We are coming to the end of our experiencement of not shopping for one year. Only three more weeks to go but we still have the largest brick wall ahead of us: Christmas.

Ask any kid and they will tell you that the true meaning of Christmas is getting presents. Sure, when asked in Sunday school they might say Jesus, but we all remember being kids wondering, hoping, and dreaming about what we would get for Christmas. Even as adults we still make the focus of Christmas about what presents we are going to get for our kids. Even though the wise men had a good idea in bringing presents for the new born King, I think we have really messed things up with our focus on what we can get and give.

Luckily there are some people who are trying to bring the real meaning of Christmas back. Bringing back charity, hope, kindess, justice, love, compassion, and Christ into this ridiculously crazy holiday season.

The Advent Conspiracy

The Advent Conspiracy is group who is trying to encourage people to spend less on presents and more on those in need. By reducing the amount of presents that we give we are able to support the efforts of those working with people in need. Building water wells in Africa, homes for homeless families in Mexico, and reaching out to those around us in need. Started by a community of churches in Portland including Imago Dei, the Advent Conspiracy is striving to reduce suffering by reducing our consumption this Christmas.

Buy Nothing Day

Buy Nothing Day is an international day of protest against consumerism observed by social activists. It was started by some Vancouver artists and Adbusters magazine. It is usually celebrated on the day after American Thanksgiving or Black Friday. Their goal is to encourage people to find any alternative to shopping on that day.

This video is from the Philadelphia BND celebration. The guy dressed up like a clown on stilts is one of my heros, Shane Claiborne. He started the Simple Way a community of people dedicated to living and loving like Christ. He is crazy and awesome and I love him. When he was in college he called Mother Terresa and asked if he could come to Calcutta to help for a summer and she said yes so he came. Check out his books (link).

Buy Nothing Christmas

Buy Nothing Christmas is like Buy Nothing Day except it is for Christmas time. This website was started by a bunch of Mennonites from Winnepeg. I like the picture - I liked it so much I made it my facebook profile (that is true like).

If you are gonna buy gifts

Check out these great places:

Invisible Children

Kiva

Food For the Hungry

There are a lot of other people out there who are trying to make a difference in this world by changing the way that they shop. I have found that if we can refocus ourselves, especially at Christmas, from thinking about our own needs and start thinking about the needs of others we can make a tremendous impact.

It is going to take a community of people willing to go against the grain and try something new and different this Christmas.

Do you know any other stories of people or groups who are providing an alternative to the rampant consumerism that generally resounds during Christmas? Share them in the comments section.