Even for the most experienced, learning how to have a fully vegan Christmas doesn’t come easy. But with a little research and imagination, you can truly indulge in good will to all with a Christmas that feels better on both your tummy and your heart.

Easy ways to have a Vegan Christmas

1 - Design a vegan Christmas dinner

Before you recoil in horror at the thought of eschewing your traditional turkey, do your research into vegan Christmas dinner. There are so many gorgeous recipes and products out there that will wow even the most carnivorous dinner guests. Roast veggies in oil rather than butter and swap dairy for plant-based milks in cooking. The variety of meat substitutes and vegan party foods in stores is astonishing nowadays.

Holmes Place vegan Xmas recipes are waiting for you on our Youtube and will fill you with inspiration - ain’t no stopping you now!

Check vegan clothing

Some of the most popular Christmas gifts are new clothes. But these can be problematic, ethically. Avoid real fur and leather and don’t assume everything is fake. You can find some stunning faux-fur scarves out there and high-quality handbags, belts and shoes without hurting anyone. If buying any knitwear as a gift, be wary of angora wool. PETA recently exposed the plucking of rabbits to produce this animal-based wool. Fashion giants such as Calvin Klein, H&M and SOS have all pledged not to use angora in future collections.

Avoid animal-tested cosmetics

There are so many ethical cosmetics out there that it’s easy to boycott the animal testers. This is a confusing area for many due to an international loophole. Despite the animal testing ban in Europe, it is still a required law to in China for all imported cosmetics, meaning many brands we think are safe to buy from have parent companies who still perform cruel tests on animals overseas. PETA have created this wonderful list of vegan beauty and body product brands, saving you time and saving more animals this Christmas.

Remember the real spirit of giving

It’s something we remind ourselves of at Christmas time, but do we always act on it? The power of kindness, generosity and mindfulness. Take this magical season as an opportunity to show what matters to you. Change the narrative of gift-giving and receiving in your close circle by making it clear that you’d rather have memorable experiences than material goods.

Maybe you and your partner could use the money you’d typically spend on gifts on a wellness retreat, romantic dinner out, or a health club membership for the new year. If you still want to give physical gifts, plump for the kinder presents we’ve listed above. Wrap them in used newspapers, magazines, or even old materials to create less waste.

We know not everyone will be open to the steps it takes to have a fully vegan Christmas, but don’t take it personally and don’t force your values on others. This time of the year is busy and it can be hard to implement vegan and waste-free changes. But small steps are important and your actions and positive energy will the force that inspires even the most stubborn relatives into more ethical movements this festive season.

Have yourself a merry vegan Christmas!