The Buy Nothing Christmas Challenge!
This year, carry the spirit of Buy Nothing Day into the holiday season by taking back Christmas. Let others put up with the busy malls, the to-do lists, and the marketing hype. Spend time with family instead, and rediscover how people made merry before the advent of the big-box store.
Take the Buy Nothing Christmas Challenge:
Novice: Forget the heaps of presents. Let everyone know you mean business by downloading our "Holiday Gift-Exemption Vouchers", a way of saying you care enough to let your loved ones off the gift-giving hook.
Intermediate: Inspire your friends and family to try a different kind of Christmas. If Buy Nothing Christmas is too extreme for grandma and the kids, maybe try a Buy Less Christmas. Put a limit on the value of purchased gifts. Or make your own. Or make it a Green Christmas with eco-friendly gifts only.
Advanced: Take Buy Nothing Christmas to your local mall. Gather together a group of meditating zen Santas to offer stressed-out shoppers free coffee and a place to rest their weary feet. Or don our downloadable Jesus mask, throw on an old bedsheet, and do the slow-motion Jesus walk for the entertainment and bemusement of the holiday crowds
Have other great Buy Nothing Christmas ideas? Share them in our Thoughts section below.
Downloads
Buy Nothing Day 2007 Wrap-up
Buy Nothing Day 2007 Wrap-up: This year was a big success, garnering broad international media coverage of the event.
BND stories appeared on CNN, the BBC, CBC, and the New York Times, as well as dozens of local newspapers and radio stations.
Once again activists took to the streets and malls around the world.
Send us your BND tales and pix for posting on our blog bnd_[at]_adbusters_[dot]_org.
Go here for Buy Nothing Day media coverage
MTV update: Thank you to the over 3000 people who sent email to MTV over Buy Nothing Day, protesting their decision to censor our burping pig tv-spot.
The controversy got the attention of the media, and exposed the fundamental inconsistency between MTV's marketing pose and the corporate reality.
USA ACTION UPDATE
A group decided to organize and hit up Santa Monica's 3rd Street Promenade for Buy Nothing Day 2007, one of the shopping hotspots in Los Angeles. They did a "silent walk" with eye opening signs for a solid 3 hours. Here is one of the protester's, Nate:
Read More »
PHILIPPINES ACTION UPDATE
Buy Nothing Day activities took place in Davao city in the Philippines this year. There was a lively display of Buy Nothing Day material and consumer awareness on the busy streets of the city. They plan to do this once a week through December!
Read More »
UK ACTION UPDATE
Here is a first hand account from the Buy Nothing Day Team in Durham, England with their "operation Santa-geddon".
Read More »
Thoughts
Share your thoughts
- We are finally winning the war on rampant consumerism! Spending this past Christmas was the worst in five years, showing a trend toward more meaningful purchases. Over the past few years I have chosen to avoid the frenzy by only buying what I need to MAKE something personalized for all of my friends and family. My step father gets baked goods, my step mother gets necklaces, and the rest usually get a piece of artwork. I've even written letters telling the people in my life why I love them. ... [read more]
Amanda, Denver
- We buy our children gifts only once a year and that is at Christmas. However, we do not buy just any old thing. We have them make a list of things that they need or would really like and we get things from their list. I shop throughout the year and it takes the stress off considerably. We all get together for the Holidays and make a real occasion out of it as it is about the only time we are able to all be together. Distance is a factor in our choice. We set a limit on what we spend and by ... [read more]
Joelle, watertown
- it's funny, I hadn't seen the idea presented here, but am proud to say that my family agreed on the rule "no gifts, no exceptions". we have been successful for about 5 years now. My boyfriend and I are working on his family now... We talked them into taking us on a weekend trip to northern MN instead of presents this year. It worked out beautifully!
kristi, minneapolis
- I really enjoy the whole concept of the buy nothing day! How about we go a step further and add a day prior to this celebration a new type of day: The international empty your bank account day!
Vincent, Montreal
- My roomate and I decided we were going to buy nothing for christmas. He suceeded, I did not. But I am very proud of him and I have made it a goal to convince my family not be offended by my not buying them gifts at christmas. maybe i'll try making things instead.
Jon Bolden, Austin, TX
- The majority of people are still trappedin the commercial based society and have no idea. They sit inside and stuff their faces with their audi parked outside..
tysonlundbech.com, sydney
- The majority of people are still trappedin the commercial based society and have no idea. They sit inside and stuff their faces with their audi parked outside..
tysonlundbech.com, sydney
- Re: "Thoughts" from Rudi, Crawley: it's goodgifts.org, NOT goodgifts.com
Joanne Olafson,
- Re: "Thoughts" from Rudi, Crawley: it's goodgifts.org, NOT goodgifts.com
Joanne Olafson,
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RECLAIMING THE SEASON: Those of us who shiver at the thought of
hour-long line-ups and $5 gift tags finally have something to rejoice
about over the holidays: fed-up citizens and social activists from
across the world are inviting everyone to take part in Buy Nothing
Christmas . . . 
