Whether we like it or not, just about every holiday or "special" day in America has been commercialized.
For Valentine's Day, it's chocolates and roses and lingerie.
For Easter, it's chocolate rabbits and easter eggs and color dye.
For Memorial Day, it's flags and images of eagles, and anything else associated with national pride.
So maybe it's time for the sustainability movement to figure out which holiday it can turn into one of its own. After all, beer companies have, for a long time, attached themselves to a number of holidays with clever ad campaigns to sell more beer.
If greenies are smart, they'll learn to take advantage of such famous days as St. Patrick's Day, linking their cause with a celebration that's already in place.
St. Patrick's Day, with a concerted effort, can become synonymous with solar power, recycling, and conservation. Instead of drinking green beer, people can have a hearty glass of wheat grass juice to promote healthy living. Leprechauns can educate people about a wide variety of green activities in a family friendly way. The possibilities are endless.
The point is, every holiday can be viewed through a green lens, encouraging people to celebrate with sustainability in mind, so that we may all keep on celebrating for many generations to come.