The Christmas season is now upon us. Billions will be spent the world over, but gift-giving needn’t be all about money, knowing the recipient can mean you know how to ‘give good gift’. I have a friend who told me that she starts thinking about Christmas in July. By writing a list of the sorts of activities and passions her friends were involved in since last Christmas, she was able to buy eco-friendly, appropriately thoughtful gifts all done and dusted by November. Using Newspaper as wrapping and finishing it off with a nice length of re-useable lace as a bow meant she didn’t need to buy wrapping paper. “The beauty of this method” she told me “is I’m saving myself a great deal of money as each person’s gift was less than a fiver and my gift tags are cinema tickets and such, acquired when I was out with that particular friend”. Very thoughtful, but with over 30 people to buy for that’s still a whopping £150 spent.

Leaving aside the environmental aftermath, there are many thousands of people around the world who find this time of year very upsetting for one reason or another, and having Christmas rammed down their throats is something to be endured annually. Year on year I would witness my mother slave for hours in the kitchen making food of which only half will be consumed. My mother was an excellent cook, but many people grow up traumatised by under/over cooked game birds, bland vegetables, stodgy puddings and piss-poor gravy. I say throw out traditional flatulent causing Christmas dinners and eat what you like to eat. Everyone loves crispy aromatic duck.

In many households large amounts of alcohol will be drank in a sorry attempt at coping with family members they dislike, painful TV schedules and fake gratitude for un-wanted gifts. If there’s anybody in your home between the age of 16 and 35 the chances are they’ll have a killer hangover on Christmas morning. Drunken dads at Christmas can be much more than an embarrassing nightmare, as is the uncle who always tries to get your mom under the mistletoe. Our annual holidays should not end in tears, bloodshed and/or tragedy.

With a little forethought and consideration, this year we can all have an excellent festive season, give presents that have meaning, and still contribute less to the devastating impact a typical British Christmas has on the environment and our mental state. For example, buying locally grown food and crafts would limit food-miles and support your local economy. Even better, why not show someone what this time of year really means. If you know of someone, anyone, who will be unhappy or alone at Christmas, why not invite them over to share in your festive holiday. If that’s a bit too much like “A Christmas Carol”, why not give them a call on Christmas day to wish them a Merry Christmas, you may just make someone’s year.