It's the season of cheap tattoos and bad food. Or – why not try a really Merry Green Christmas? | Isabelle Losada

Christmas can seem unrecoverable. Very few people in the UK truly celebrate the birth into abject poverty of a refugee boy whom they believe to be God made human. And as for Saint Nick and the invitation to deceive young children, it is equally doubtful. Adults don't usually lie to children - that's not nice.

The day/week/month/two months is hopelessly lost in consumer capitalism. All of this is awaited with dread by many of us who don't have the perfect family, the perfect living conditions and the money to spare, or who are unable to look away from both overconsumption obscene and the crisis of poverty. So how do we start redeeming the season? I have a few ideas.

First, I would like to suggest that we celebrate the winter solstice instead. Now there's something you can tell the kids that's real, exciting, and a lesson in how the world works. What would you say, instead of telling the children: "And then an overweight man comes down the chimney that we don't have", we whisper to them the following extraordinary mystery: "It's the longest night in the year, when the Earth's pole reaches maximum tilt away from the sun. We call it mid-winter and people used to say tomorrow is the rebirth of the sun. It's reality. It's exciting.

And we can celebrate the winter solstice - how's that for freedom? – just the way we like it. This year, it falls on Wednesday, December 21. This is how I would like to celebrate. First, by embracing the darkness (useful during an energy crisis) with candles. Yes, I would like a tree in the house. There is a simple solution to the "real or plastic" dilemma - if you have an outdoor space, grow a fir, spruce or pine tree in a pot and bring it into the house every year. (Make sure it is a light pot, because after years of cultivation it will become heavy). Decorate your house but do the decorations yourself, because you can. And the whole festival is plastic and waste free - because you can make it that way.

Gifts? Well, sure, there can be freebies, but we can also be eco-friendly. There are two ways to enjoy happy and ethical gifts. First of all, don't overlook second-hand deals. Do you think you're too good at giving or receiving second-hand gifts? Really - we have to overcome this. Antique dealers, flea markets and charity shops are full of wonders from the past. Whole lives are there.

If you feel like you need to buy something new, then develop an intense interest in supply chains. It adds so much interest to an object if you're able to find out exactly where it was made, what it's made of, and who made it. Ideally, you know the person yourself or have found a UK-based freelance designer through social media or word of mouth. Finally, if you're buying from a chain or mass-produced item, choose companies that are transparent about their production. If you are looking to make a large purchase of any kind, please consult Ethical Consumer magazine. They know the difference between greenwashing and true ethical standards.

Academic Terry Eagleton has written, "Capitalism plunders the sensuality of the body." We can see why this is so. But I hope it will not be so with your new winter festival. There will be treats for all the senses; make sure it's visually beautiful and has wonderful sounds and smells and wonders to touch and taste.

Then there's the food . Admit it, it was always roasted potatoes that you loved the most anyway. Poor turkeys - let's not incorporate cruelty into our festivities. So be creative: research vegan recipes and cook things you've never eaten before. The meat and the three vegetables is so last decade. Design your own winter solstice food. Challenge everyone present to cook something they love.

Then there's what to do. Just lose all screens, big and small. Take out board games, neglected puzzles, crayons, paints. Bring back charades, tell stories, ask anyone who can play a musical instrument to play them. Talk about all the things everyone agrees on, just for this celebration. Talk about what you are grateful for. Withhold unsolicited advice from others and rely on appreciation instead. Make your own best-of lists, like "favorite moments of 2022" - maybe one day you saw a beautiful sky. Incorporate the best aspects of American Thanksgiving and remember you're making it up: you can borrow wherever you want.

It's the middle of the winter we're celebrating, so you want to be a little theatrical and incorporate nature in any way you can. Learn a little more about the moon and the planets. It's good for all of us to remember that we...