Gift guide 2021 : reduce your consumption and waste while keeping the Christmas spirit alive

December is here! And If you are last-minute like me, you probably haven’t figured out your gift list yet. Don’t worry, we still got time...I think, haha.

Christmas is a mix of Christian and secular traditions. For some, gift giving is at the center of these traditions. As Christians, it is a time to celebrate the greatest gift of all: God’s love. So during that time we like to reflect on that, and share that love with people around us. Growing up at my parents' home, we did not have many Christmas traditions. Gifts for Christmas from my parents stopped at a young age - Although we picked it up again in my adulthood. The only thing I remember getting is this radio with cassette and CD player when I was 13 or 15 years old. I remember it because it’s still there in my old room whenever I go visit at my parents’ house! What we did however, is dinner hopping from one house to another - we hosted too. Nothing makes me feel more at home than sharing a good meal with people I love and with whom I have shared memories with - I think that’s just part of my Haitian heritage.

So anyway, for me, instead of material gifts, I associate this season with love, friends and family, and no doubt some delicious Haitian food! I’m sure for you, it’s not really about the gifts either. What sticks are the feelings and joy we get from the events and memories surrounding this season. But who doesn't like to receive gifts, right? It's just not necessary to spend time and money picking out things that are not useful, not going to last long or that will simply end up in the trash. So while I get my list ready this weekend, I thought I would share with you a gift guide that will hopefully 1) help you avoid waste and overconsumption and 2) help you focus on what matters most during the holidays - spreading some love around you and spending quality time with people you love and appreciate.

Here is what I cover in this post

• Who to consider in your Christmas gift list

  • Close friends and family

  • A neighbor

  • Underprivileged kids

  • A co-worker

• Gift ideas

  • An experience

  • Your time/skill

  • Make it yourself / pick it from your home

  • If you wish to buy: prioritize a local store, preferably a small business

  • Whatever you decide to buy: choose a sustainable option when possible

Who to consider on your list

Before we dive into the WHAT (some brief ideas), let’s take a look into the WHO, shall we? Beyond friends and family, I would like to encourage you this holiday season to expand your reach a little outside of that circle. Consider the following people in your gift list:

a. Your neighbor

I know it’s not easy to develop friendships with our neighbors these days considering our busy schedules, our high-tech lifestyles, safety issues, and now the Covid pandemic. But I think it’s a community that has the potential to bring great value to us - close by support and resources to make life easier. Oli and I moved into our neighborhood this summer, and I’m quite happy that we managed to meet 5 of our neighbors so far. They will each get a greeting card from us, including our tenants. The gesture doesn’t have to be grand (nor should it actually), it just needs to be a genuine act of kindness. Do you know a neighbor that will be spending the holidays alone? Do you know a neighbor who is always nice when they see you? Or perhaps you have never spoken and this is the perfect opportunity to introduce yourself.

b. Underprivileged kids

There are a few organizations that organize parties Action Nouvelle Vie or gift distributions (Opération Père Noel) to underprivileged kids and their families. Whether through volunteering or through donation, consider helping someone in need this holiday season. Your donation doesn't even have to go through an organization. Think of less fortunate family members or friends whom you are in a position to bless.

c. A co-worker

There are a few immigrants here in Montreal, and some are here alone, miles away from their home and loved ones. Do you know of a co-worker spending the holidays away from their families? Consider sharing a meal or a drink with them! A virtual 5à7 could do the trick as well.

The list of people we want to spoil for the holidays can quickly become long and overwhelming, and it may not be realistic to spend time or money on everyone we would like to. So one thing I find that helps is when we participate in Secret Santa . Within a group of friends or family members (think of your long list of cousins), each person is matched with one other person (secretly) to exchange gifts.

Everyone in the group gets a gift but each person only has to focus on one other person.

What to consider giving as a gift

Now we can dive into the WHAT of the list. Once you’ve thought about who you wish to bless during the holidays this year, it's time to get creative with what you can actually give or do for them in order to bring some joy into their life without necessarily buying things that are not really needed or that are contributing to more waste in the environment. Remember, no matter how grand or small the gesture, it's not the object that matters most, it's the intention and love behind the gesture and the emotions it evokes.

a. Gift an experience

This is a great way to avoid buying more stuff, especially if it's for someone you know well and are quite familiar with their interests. Here are a few examples:

• Prepare a romantic diner with their favorite food (or surprise restaurant night out);

• A day at the spa, a manicure or hairstyle paid for;

• A ticket to a museum or movie theater;

• A cooking, dance or art workshop;

b. Gift a homemade product or something you already own

Here are some ideas:

• A great idea I picked up from the sustainable minimalists podcast is to give a book you owned that really had a positive impact on your life to someone you think might benefit from it as well. On the inside cover, explain how it affected your life;

• Any secret recipe your friends or family enjoy? Gift them a dish. I think Oli’s homemade hot sauce will make the list for a few this year!;

• A DIY ornament for the Christmas tree.

c. Gift your time or a skill

Think of what you can do and your skills. Then think of what people around you have been struggling with. How can you be of service? How can your skills benefit them or bring them joy? Here are a few ideas:

• You have a new parent in your circle? Offer some babysitting time-slots during the holidays so that the newly parents can spend some quality (sexy) time alone;

• Think of something that your parents, aunts/uncle or grand-parents need help with that you can do for them in order to save them the effort, time or money to hire someone else.

d. Buy local

Who are we kidding? Sometimes we run out of time or creativity. So, volunteer work or homemade gifts may not be an option. If buying a material gift is the best practical option, consider buying products that are made locally - especially from small businesses. Local means within a 80 Km radius of your home. Consider these 3 small businesses in Montreal (Bonus: all Haitian-woman-owned! #buyblack)

• Bayard Royal - their rum cake is a whole experience, trust me! And the presentation is so elegant. You will want to bring that to all your Christmas dinners.

• DB Arrangements - Love their Mode et Éco arrangement which is presented in a Furoshiki wrap which you can repurposed. Perfect way to show your appreciation to your spouse this holiday season.

• Marasa - Check out their star product: their homemade carrot soap made with nothing but organic ingredients. The perfect skin care gift for your sister, wife or mom if you ask me!

To discover more local stores in Montreal, check out local Boutique Nwa and Etsy.

e. Eco-friendly products:

Check out these businesses whose mission is to offer sustainable products and promote a low waste lifestyle:

• Racines Éco - natural skin care boutique

• Moodgie - candles made and packaged sustainably

• Zero Waste MVMT - sustainable products for your daily routines

On the topic of eco-friendly, beyond the gift itself, consider alternative wrapping methods like paper bags, cardboard boxes, and fabric to present your gifts.

Recap

I think that the most important thing about the year-end holidays is to be present and spread love around us with those in need, our friends and family. Gift-giving is at the heart of the Christmas traditions but for the benefit of the planet we can be mindful of how we plan those gifts. Here are what to keep in mind:

1. Reduce the amount of stuff we get to buy by participating in gift exchanges like a Secret Santa Party

2. Consider someone in need in your list of giving

3. Share your time, a skill or an experience if possible rather than a material gift

4. Consider a homemade gift or something you already own

5. For a material gift, buy local and if possible pick a product that is sustainable and/or from a small business.

That's it for now guys. this was more of a guide rather than a list of specific gift ideas. Maybe I will do a more specific one next year. Nonetheless, I hope this helps you plan your gifts. Happy crafting, planning or shopping. And if you don't manage to get a gift to everyone you had hoped for, just give them a call or a visit to let them how special they are to you.

With love,

Cyn