Ethical Christmas Dilemmas (And How to Solve Them)
Holiday times are upon us: twinkling lights, mulled wine, and...myriad conundrums for vegans. Celebrating the holidays with an ethical mindset can come with its set of difficulties: especially as new vegans, we notice injustice and waste to a higher degree than we did before, making for un-merry discomfort. And all of that is not mentioning the snide remarks from anti-vegans at the festive table. Here are some common conundrums, complete with easy solutions.
By Sascha Camilli: writer, speaker, activist, and vegan fashion expert.
I'm bracing myself for Christmas with my non-vegan family
Ah, the classic problem: dealing with anti-vegan comments. This is something that every vegan has had to deal with at some point, and at Christmas it's more palpable than ever. Questions about what you will and won't eat, and whether you can "just have one piece" are at best annoying, at worst catalysts for a full-blown argument. The Vegan Society's Maisie Stedman has some advice. "Arm yourself with your 'why' to avoid feeling put on the spot. Prepare yourself with a friendly and succinct explanation of your reasons for choosing veganism." Stedman also has some practical tips for winning naysayers over: "Christmas is a great time for sharing food, and this is something that can bring people together - offer some tasty vegan dishes so everyone can see just how delicious vegan food can be."
None of my party clothes are ethically made
POV: open up your wardrobe to get ready for celebration season...and are met with heaps of feathers, sequins, and silk. Realising that your existing wardrobe isn't in line with your ethical beliefs is something that is bound to happen during this lifestyle transition - but the best thing you can do here is avoid waste. Resist the impulse to chuck out your entire collection of sequinned dresses and rush off to buy an entirely new party wardrobe. Instead, wear what you have until it reaches the end of its lifespan, and then replace it with a more sustainably made option. That really is the most ethical thing we can do. But if you do find yourself searching for a new party outfit, check out our party style edit.
Help! It's my first Christmas as a vegan
Hosting Christmas is stressful enough for most people - but hosting as a vegan is next-level anxiety-inducing. What to serve? How to plan the cooking? And most importantly, how to win over those expecting turkey and ham? Fear not, vegan recipe developer Katy Beskow is here to come to the rescue. Her recipe book Easy Vegan Christmas offers a simple route for new vegans to serve up a festive feast. Fuss-free and practical, these recipes will have your guests amazed.
I was gifted a leather purse
Picture this: you unwrap a gift, looking forward to exploring its contents...only to find that you can't actually use what's inside. Non-vegan gifts often come courtesy of friends or family members who don't fully understand veganism and come with the best of intentions. Your options here: if you have a close, honest relationship with the gift-giver, have a conversation. Explain that this present goes against your values and isn't likely to get any use. There's a chance they'll understand and offer to exchange it for something else. If you fear that such a chat might cause friction, quietly donate the gift, or re-gift it. It's not shameful - it is a way to ensure that it will actually be used and avoiding waste.
My family is so wasteful over the holidays
We've all been there. The wrapping paper, the ribbons, the useless trinkets gifted to gather dust for years. And that's not mentioning the food waste! Standing by and watching food getting tossed into the bin is enough to make anyone scream - but if you're aware of the horrific statistics on holiday-related waste, it's even harder. If your loved ones are open to a rubbish-related conversation over Christmas, present the facts - but also (and this is crucial) come armed with alternative solutions. Wrap your own gifts in recycled paper. Gift experiences rather than material things where possible. Buy only the food you need, and donate any surplus - and if asked about these things, explain your reasons. Often, the best way to inspire change is simply to live it.
By Sascha Camilli
About Sascha
Sascha Camilli is a vegan fashion writer, speaker and activist. Her book Vegan Style is out now on Murdoch Books. For more about Sascha, you can read our interview with her or read her newsletter Kind of Wild. You can also follow her on Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Cover image by Mel Poole. Last photo by Freestocks. Last photo by Brooke Lark. All via Unsplash.
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