Christmas Shopping Alternatives
If you happened to notice that retailers moved Christmas decorations in right after Halloween, then you’re not alone in noticing the early trend. Usually we have time to “breathe” between Halloween and the day after Thanksgiving, but not this year. With oil at near $100, the credit crunch, and no relief in sight for the housing market, it just does not seem that this Christmas will be a “big” one for retailers, which is why they are pushing sales on us earlier this year than in recent years.
As you know, I don’t agree with the consumerism that characterizes the Christmas season, but the truth is that 2000 years ago we received the best gift we could have ever been given: the gift of God becoming man and so the Christmas season is about a gift and about joy. As human beings we are very creative as to how to express our love for others: we either sacrifice or dedicate our time, talents and, ultimately, our entire selves. If you think about it, how do you express your love for your spouse or a friend or family member? And a lot of times you will do something nice for them and where I’m going with this is that you may actually buy (or make) them a gift. From that standpoint, I think gift-giving during the Christmas season–with simplicity in mind–can be a good thing.
Handmade Gifts
That being said, if you want to give a gift this Christmas season and you don’t have time to finish those crocheted gifts you wanted to give to your loved ones (like me!), why not get them a handmade gift? I found a wonderful website yesterday where people sell handmade gifts called Etsy. They have beautiful gifts: anywhere from pottery, quilts, crochet and knit afghans and accessories, jewelry, stationery, candles, you name it! And everything is relatively cheap as well. Plus, you’re helping artists and artisans who do this for a living (or just for the sake of it!). Also check out BuyHandMade.org and take the “handmade pledge”!
Our wonderful readers from have also given usthese websites as gift alternatives:
Monastic Communities
- Mystic Monk Coffee (Mugs, music, and coffee!)
- Clarisa’s Cookies (Order of Friars Minor Capuchin)
Fair Trade Websites
- Save the Children (UK)
- Great Gifts (UK)
- Useful Gifts
- Ten Thousand Villages (They may have a store near you, but you can also buy online)
- A Greater Gift (Catholic Relief Services Fair Trade)
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Right after Halloween? You’re lucky! I went to a local mall in the Philadelphia area, and their Christmas decorations were already up in early October.
I think this trend has been going on for a number of years. I call recall at least for the last three years seeing Christmas decorations going up after or even before Halloween. I know a preschool teacher that starts playing Christmas music in her class on Nov. 1st also.
In past years, to avoid the consumerism at Christmas, I made donations in family members’ names to charities either in their town or that I thought would reflect their interests and outlook.
Everyone appreciated it, and no one felt like they got shafted on the gift giving.