Now that Halloween has come and gone, big corporations can begin preying on holiday cheer. Ads for Black Friday and Cyber Monday will begin filling our feeds as the temperatures just now begin to drop. With each passing year, holidays seem to revolve more and more around buying, gifting, and setting up cheap plastic decorations. 

While this time of year means different things to everyone, I think we can all agree the point is not to consume. Rather than giving into the exploitation of corporations, we must push back and think about how we can show up for the people we care about, and do better than a last minute amazon order. 

Let’s consider one of the most relevant environmentalists of the season: The Grinch. First of all, he fully embraces a “green” lifestyle, refusing to bend to society’s beauty standards. You don’t see him wasting money on cheap plastic razors or bottles of hair dye (ignoring his moment of weakness in his youth when trying to impress Martha May).

Secondly, the Grinch was incredibly relatable in his frustration with the state of consumption. He was driven nearly to madness by the ways in which corporations have forced cheap goods into the hands of the people, calling it love. Tired of sitting around, the Grinch took action. I’ll admit, his methods were questionable and giving all the gifts back really took away from his whole point. However, he was able to prove that consumption is in fact, not the reason for the season. 

The point we seem to annually forget is that we can spend time with those we love and give ourselves the period of rest our bodies crave. This year, before the snow falls, I am asking K students:

What are you doing to make your holiday season more green?

According to Astrid Westbury, a K sophomore, “We always reuse the same decorations year after year. So not only is it a little bit of a tradition but it also contributes to less waste and less participation in rampant consumerism.”

Alison Settles, a senior, says that her “goal for the holiday season is to walk instead of drive as much as I can, not only for the good of the planet and physical and wellbeing it promotes, but also for the opportunity it gives me to reconnect with nature and my community!”

Arlo, another senior, says that she’ll be “making Christmas presents, sewing and crafting them”. 

First year, Kat Gleason says she’ll be “thrifting things for stockings” while her classmate Owen Bamford plans on “wrapping my presents in newspaper just like my grandparents have done for generations”.

I think each of us could stand to take some tips from these students, and from the Grinch. Personally, I will continue my favorite tradition of thrifting and handmaking gifts. Thank you to everyone who shared and if I missed you, feel free to send us an email or DM about your favorite green holiday tips!