T’was the week before Christmas
And all through the nation
Dangled the holiday card dilemma
Should I send? Or is it too much aggravation?
I don’t know about you, but my holiday card routine comes up for review every year.
Before the advent of e-cards, holiday cards were a given. I gave as many as I received. It was a good way of staying in touch with far flung friends and family.
But with the internet, sending a card is just a few clicks away. Easier, yes. Less costly, for sure.
So I think to myself, maybe this year an e-card will suffice. Why not? It’s the thought that counts, right?
Well, call me old school, but for me there is no comparison. I still get a thrill from finding holiday cards nestled amid the catalogs and junk mail stuffed in my mailbox. My IRL mailbox, that is.
And I enjoy buying holiday cards. Really, how cute are these, from Hallmark? (Disclosure: Hallmark sent me these cards as part of an ambassadorship program. Opinions, as always, are mine alone.)
So although I debate each year about sending them, and although my list is shorter than it used to be, the answer is usually yes.
Holiday Card Facts — Did You Know That …
- Americans send 1.6 billion holiday cards annually [source]
- Women purchase an estimated 80% of all greeting cards [source]
- E-cards have become an environmentally friendly alternative to paper cards [source]
- Christmas cards originated in London, where Sir Henry Cole commissioned the first in 1843. [Source]
- Despite the separation of church and state, it’s customary for the President and First Lady to send White House Christmas cards each holiday season. [source]
- Calvin Coolidge issued the first official Christmas message to the American people in 1927. [source]
Grammarly has created a tongue-in-cheek infographic designed to help with the holiday card dilemma. Are the people on your list worthy of a stamp, an e-card, or (brrrr) the cold shoulder?
Wishing everyone on my list — and beyond — a happy holiday season and a new year filled with peace.