This article published in network we believe it can help to celebrate a different Christmas.
Let’s review the 7 key points to make the holidays an even more magical time.
Drafting entity: Solidarity Autonomous Foundation
1.Give away with three criteria
When making gifts we can also apply criteria of sustainability, responsibility and health. So instead of giving away objects, we can opt for give away experiences and reduce materialistic practices. Some examples could be giving away a cooking class, a massage session, a voucher for a special dinner or a getaway, tickets to the theater …
On the other hand, if we decide on one physical gift we can choose products that meet these values. We give you three ideas!
- Book “Set of Wisdom. Taste, knowledge and health of seawater ” , the first book published by the Cydonia food cooperative, one of the most consolidated in Barcelona.
- Dresses of the Artisan Women of Vilanova i la Geltrú , are made by a group of women from Garraf and are available at the cooperative La Ciutat Invisible, in the Sants district of Barcelona.
- Recycled furniture from pallets and wood and recycled materials. Some examples of the sale of this furniture are shops Probosc , Kiruna , o The Stock .
- Organic and local food.
By definition, Christmas is a time to eat a lot and good. A responsible practice would be to buy food from local and organic suppliers. We will eat healthier and we will help strengthen the network and the local economy . In addition, by buying low-packaged products we will also be conducting a sustainable practice.
Thus, we can consume market product making sure that it comes from km0 crops and / or organic farming. For products such as coffee, chocolate, pastries, or tea, we can buy products from fair trade and thus contribute to the international solidarity economy.
3.Christmas trees, let’s be sustainable (and more original).
The Christmas tree is a tradition. There are large and small ones, adapted to all types of houses. Currently, to prevent deforestation, in Catalonia there are several nurseries of Christmas trees that supply shops and fairs. Therefore, it is necessary to make sure that our tree comes from one of these nurseries and that it carries the corresponding guarantee label, in addition to depositing it in the specialized containers once the holidays are over.
On the other hand, if we want to turn this tradition into a more sustainable version, we have a great one range of possibilities : if we have a garden or large plants we can replace the Christmas tree and opt to decorate one of our own. And remember that the most sustainable ornaments are those that do not expend energy.
If you want to bet on originality, you can follow the tips in this tutorial and create a more artistic and original tree!
4. No moss, no mistletoe, no holly
In the line of sustainability, another practice to replace is the use of moss to decorate the crib, and mistletoe and holly for the home. In fact, it is a practice regulated and limited by the Generalitat. The moss it is an indispensable element for the good health of forests and their fauna and flora, without which the erosion and the danger of desiccation of the natural environment increases. Plants like the mistletoe and holly they are also a source of food for forest animals.
Moss can be replaced by sand, sawdust, pebbles … And in the case of holly and mistletoe there are a thousand options to decorate the space without harming the environment! An example, in this video where they are taught how to make Christmas ornaments by reusing empty coffee capsules.
5.Clothes, without child exploitation
To get the year off to a good start we often like to premiere modeling. Days before we drop by clothing stores to research what we can put on to welcome the new year.
That if, if we want to maintain the three criteria can not be worth any acquisition. So we propose to keep in mind that it is child-free clothing . Thanks to the work of labeling respectful pieces of the NGO Child Labor Free we can be sure!
If you want to know more, you can read about it the article published in Xarxanet.
- Sustainable and non-sexist toys
Another Christmas classic is toys. The children pour wishes into the letter of Kings, waiting for these three magical lords to fulfill them. Now, we can choose responsible games and toys! How? Choosing toys of wood and paper instead of plastic, and taking care that they are games that do not encourage the reproduction of gender stereotypes. Play is a basic process of socialization and identity creation in a child’s life. For this reason, we dismantle myths and choose non-sexist toys .
On the net we find several help resources, we select the article of the cooperative Thread on the Needle , which includes a decalogue of shops where you can find non-sexist toys and stories.
7. Collaborate in a solidarity campaign
During the Christmas season, many organizations ask for the collaboration of citizens in solidarity tasks. Taking advantage of the opportunity we can participate in many different ways. Here are four examples:
- Visit the Responsible Consumption Fair (Social and Solidarity Economy) in Plaça Catalunya, Barcelona.
- Run the UAB race in support of the TV3 Marathon and the Race “Put on your hat” in support of children with cancer.
- Collaborate in solidarity Christmas lunches offered by social dining rooms and some communities. An example is the lunches offered by the Community of Sant Egidi for over 20 years.
- Buy products from Social Market . You can consult examples in this one article published in Xarxanet.