Green Glossary: Mall-Free Holidays

As frustrating as it might be to admit, humans—particularly pampered American humans—are motivated by self-interest. In other words, all this green talk might not sink in until it impacts our wallets in the most obvious of ways. Thus, smack dab in the middle of a major economic meltdown as the holiday madness nears, the time has never been better to go green.

There are plenty of "green gift" guides. TreeHugger.com does one every year. FairCompanies.com explains how our purchases matter. GreenGiftGuide.com offers excellent gift ideas like: an annual pass to State Parks. But can we go further than simply mirroring our commodity culture with a green version?

For those who've already started the shopping, why not make your own wrapping paper as a way to save money and show some environmental spirit? The Sierra Club tells us: "Most mass-produced wrapping paper you find in stores is not recyclable and ends up in landfills. Instead, here's a great chance to get creative! Wrap presents with old maps, the comics section of a newspaper, or children's artwork. If every family wrapped just three gifts this way, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields."

Those willing to take things further might opt for a recycled holiday, like this: "Everyone is invited to give presents to anyone else, but these rules must be followed: you can only give a gift that has been previously owned, nothing new; you can make a present, a painting, a song, a poem, or whatever; you can give away something you already own; you can purchase your gift at a second-hand store or garage sale; and all gifts should be wrapped in newspaper. Sunday comics if you want to get fancy."

Tiny Choices provides more inventive suggestions.

Read more about greener holidays on Planet Green!