Although the decade opened with the hope brought by the turn of the millennium, emotions turned to shock at the events of September 11, 2001 in the United States, with conflict ensuing in countries around the world.

As the decade continued, however, further advances in technology, health, and environmental research provided hope again — in the battles for wellness, quality of life, and climate change. Toys based on cartoon characters remained very popular, from Buzz Lightyear to Spiderman, along with ever-more-sophisticated computer-simulation games.

Your Christmas Budget in the 2000s

A century later, here’s how your very first Christmas-budget list looks, updated to keep up with the times.

• Men’s sport jacket (smoking optional): $99.95

• TV cabinet: $450.00

• Portable MP3 player: $109.99

• China candlestick: $35.00

• Boys’ worsted sweater: $30.00

• Toy sewing machine: $29.99

• Toy automobile: $9.99

• Railroad set: $34.00

• Paperbound copy of Peck’s Bad Boy: $19.95

In the News in the 2000s

Green Christmas: Tips for an Eco-Friendly Holiday

Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s day, Americans throw away a million extra tons of garbage each week, including holiday wrapping and packaging, according to Robert Lilienfeld. Lilienfield is coauthor of the book Use Less Stuff: Environmental Solutions for Who We Really Are.

So why not recycle holiday gift wrap? Lilienfield, who has published a newsletter on reducing waste since 1996, notes that if every family reused just 2 feet of holiday ribbon, the 38,000 miles of ribbon saved could tie a bow around the entire planet.

And not all gifts need wrapping. “Think back to your three favorite holiday memories,” Lilienfeld said. “I’m willing to bet that they all involve time you spent with your family and friends.”

By giving gifts that can be experienced, like tickets to a baseball game or a homemade dinner, you can minimize wrapping and still win points with the receiver. “People like these gifts just as much,” he said.

—Cameron Walker for National Geographic News, December 20, 2004