When I was a child, Christmas was an alien Western tradition. The most we did was draw or buy a few Christmas cards and give them to our friends. For us, Christmas was also the time for a well earned holiday, a time to reflect on our achievements and a chance to have a good time with our family and friends.

A few decades down the road, who could have imagined Christmas culture would evolve in such a dramatic way?

The Twelve Weeks of Christmas

Thanks to modernization, materialism, consumerism and globalization, Christmas arrives in every major metropolis by November (October in some). From the glitzy malls with their extravagant decorations down to the most humble corner store with its colorful streamers, it has become impossible to walk down any busy street and forget for two minutes that Christmas is just around the corner. But Christmas is now far more than just looking pretty.

These days, Christmas is about parties (both dignified and silly), eating out (the pricier the better), posing for photos (to see which shopping mall has the tallest Christmas tree and the fattest Santa), traveling to warmer countries (now becoming redundant thanks to global warming), or to cold countries for a white Christmas (also unnecessary thanks to artificial snow).

Having fun is not bad in itself. After all, don’t we all deserve a little good food, good atmosphere and good company for a long year’s hard work? The problem, though, is that more and more of us find this kind of Christmas culture entertaining but not fundamentally satisfying.

Ironically, Christmas season is far from merry and bright for a lot of people. It’s an emotional, physical and financial burden to have to buy gifts, organize parties, plan meals, eat out, and lose at mahjong or the slot machine. Presents, holidays and parties have more often than not become excuses for indulgence at best, or unhealthy, wasteful, and ecologically destructive activities at worst.

Oh come, all ye wasteful

Simply imagine

• the sheer number of Christmas trees cut down and disposed of
• all the carbon dioxide spewed out by aircraft and vehicles taken by holiday goers
• the amount of food and money we waste
• the number of useless presents we get each year
• …and all the gift wrap and packaging that comes with the presents which ends up in our landfill.

What’s it all for?

Zero-spending merry Christmas

The good news is that there are alternatives to such materialistic routines---- if you are not really happy with such offers this Season.

In fact, over the years, my fellow green campaigners and I experimented and came up with a range of “zero-spending options” to enjoy our Christmas holiday to the full:

• Hiking or camping in the country parks,
• sunbathing or sandcastle building on the beach,
• hugging trees
• practicing qigong or yoga in open air.
• get together and meditate,
• exchange massaging or hands-on healing sessions,
• Dancing, praying, singing or drumming together,
• Drawing mandelas, .
• Writing on each others’ blogs.
• Sending favorite music and video-clips to friends by email (and this is my gift for you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MfqrLF5waM).
• Gardening and caring for house plants.
• Potluck parties—each bring our home-made goodies.
• “Quality time” with family members (including pets).
• Offering volunteer works to friends, neighbors in need, or organizations.
• Phoning radio open lines to express our concern for the Planet and call for concrete action.
• Hospital and orphanage visits.
• Signing online petitions (start with this one! http://www.avaaz.org/en/bali_emergency/98.php?cl_tf_sign=1)
• Greeting friends and relatives on the phone or online.
• DIY house beautifying and repairing work.
• Hand-make presents for friends, e.g. a twelve-page monthly calendar for the new year, knitting a scarf.

As for me this year, I will be in the Club O meditation camp where we will fast and enjoy peace together for two days. My Christmas will be about cleansing, rejuvenating and healing.

Joy to the World, for real

May you have a fun, fascinating and rewarding Christmas. May your choice be one that is good for the planet, yourself and those you love.