The Lost Art of Mailing Holiday Greeting Cards
It makes all the difference to go the extra mile and write holiday greetings for friends and family
I have relished sending Christmas cards to faraway friends and relatives for as long as I can remember.
During the holiday season, I would spend hours at Hallmark and Carlton Card stores hunting for the perfect cards to mail out.
I wanted to convey a message of peace and hope for the future. It became increasingly difficult to spread this message over time, especially given the world’s chaotic state.
Handwritten Messages
I would spend hours writing letters inside the cards, chronicling our family’s noteworthy experiences, activities, and accomplishments for that particular year.
As a result, the cards took on the appearance of a newsletter. However, they were also incredibly individualized because I would write a personal message depending on the recipient inside each and every card.
Fewer Cards With Each Passing Year
As I became busier with family obligations and other responsibilities, I began mailing out fewer and fewer cards. To my dismay, I also realized that I was receiving fewer and fewer cards with each passing year.
Many people did not even return my cards, opting instead to send emails, SMS, and WhatsApp messages in lieu of holiday greeting cards. I was disappointed by the latter, as I genuinely looked forward to receiving the holiday cards on a trip to the mailbox.
Display and Store Greeting Cards
Back in the day, I would prominently display the holiday cards that we got on the living room mantle and in different locations throughout the house. It was a cheery reminder of the holiday season, and just gazing at them made me happy and joyful.
I would place the greeting cards in plastic bins and store them safely in a spare bedroom at the end of each holiday season. I still have boxes of old letters, holiday cards, and birthday cards from decades ago.
Final Thoughts
I have always been sentimental, and these cards and letters have become increasingly meaningful to me as the years pass. My daughter and I enjoy sifting and looking through old cards periodically. It brings back so many wonderful memories of years gone by.
I continue to send holiday cards to a few close relatives to keep the tradition alive.
What are your feelings about sending and receiving holiday cards? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
A version of this story originally appeared on Medium.