Comments on: Fake Plastic Holidays

By: Zombies Girl

Zombies Girl — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:33:00 +0000

A few years ago I decided to use Halloween, I’ve been giving away small toys the kids get from parties, or just never take an interest in and stickers (a huge collection i amassed as a child, a box full of them that followed me from my mother’s house when i moved out) though not entirely plastic free, it’s my plan of action until supplies run low.
What I’ve been thinking about the last year or so is Christmas trees, I love them, and though I know its not very green I cant help but buying one every year. My father, who started a second family just after I graduated high school is a very green person, (the solar company I work for is family-owned, his initiative) He bought a plastic Christmas tree a few years back, and I cringed at the idea, however his waste is less than ours, though we do make mulch out of tree every year, he packs his away and pulls it out the next year. I find myself feeling guilty at the annual purchase, I suppose the truly green thing would be to inherit that huge chunk of plastic one day…

By: rachel

rachel — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 18:47:00 +0000

Last year, I gave friends homemade cookies and a donation in their honor to Heifer International. I gave relatives a wall calendar with personalized photos from Shutterfly.com. Unfortunately, the calendars come wrapped in plastic and with a plastic spiral ring. Overall, though, I enjoyed making the cookies and the calendars and I hope the recipients enjoyed them, too.

By: Robj98168

Robj98168 — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:28:00 +0000

I have to admit that I use a fair amount of plastic during this and all holidays. I even have fake jack o’ lanterns made out of a latex rubber, that I carved. But on the other hand- I don’t carve perfectley good food and use them every year with their battery LED lights- and I have fake christmas trees (not plastic) that I re-use every year, with led lights.
I hear what you are saying about the plastic use this time of year, but you know Parents too have changed. They aren’t going to let their kids eat a HOmemeade popcorn ball they got trick or treating- hell even my mom wouldn’t let me eat one. So in difference- I give out quarters, not candy. And I save the pumpkins for baking!

By: jen

jen — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 18:20:00 +0000

Halloween is a big deal for us. We always make our costumes.We always go big. This usually involves copious amounts of cardboard and duct tape. Since we have stopped buying things, I think we’re going to have a challenge on our hands this year. Not dressing up is not an answer. I think we’re going to sew costumes out of whatever fabric we can find for free.

Giving candy is also a problem since we’re off packaging that’s not recyclable. We can’t give out apples or homemade anything as it will end up in the garbage (poison paranoia). We don’t get too many kids, so I think we’re going to go with full size paper wrapped chocolate bars. It’ll be a bit more expensive, but at least we’ll be the cool house on the street. I’m also going to write a note about recycling on it.

By: Canadian

Canadian — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 12:49:00 +0000

Here's an idea: Buy Nothing Christmas.

By: Diane MacEachern

Diane MacEachern — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 11:58:00 +0000

Ultimately, parents have got to take the lead on this. If we all stop buying this junk, kids will still enjoy the holiday – probably even more. My kids used to love improvising costumes, and they soon realized a pillow case was every bit as effective as a plastic bag at collecting candy!

By: Jennifer Taggart

Jennifer Taggart — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 05:58:00 +0000

I don’t like the over-commercialization of the holidays, but I have to say I do like Halloween and Christmas. I like the spirit of sharing, of connecting, or spending time together. And I do like giving friends and family members gifts – but I try to make it meaningful, whether store bought or homemade, and not something to be disposed of quickly. Not something given just to give – so sometimes that means I don’t give a gift, but just a heartfelt card, and other times the gift is “big” if needed.

By: A Slice of the Pie

A Slice of the Pie — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 23:24:00 +0000

I've thought about this a lot over the years. I just wish I had started thinking sooner. If I had, I would have worked to create better traditions for my children. I am stuck in these over-commercialized patterns and it's very hard to break free and to convince the realitives that the kids don't need more stuff just because it's a holiday or birthday.

But now I think I need to give this more thought and create an action plan for this year. Thanks for the nudge.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 02:08:00 +0000

I totally agree with pretty much everything said here – and the general sentiment that all the plastic junk that is EVERYWHERE during the holidays is just glutenous and horrible. I also am not a big fan of gift giving that involves giving people – well frankly, crap – just for the sake of giving a gift. With that said, I love giving gifts, but I try very hard to give people something USEFUL that I know they will like. Even if that means the best thing is a gift card, (yes *sigh* I i know more plastic) I’d rather give a gift card that will be used, than junk that won’t. I’d also rather buy someone something that I may not totally in favor of buying myself, if it’s something they would buy anyway. I figure I’d rather buy that thing that is going to get bought regardless, instead of having them end up with 1 more consumer item – just because I think it’s more “eco-friendly.”

As someone who is very picky about things like soaps, lotions, etc., I absolutely HATE getting random things from people who feel they have to give me a gift. Don’t even get me started on scented candles :) ick! To me getting a gift I can’t use and don’t want is more of a burden then a “gift.” As a conscious environmentalist i can’t throw useful things away, so then I’m in a position of needing to freecycle the gift, finding a friend who would actually like it, or re-gifting it.

With all that said, I will comment on the DIY gift ideas. While I think eco-conscious folks often think this is the best avenue, I sometimes disagree. Don’t get me wrong – the right DIY gift can be wonderful (i.e. the scarf my friend knitted me a few years ago is still one of my favorites) BUT I also think it can go horribly wrong. Some folks think – I’m going to be crafty and not consumery and make everyone something (i.e. soap) – but if I get that soap and don’t like it, to me it’s just another wasteful item I have to get rid of. …Just my 2 cents.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 01:48:00 +0000

This flood of plastic does have a solution besides abstaining. People rarely do, but then feel guilty about it. Conventional plastic items can be made biodegradable. Read about it at http://biogreenproducts.biz/whyoxo.html