions?

Tjat

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Re: Anti-Consumerism Christmas Traditions
« Reply #1 on: December 15, 2015, 04:57:15 PM »
Decorate the tree as a family event, wake up on Christmas morning and exchange cards/notes and cook breakfast together. Then watch a christmas movie - i recommend National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. Before Christmas you can drive around and look at christmas lights and/or visit a santas village nearby

crispy

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Re: Anti-Consumerism Christmas Traditions
« Reply #2 on: December 15, 2015, 05:31:56 PM »
Making food you love and don't indulge in often.  I cook a big pot of seafood gumbo for Christmas each year.  It is the only time I make it because it is a bit of a pain to make the roux, but it is delicious and special.

We also watch The Christmas Story about six times (because they play it all day long) and drive around looking at Christmas lights.

TrumanGrad

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Re: Anti-Consumerism Christmas Traditions
« Reply #3 on: December 15, 2015, 06:00:39 PM »
What Christmas events are available in your area?  In my area, our botanical garden has Christmas lights put up throughout the park.  This is the third year we will go.  It is nice because it gets you outside and walking when so much of the holiday is inside sitting and eating.  The lights are beautiful and very Christmas-y.  It is one of the highlights of our holidays.  And it is an experience rather than a thing. Yes it does cost money, but we feel it is very much worth it!

Check into holiday concerts, events at your local museums and zoo, or search online for neighborhoods to visit that put on great light displays.

kamille

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Re: Anti-Consumerism Christmas Traditions
« Reply #4 on: December 15, 2015, 06:00:48 PM »
Bake Christmas cookies and listen/sing to Christmas songs.

Villanelle

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Re: Anti-Consumerism Christmas Traditions
« Reply #5 on: December 15, 2015, 06:06:02 PM »
For true anti-consumerism, volunteer somewhere.  Work a soup kitchen, sort toys for a local organization that collects them, visit elderly people in a home who don't get other visitors (perhaps reading Christmas short stories to them), etc.

mozar

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Re: Anti-Consumerism Christmas Traditions
« Reply #6 on: December 15, 2015, 06:07:50 PM »
I'm Jewish so I sometimes get Chinese food.

vhalros

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Re: Anti-Consumerism Christmas Traditions
« Reply #7 on: December 15, 2015, 08:24:21 PM »
I suppose you could just ask people to make a donation to a charity of their choice instead of giving you a gift.

lbmustache

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Re: Anti-Consumerism Christmas Traditions
« Reply #8 on: December 15, 2015, 08:26:54 PM »
I don't know if it's "anti-consumerist" because I am still buying stuff, but I buy toys, food, blankets, etc. for the shelter animals.

My family and I also go to the fancy neighborhoods and look at the Christmas lights.

AMandM

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Re: Anti-Consumerism Christmas Traditions
« Reply #9 on: December 15, 2015, 09:01:28 PM »
Every night that we're home during the twelve days of Christmas (the days from Christmas to Epiphany), we light the candles on the Christmas tree and sing Christmas carols.  Each person in turn gets to pick a song; since we have 7 kids, and often guests, and we sing every verse, it takes a while. In between carols/verses, we drink mulled wine or cider and eat Christmas treats.

Trudie

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Re: Anti-Consumerism Christmas Traditions
« Reply #10 on: December 16, 2015, 07:38:34 AM »
For true anti-consumerism, volunteer somewhere.  Work a soup kitchen, sort toys for a local organization that collects them, visit elderly people in a home who don't get other visitors (perhaps reading Christmas short stories to them), etc.

I like this.  Doing things for others.  Volunteer at a nursing home.  Go caroling for shut-ins.  Help out at a soup kitchen.  Do a coat/mitten/hat/scarf drive for people in need.

antarestar

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Re: Anti-Consumerism Christmas Traditions
« Reply #11 on: December 16, 2015, 07:46:36 AM »
My parents and I make soap Christmas day.

We found that we needed new traditions and since we like to make homemade soap, it seemed like a good time to do it. Then as it gets used over the year, you get that nice fuzzy feeling remembering how we made it together.

jrhampt

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Re: Anti-Consumerism Christmas Traditions
« Reply #12 on: December 16, 2015, 07:49:27 AM »
I'm not sure if this is anti-consumerism or not, because I'm still spending money, but for gift-giving, I usually buy people memberships or passes to their favorite places.  So my parents, for example, got a membership to the arboretum that they love to go to.  They enjoy themselves year round outdoors (it's healthy because they do lots of walking there), they remember me when they go, and they don't have something they don't use cluttering up the house.  As a bonus, it's a non profit org so the gift is tax deductible.  My nieces and nephews got passes this year to a waterpark they've been wanting to go to.  For myself and my spouse, we like to go to a performance of either the Nutcracker or the Messiah.  We enjoy ourselves and support the local arts that way.

formerlydivorcedmom

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Re: Anti-Consumerism Christmas Traditions
« Reply #13 on: December 16, 2015, 08:12:04 AM »
The adults in our family do a white elephant gift exchange.  It's a lot of fun, and it means we're spending $25 total instead of gifts for everyone (and vice versa).

We bake Christmas cookies and watch movies.

spokey doke

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Re: Anti-Consumerism Christmas Traditions
« Reply #14 on: December 16, 2015, 08:25:15 AM »
Big breakfast, then out for a big hike in the woods

2ndTimer

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Re: Anti-Consumerism Christmas Traditions
« Reply #15 on: December 16, 2015, 09:31:04 AM »
My parents and I make soap Christmas day.

We found that we needed new traditions and since we like to make homemade soap, it seemed like a good time to do it. Then as it gets used over the year, you get that nice fuzzy feeling remembering how we made it together.

I think this is brilliant.  A totally new and different Christmas activity.