Do we need all of this? Really? Buying, buying, buying but not achieving anything meaningful from all of these purchases. Capitalism and consumerism reinforce this lie that holidays are only special with meaningless gifts when the real meaning of the holidays is about love and spending time with people you care about.
Who has the money for gifting when groceries are at an all time high, energy costs are rising, rents are increasing, and people are losing their jobs?
We have to break free from capitalism and consumerism and focus on what really matters.
Everything associated with Black Friday, holiday shopping, and gifting harms the environment. From pollution generated due to travel, to the actual waste that Christmas Day generates, these negative impacts should be enough for people to want to make a change to how they celebrate and do what they can to protect this planet for future generations and wildlife. We all know there is so much more than just that, though, that takes a toll on the environment due to the need to celebrate in such a self-centered manner which goes against the central concepts of the holiday. Look at the Christmas lights and inflatable figures, these create more light pollution, require a good deal of energy, and impact wildlife that need darkness and quiet. The craziest thing is that people will put up lights and their inflatables, then watch their energy costs drastically increase for December when they could be saving money and helping the environment using unlit Christmas decorations.
It’s a win-win for the environment and your bank account when you give capitalism and consumerism the middle finger.
Everyone feels and sees the overreach in politics from the extremely wealthy through their support of fascism. Well guess what? Give them another middle finger when you aren’t supporting their corporations during the holidays and it hits the wealthy fascists profit margins. This is a place where we have control but we need more people to wake up to the harm it causes when everyone gives into the pressure that capitalism has created on lavishly spending.
This does not mean to skip Christmas or gift giving, but make adjustments and make it meaningful. Give people your time! That is priceless! Put the devices down and focus on the people you love and let them know how much they mean to you. A gift does not convey that love, you convey that love. Make something. Grow something. Create something. Share something. Teach something. There are so many ways to give gifts than going online and clicking on “What’s Trending”.
Now is a wonderful time to share your passions with the people in your life. Now is also a wonderful time to involve yourself with the passions of family and friends.
My children and I gift experiences and it has completely changed Christmas for us because it has become about our time together as a family and not opening boxes as a way to show we love each other. Please take a look at some of my previous articles about gifting experiences as well as some ideas.
9 Ideas To Have a Sustainable Christmas
Consumerism and the pressure to purchase for Christmas. Love shouldn’t be tied to gift giving
Christmas Gift Ideas- Help Those Affected by Genocide and Reduce Plastics
Follow up: Experience gifting for Christmas is a winner and break consumerism cycle
We have the power to make a change for the better of society and our planet, so please close that wallet this Black Friday and spend the time having fun or relaxing. Don’t feed the capitalism machine that is trying to grind us all up including our beautiful planet. This is a place we can make a huge difference and shift the meaning of Christmas to what it always should have been, about love. Show your love and your heart, not through gifts and travel, but with your actions, time, and commitment to the amazing people in your life and this beautiful planet we live on.
From the river to the sea, may Palestine be free. May the whole world be free.
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Please extend your energy to other countries and people facing atrocities and genocide in Palestine, Sudan, DRC, Haiti, West Papua, the Rohingyas, Armenians, the Uyghurs, Yemen, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Iran.