Entry #89 - by Shashini Silva

On Christmas Eve, I noticed rows of cypress tree branches for sale along the roadside. It made me wonder: how many trees are cut down every year for Christmas celebrations? The alternative, artificial Christmas trees, isn’t much better. Many are decorated with synthetic ornaments, some containing toxic materials, and are discarded after the season. The result? An estimated 3 million tons of extra waste is generated annually during the Christmas period, including artificial trees, decorations, and surplus food. Worse, producing a single artificial tree emits around 88 pounds of carbon dioxide.

It’s essential to recognize that our environment is alive—trees, forests, and hills are part of a living ecosystem. This prompted me to ask: is there a sustainable way to celebrate with a Christmas tree? Can we decorate in ways that leave no negative impact on nature?

While exploring solutions, I discovered the concept of a “Tree Without a Tree.” Christmas is a season of love and giving. Let’s extend that love and gratitude to our closest neighbor—the environment—and celebrate responsibly.