Lemondrop

An eco-friendly Christmas is the opposite of the Christmas mornings of our childhood, loaded with piles of wrapping paper and mounds of toys. Greening your Christmas is about returning the holiday to its roots: family, friends and love.

It's about buying less and thinking more -- and in our current economy, it really is a great time to switch the emphasis to a more environmentally and wallet-friendly holiday. Check out these 10 tips:

1) The Christmas tree is the centerpiece of an ongoing holiday debate. If you get a real tree, look for one that was grown nearby. Even better? Start a new Christmas tradition and get a re-plantable tree, or look into renting one. This article has more info.

2) Make the season of lights glow with LEDs, which use 35-80 percent less energy and still sparkle with holiday cheer. LED Christmas lights are conveniently available at Kmart and Target, so you really have no excuse.

3) Have someone on your list who doesn't recycle? Try converting them with a subtly green gift, maybe a solar-powered watch or heels from an eco-friendly designer. As they exclaim their love for said gift, mention its awesome eco-qualities.

4) Eco-friendly items can honestly be a bit pricier than traditional ones. But presents are often gifts that you wouldn't be able to get for yourself. So, when mom asks what's on your list choose green items that are out of your price range. Think green purchasing power, even if it's your parent's purchasing power.

5) When someone you need to get a gift for insists that she doesn't really need anything, take her up on the offer. Find a great environmental charity and make a donation in her name. You'll both feel good about your donation. Make sure the charity is legit at Charity Navigator.

6) Re-Gift -- and get creative about it. Re-gifting doesn't have to be about passing an item off as new. Think about that outfit in your closet that your sister has had her eye on or a special book you could lend to a friend forever.

7) Give rechargeable batteries with any electronics -- or think about giving a solar-powered charger to the technophiles on your list.

8) The best gifts make life easier for your friends and family. Try cooking for grandma or watching your cousin's kids. Think less "stuff" and more quality time.

9) There's another reason not to procrastinate on your holiday shopping: Ground transportation uses less fuel than the overnight kind, so use your lunch break and start shopping.

10) Remember that pile of wrapping paper we mentioned before? If you can't part with it, try alternatively wrapping your gifts. Get creative with newspaper, magazines and take-out menus.

Gloria Dawson is a blogger at TheDailyGreen.com and a Lemondrop contributor.