Christmas goes green

gzlaser

\"JINGLE bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way.\" That's probably true, because we can hear the song everywhere we go during Christmas season. However, some are unhappy with the commercial evolution of Christmas and long for a simpler celebration of the festival.

In order to create a warm and peaceful atmosphere, the motto \"less is more\" is really true.

1. Celebration

To Chinese, Christmas is an import. Many young Chinese use the holiday as an excuse to gather together with friends. But in Western countries, \"There is a definite trend towards more traditional values among young people when it comes to Christmas,\" Innofact (a German research institute) researcher Detlef Wolters was quoted as saying.

Some 80 percent of those under-40 who took part in the Innofact study said they preferred to spend Christmas in the bosom of their families in an atmosphere of harmony and contemplation.

Only one in 10 said they could not wait for the festivities to end so they could go out clubbing with their friends.

The survey also shows that Christmas without a tree and the traditional Christmas dinner is unthinkable for the vast majority of Germans.

2. Decoration

To many Westerners, a nicely decorated tree is an essential ingredient for a perfect Christmas celebration. However, the global call to save energy has some people cutting back on decorations.

A major example is the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in Manhattan, US. A tradition started in 1931, the Rockefeller tree is lit in November and illuminated during most days through the first week of January. This year, it's gone \"greener\". Energy-saving LEDs have replaced its old-fashioned bulbs. This will reduce the display's electricity consumption from 3,510 to 1,297 kilowatt hours per day.

As Manhattan Mayor Michael Bloomberg put it, people who see this tree may be inspired to \"make greener choices in their own lives\".



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3. Christmas wish

When it comes to Christmas gifts, Germans are not fussy about what they get, according to a Reader's Digest survey.

A majority said they would give up designer watches or computer games for less material items. On top of their wish list was good health, followed by prosperity and world peace, although \"my own car\" came first for those in the 14-to-29 age group. Family was also deemed important.

Angel faces

They are popular in Christmas time – from blinking figures made of plastic to biblically-inspired images dressed in classic garments.

However, the cult surrounding angels often has little to do with Christmas in the Christian sense. For example, rather than heavenly messages from Bethlehem, merchants sell angel Tarot cards and angel crystals.

Style consultants warn that such things are not to everyone's taste. Young fad-pursuers might think, \"Wow, what a cool thing,\" looking at a lovely angel necklace. But people who take Christmas in a more religious way might find it tasteless.