by Meghan Hildebrand

Some of us this Christmas season find ourselves second-guessing the traditions we have inherited. What hands made the products we buy for our children? Why should our holiday end in so much garbage for the landfill? How can we, in good conscience, feast while so many starve? And why do we gather under the premise of a religious story to do so?

These are sound questions any time of year, although Christmas has typically been the season to blow off your worries and indulge. This year something feels a little different. Attitudes are more cynical, and people are looking for ways to downplay the holiday, or at least reduce the impact of their celebration on others.

I have but one modest idea to contribute to the mix. Frankly, I like Christmas, I like presents and lights and a tree in the house and being with friends and family. I do not want to grinch anyone’s cozy holiday; I’d rather contribute to a new paradigm of ‘holiday giving’.

I was not about to cut down a Christmas tree or buy a fake. Happily, we found an old Christmas tree discarded in our backyard, which we dried off, propped in a bucket and brought inside. We decorated it with ribbons, dried orange slices and cinnamon sticks. A friend in insurance warned us about dry trees and lights, so I’m not suggesting using your old hot bulbs. Our tree was bushy and full, even without its needles, which we didn’t have to sweep up. It let more light through the window where it stood. We have friends who followed suit: they actually trimmed a side of the dead tree off and secured it right to their wall. Out of the way of both the view and their kid, and still they had all the joy of decorating.

We have had the same dead tree for four years now, and in the summer we light it in the garden.

Besides saving our tree, our other new traditions include avoiding plastics for gifts and avoiding packaging, buying local crafts, avoiding travel, and spending less money. Happy holidays, everybody!