Climate Chat: A climate-friendly holiday

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Many of us have mixed feelings about the upcoming holiday season. Do you love celebrating with friends and family but feel your wallet is stretched thinner than ever before? Do you find the constant pressure to buy, buy, buy makes you feel anything but jolly?

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Never fear, you’re not alone. Many things have led to the pressure we all feel this year. Rising prices, reduced incomes and political pressure such as U.S. tariffs all put a strain on our budgets, especially at a time of year when we want to be generous.

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It’s a happy paradox that discomfort can often be the incentive for positive change. While we all want a stable economy, runaway consumerism is a big contributor to many personal and social problems. Debt loads, mountains of garbage and climate change are just a few of the negative results of simply buying too much stuff.

This year is a perfect time to rethink your approach to the holidays. My family started a new tradition a few years ago that we all love. Instead of trying to buy a gift for everyone in the family, we each draw the name of one other family member. We buy a few small things for that one person—things that will fit in a stocking. Every year we rotate to a different person, and have fun thinking of small things that will delight that person’s unique tastes.

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Often, we include small food samples or gift certificates from local small businesses. Sometimes we make a small donation to a charity that the person supports. Above all, we try to keep things simple, always support local businesses, and minimize plastics and other packaging. It’s a creative adventure every year, and it leaves us feeling satisfied that our dollars have gone to supporting good things in the world, while also showing our love for those dear to us.

Another favourite family tradition is one we started when the kids were young. Every Christmas Eve, we prepare a small feast for local wildlife—sunflower seeds stuck to pine cones with peanut butter, a few carrots, apples, mixed birdseed, and then we take a snowy toboggan ride into the woods behind our home and leave the treats there as a gift for our wild friends.

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If you live in town, a toboggan trip to a nearby park would be great too. It’s a lovely quiet time together, and a good message for the youngsters—we share this beautiful world with many other living things who deserve our goodwill too.

Some of the most memorable gifts are experiences we share together. You don’t need to travel great distances to find unique opportunities for making memories together. In fact, staying closer to home reduces your carbon footprint, which builds a healthier future for everyone.

What local treasures have you been meaning to visit? Can you have a horse-drawn sleigh ride at a nearby farm or pioneer village? Do you have an escape-room facility near you, where you work together to solve puzzles to make your way through a maze of challenges?

Taking the time to build relationships with those you love may be the best gifts of all. They’re kind to your pocketbook, climate-friendly, and a great first step towards confidence and resilience in uncertain times.

Do you have questions or ideas to share about climate change? We’d love to hear from you. Contact us at climatechatcp@gmail.com

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