by Sheena Mooney, Co-chair
This article was first published in the
November 2025 issue of Church and Village
Christmas can be a wonderful time, with most of us able to relax and enjoy ourselves with family and friends – at least once all the preparations have been made! The Haslingfield Christmas tree and the Harlton Triangle tree, the efforts many people make with lights and wreaths on their homes, the carol singing, concerts and of course the panto are always lovely. Not everyone can enjoy Christmas in this way, of course. I worked for many years in a homeless women’s project where some women felt the loss of connection to their family most keenly at this time of year. An increasing number of people are struggling financially and, for them, the huge pressure to consume must weigh heavily. For those who have not been raised in a Christian tradition, the hype around Christmas, which seems to start earlier in our shops every year, can be particularly bewildering.
Even if we are not affected by these issues, though, there are good reasons for all of us to think actively and freshly about how we “do Christmas”, to revisit the traditions we have developed with our family and friends and consider whether they still make sense. Not least of these is our need to care for our environment and avoid wasting precious resources. The figures on the excess waste we produce at Christmastime are mind-boggling, in terms of food, packaging and gifts that are too often unwanted, unused, and destined for the tip.
Of course, making changes is not always easy and there can be a comfort in doing things the way we always have. I was trepidatious about suggesting a limit to the number of gifts exchanged in our large family some years ago. I was surprised to find little resistance, though, and the idea was generally welcomed. Since then, in my extended family we have tried different things at different times. Sometimes we set a price limit, others a challenge to only buy second hand, and sometimes we only buy for children. What has worked particularly well for the adults in my immediate family is doing a Secret Santa, so each person just gets one gift, but it is a quality gift which has been really thought about.
We recently asked members of the eco group to share tips about different ways to make Christmas celebrations more environmentally friendly. They had masses of great ideas which we hope to share in December’s Church and Village magazine. In the meantime, as we all go into the Christmas season, let’s not be afraid to break the mould and try a new approach.
