Get Back in Touch With Earth
Many of our holiday traditions were once associated with the winter solstice, a time of year when ancient people revered the Earth as a source of life and nourishment. What better way to celebrate the season than by acknowledging the seasonal changes, honoring the Earth and protecting the environment?
Involve the entire family. You can have fun and at the same time teach your children a new tradition they can carry with them all their lives. Here are some ideas:
1. The day that marked the beginning of ancient winter solstice celebrations was the shortest day of the year; in our calendar it’s either Dec. 21 or 22. After this, the days start getting longer until summer solstice in June. In the weeks around Christmas and New Year’s, watch the sunrise and sunset each day. Have your kids keep a chart of the times, and become sensitive to the change in light as days quickly get longer. Doing this will connect you to the Earth as few other things can.
2. At this special time of year, spend time appreciating nature. Go for long walks with your kids, or take them on hikes in the woods or mountains, and be sure to be completely attuned to the environment around you.
3. Choose a piece of Earth and commit yourself and your family to taking care of it. For example, clean up a vacant lot. Collect and recycle all the plastic debris on a stretch of beach or around a favorite pond.
4. Use only recycled goods for cards, wrapping paper and other items you use during the holiday season.
5. Don’t use your car for a week, or even for a weekend.
6. Decide that you won’t release pollutants into the air. Don’t use your fireplace or set a bonfire.
7. Make a contribution to your local parks department for the cleanup and maintenance of a neglected area in your community. Ask your friends and relatives to contribute, too, perhaps in lieu of a holiday gift exchange.
8. Reevaluate your family’s recycling program. Contact your community environmental resource group and find out if it has changed its recycling policies to include more items. If you don’t recycle, take time to find out how to get started.
9. Adopt an endangered species. Decide together as a family what animal you’d like to help save, then gather information about that species. Write letters of protest or make phone calls to companies that are harming them. Denounce this abuse to local or national government agencies. Make informative posters, and put them on public bulletin boards, or join an organization that’s dedicated to rescuing that species.
10. Eat only natural, organic or unprocessed foods for a week. The entire family can help plan and prepare holiday meals that are healthy and easy on the environment.
While you’re celebrating your environmentally friendly holiday season, set aside a special time to make entries in a family journal and write down your ideas and reflections. Include photos or drawings of your activities. Let each person talk about how it felt to be fully engaged in the preservation of the Earth not only during this season, but year-round.
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Elaine St. James is the author of “Simplify Your Life” and “Simplify Your Life With Kids.” For questions or comments, write to her in care of Universal Press Syndicate, 4520 Main St., Kansas City, MO 64111, or e-mail her at estjames@silcom.com.
