As a rule of thumb for natural trees: preferably grown nearby, from certified organic cultivation or from FSC-certified forests and purchased at a point of sale within walking distance. The rule for artificial trees is to use them for as many years as possible.
Or you can opt for a tree-like decoration made of wood or metal, on which baubles and other ornaments can be hung. If you want to get creative yourself, you can find instructions on the Internet.

Another alternative is a vase with branches from shrubs and trees. If you cut branches from fruit trees on December 4, the feast day of St. Barbara, and place them in a vase, with a bit of luck they will bloom on Christmas Eve. St. Barbara's branches - a centuries-old custom - are a symbol of the birth of Christ and a sign of impending happiness.

Festive dishes can also be delicious without meat. Give it a try. A plant-based diet is always healthy. When shopping, look for the organic label if possible. It's best to plan in advance which foods you really need. This will help you avoid leftovers after the festive meal - or you can use up any leftovers. And if Christmas includes a roast, you can enjoy an organic goose with a clear conscience.

The same applies to gifts as in everyday life: less is often more! Look out for environmental labels and give preference to used and/or refurbished products. Nice alternatives to material gifts are time, such as an invitation to a meal or an outing, as well as homemade items. Gift ideas that support nature and the environment are just as useful: for example, a membership in a nature conservation association or a sponsorship for an animal or a conservation project.

You don't always have to use new materials to wrap gifts. Simply use what you already have - such as scraps of fabric, newspaper, beautiful used paper or similar. Wrapping paper made from recycled paper with the Blue Angel label or classic brown wrapping paper is also a good choice. No fresh wood fibers are required for their production and they use significantly less water and energy. Plastic and metal foils should be avoided where possible for ecological reasons.

If you open wrapped presents carefully, the paper, bows and ribbons - neatly folded and wrapped - can be used again next year. The same applies to gift boxes or bags. Wrapping paper that cannot be reused goes into the waste paper.

Many Christmas items are produced under socially and ecologically questionable conditions in Asia. Less of it is therefore better! Alternatives can be nuts, cookies, fabric ribbons, fruit and figures made of paper, wood, straw or wax.

If you are sorting out Christmas items, instead of throwing them away, you can pass on angels, baubles etc. via online flea markets and the Wiesbadener Verschenkmarkt. Or you can swap Christmas decorations for something new at the "Christmas decoration swap + give away" campaign at the Umweltladen.

Modern LED lights save electricity. Conventional fairy lights should therefore be replaced with LED fairy lights wherever possible and illuminated stars or other lighting fixtures should be converted if necessary. It is better to opt for fairy lights that do not require batteries or buy ones that can be recharged. You can also save electricity by only switching on Christmas lights when needed. A timer helps with this.

In the dark season, candles spread atmospheric light and coziness. This coziness becomes sustainable if you choose certified or palm oil-free stearin and beeswax candles. By making a conscious purchase, you can reduce the amount of waste, transportation routes and rainforest deforestation. Conventional candles are usually made from kerosene wax, which contains petroleum. Burning them produces climate-damaging CO2. Stearin candles, on the other hand, are made from renewable biomass and burn CO2-neutrally. With stearin candles, it is important to ensure that they do not contain palm oil. Large areas of rainforest are destroyed to grow oil palms. You can also conserve resources with recycled candles. These are made from leftover candle wax and are available in the environmental store.

The flyer "Advent, Advent ein Lichtlein brennt" contains further detailed information on buying and using candles in a low-emission way.

Be careful with scented and incense candles, as some people are very sensitive to scented chemicals. They can pollute the air in the room. Therefore, make sure there is sufficient ventilation.

What do I give to whom? Who needs what? A wish list from everyone in the family can be useful. This takes the stress out of finding the right thing and there is less need to exchange after Christmas. And if you buy locally, you support the regional retailers.