• Talk about the reasons for going green and have a brainstorming session. Kids are full of terrific ideas, and they are much more likely to get onboard if they have a say in where the Christmas tradition train is going.
• Share the ideas below for gifting and decorating responsibly.
• Ponder the question of whether your family’s holiday traditions are good for the Earth, and if you find some that aren’t, consider changing or starting new family traditions.
• Focus on ways to simplify your Christmas celebration.

• Give experiential gifts – museum passes or memberships, tickets to a game or show, passes to an indoor play space, a class, or a fun activity like ice skating.
• Make something at one of the arts and crafts studios in the Boston area (check out our Birthday Party Guide for several great places to get creative in the Boston area).
• Make something at home. Check out Pinterest for oodles of fabulous DIY and up cycling gift ideas.
• Buy handcrafted gifts at local craft fairs.
• Buy locally and sustainably. If you feel compelled to shop during the weekend after Thanksgiving, shop Small Business Saturday. There are many wonderful local shops where you can find unique and delightful gifts that are sustainable and fair trade. Check out the handy dandy Local Green Guide from the Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts to find eco-conscious businesses. For kids' gifts, try Green Planet Kids in Newton or Paprika Kids in Belmont.

• Make the wrapping part of the gift. For example, you could wrap something in a colorful scarf, cloth napkins, or a reusable shopping bag. You can find many of these types of things at Ten Thousand Villages in Downtown Crossing, Brookline, or Central Square in Cambridge (the ornament pictured is from Ten Thousand Villages).
• Use plain craft paper, have the kids stamp it, and tie it up with a nice fabric ribbon.
• Skip the wrapping altogether, and just tie it up with a wide ribbon.
• Reuse gift bags.
• Buy reusable cloth bags. You can often find pretty bags intended for gifting at craft fairs.
• Wrap small gifts with your kids’ drawings (this one is a win-win: you reduce the clutter in your home, and the recipient is delighted with your toddler’s adorable scribbles).
• Give edibles in reusable tins, containers, or snack pouches.

• When you go to the Dewey Square Farmers’ Market or the Lexington Farmers' Market Thanksgiving Feastival, buy extras. Prepare your recipes using the fresh produce and pop the dishes into the freezer for Christmas. You’ll be buying local and saving trips to the store. The farmers, the market organizers, your body, and Mother Earth all thank you!
• Even if you’re shopping at the grocery store, you can still plan ahead - buy double now to save future trips to the store (and save money).
• Look for places where you can get fresh, locally grown organic produce and free-range, organic meats, and plan to do your holiday food shopping there. Local Harvest is a good resource for finding those places. 

Deck the Halls With Boughs of Holly - Literally

• Resist the urge to buy that giant blow-up Santa riding a motorcycle (even though it is really funny) or to try to outdo your neighbors with your light display (complete energy- suck).
• Decorate simply, using LED lights, items from nature, and recycled materials (see TLC’s Top 10 Christmas Decorations Made With Recycled Materials for inspiration).
• Consider getting a live, potted tree that you can display on a low table and reuse, repot, or replant after the holidays.

With some planning, a little creativity and a move toward simplicity, you can have a beautiful, magical, earth-friendly Christmas celebration!

Do you have a wonderful green holiday tradition to share? Leave us a comment!

Originally published November 20, 2012; Updated November 2013 & 2014