It may be the most wonderful time of the year, but it’s also undeniably one of the most wasteful. Retailers treat the holiday season like a golden ticket, convincing cheerful, celebratory, slightly “tinsel-tipsy” shoppers that the more they spend, the merrier their holiday will be. As heartwarming as a classic Christmas movie… except, much like the film itself, that promise is mostly fiction.
In reality, the festive season often resembles a glitter-covered horror story. Household waste spikes by around 30% during this time of year[1], driven largely by the spectacle of plastic-filled decorations, non-recyclable glossy wrapping paper, ribbons, boxes, limited-edition snacks and one-time-use gift sets designed to be consumed once, forgotten and discarded.
But here’s the good news: the holiday season isn’t destined to be a parade of unnoticed horrors. Creating traditions that warm your heart and tread lightly on the planet is easier than you think. And it all begins with the star of the show: the gifts.
Secret Santa, where each person buys a gift for just one other, already helps curb unnecessary spending. But why not make it even more meaningful and infinitely more fun by turning it into a Secondhand Secret Santa?
Only preloved gifts allowed.
A well-loved book waiting for its next chapter in someone else’s hands, a quirky mug with more personality than any mass-produced design, a charming trinket that has already lived a life before finding its new home. These aren’t generic gifts; they’re one-of-a-kind treasures – each carrying a story, a past, and a pinch of mystery. It’s like giving someone a piece of history rather than another item destined to sit untouched on a shelf.
The hunt even becomes part of the gift. Wandering through your local charity shop or antique store feels like stepping into a time capsule. Far more enchanting than navigating overcrowded malls filled with frantic, last-minute shoppers.
But what about the wrapping? The crucial element that makes a gift a gift after all? Your local charity shop is often overflowing with newspaper, maps, sheet music, and other papers just waiting to become part of something joyful. Get creative and embellish the paper with doodles, stamps, or handwritten notes; reuse ribbons and gift bags from previous holidays; or layer textures and colours to give your wrapping its own personality. Each detail adds a touch of you, extending the life of materials while spreading even more smiles and surprises.
Choosing pre-loved treasures means reducing overconsumption, cutting down unnecessary packaging, and supporting local thrift and charity stores. It transforms gift-giving into a playful, planet-friendly adventure filled with laughter, creativity, and genuine joy. It is a gift that doesn’t just save money or reduce waste – it brings a kind of thoughtful delight that no generic gift set ever could. These treasures carry soul, story and sentiment. An ethically and environmentally conscious festivity that triumphs any classic Christmas movie.
[1] IOL Staff, “Stop wasting: a greener festive season for South Africans,” IOL, December 19, 2023, https://iol.co.za/capetimes/news/2023-12-19-stop-wasting-a-greener-festive-season-for-south-africans/