Yes, there are even ways to party responsibly. Here are a few:

• Ditch the invites. Call, text, or e-mail friends.
• Shun paper goods. Shun them! Use reusable plates, cups, utensils, and tablecloths. Not enough forks? Serve finger food. Problem solved.
• If you're expecting to be greeted by a mountain of cans and bottles at daybreak, put clearly marked recycling containers in plain view. Trek down to the grocery store for a return on your investment.
• Serve seasonal foods.
• Set the mood with candles.
• Decorate with flowers and plants, rather than balloons and streamers.
• Give away any leftover food, and clean up post-party using Earth-friendly disinfectants and deodorizers.

Holiday ideas: The 12 Tips of Christmas

Try these fun tips for making Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa an Earth-friendly endeavor:

1. Reuse holiday cards. Cut out pretty cover designs for use as next year's gift tags.
2. Think outside the box when wrapping. Wrap a toy in yesterday's comics. Present a Sound of Music fan with a recycled brown paper package tied up with string. Reuse bows.
3. Give a bike or a bus pass, and make a New Year's resolution to use one yourself.
4. Give gift certificates or tickets. Less to throw away (or recycle) when it's used.
5. Make an Earth-conscious gift basket filled with canvas grocery bags, reusable water bottles, and recycled stationery.
6. Turn trash to treasure by making one-of-a-kind gifts from found objects around the house or yard.
7. Use locally produced products for your holiday table and gift giving. Include contact information, so the lucky recipient can replenish goodies as they run out.
8. Write down Grandma's treasured recipes and present them to your family members. Better yet, e-mail them and save the paper.
9. Lights out! Santa will find your house even if you don't fill the night with outdoor lights. Opt for a more natural look with greens in the flower boxes and candles setting the mood indoors. Or decrease the amount of time the lights are on.
10. Decorate a live tree. Plant it outdoors after the holidays. Or decorate a tree that's already part of your yard. Use bird-friendly (edible) decorations and attract these feathered friends all season long. Or, use an artificial tree year after year.
11. Redefine "gift." Spend time with your child by planning a new vegetable or perennial garden together. Go on a shopping spree at Goodwill and fill up a trunk with new dress-up clothes.
12. Ditch a material gift altogether and opt for a thoughtful donation to a charity.