Christmas recommendations: Recycled gold gifts, sky cinema and a pause for thought

We all know it: new is new again. At least if we want to take better care of our planet and the communities that keep our cultural life alive. That's why we've put together three sustainable Christmas recommendations for those who want to welcome Christmas without compromising their own principles.

Jump off the couch and into the sky cinema, turn the sleigh towards hidden recycling pearls - or stay down and take a break to think.

Anton Jensen, project worker shows hidden recycled beads for Christmas shopping

A good journalist never reveals his sources. Fortunately, I'm not a journalist, but instead a young Copenhagener who has spent the last three Christmases buying all my gifts in thrift stores. Although there's merit in keeping the good thrift stores close to home, I put the well-being of the planet above my own needs and here are my recommendations for my personal favorite places to shop thrift.

Thrift store hunting can be exhausting and hopeless, but with patience and the willingness to come back regularly, you can make amazing finds that justify the extra effort.

Kirppu - found all over Denmark
Kirppu is a chain that offers flea markets to private individuals for extended periods. Especially during the winter months, when conventional flea markets are not held, all Kirppu's are full of good stuff. They can be found in many parts of the country, but personally, I've had the best luck in Valby and Hillerød.

Loppeshoppen - in Frederiksberg
On the corner of Peter Bangs Vej and Søndre Fasanvej is Loppeshoppen. There are actually two shops of the same name, but while one has rarely enriched me with good finds, the other has been a cornucopia of second-hand gold over the years. The better of the two is located around the corner in a basement and offers everything your heart desires from clothes, ceramics and furniture.

Kirkens Genbrug - in Frederiksberg
Great staff and great deals. Here I found my latest tailored suit for the neat sum of 175 DKK. You can't get any cheaper than that. They have clothes for all tastes and a great selection of LPs, CDs and other good stuff. Located on the corner of Pile Allé and Vesterbrogade.

Anna Shams Ili, counselor, recommends the cure for winter depression: Cinema

I would like to recommend the cinema as a concept. One thing we're good at in Denmark is turning winter depression into hygge, and the cinema is a brilliant concept. For me, it hits the right sweet spot between an activity outside the home without having to put too much effort into finding something to do or pretending it's just super cozy to drink coffee under a half-cold heat lamp.

If you're still okay with a little fresh air, Cinemateket opened their Sky Cinema last year, where you can watch movies in a glass box on their roof. This year, they are showing the Christmas short film The Snowman with hot chocolate and blankets. The Snowman is a British classic and is therefore a regular part of my English boyfriend and I's Christmas program - and it has the added bonus of being under 30 minutes long and playing in the middle of the day, so you can still enjoy the few hours of daylight we have. It may seem like a recommendation for families with children, but in my opinion, especially at Christmas time, it's important to cultivate nostalgia and playfulness. If that seems too far-fetched, Cinemateket has generally tried to hit the whole spectrum of Christmas movies, because in a completely different vein, they also play Eyes Wide Shut - so you can choose what kind of Christmas you're in the mood for.

Ella Vestager, Project Officer recommends taking a break to think

Now that we're approaching December and it's therefore perfectly legitimate to stay inside, it's time to take a break - a pause for reflection. My recommendation is the book series 'thinking breaks'. It's a series of small non-fiction books that cover everything from big to small. Whether you want to dive into technology, anthills or something completely different, there's something for most people. 

Right now I'm reading the Think Tank on Trust. About how the degree of trust has a huge impact on our society. It's fascinating how we have built a welfare system that largely depends on trust in people we largely don't know, and where trust in society's institutions is central to the cohesion of society. 

 Another plus is that the books are almost pocket-sized, coming in at just under 70 small pages! So even in a busy time when breaks may be few and far between, you can get an insight into something you didn't even know you needed to know.