Last year I received the fewest holiday cards ever.
Since it’s that time of year to think about sending year-end correspondence, I wonder who I will hear from this year and who I won’t. It also makes me wonder why people have stopped this tradition; or maybe I was just cut from their list.
According to Hallmark, in the early 2000s about 2 billion Christmas cards were sent by people in the United States, with that number dropping to 1.18 billion in 2015. Today, it’s about 1.3 billion.
Hallmark’s website says, “Christmas is the largest card-sending holiday in the United States.”
My parents sent holiday letters for eons. It was a recap of the highlights of the year, with photos of all six of us and usually the dog. Then it became cards with the photo of the two of them. Now mom does some of her greetings via email.
I sent Christmas cards for years; with a few handwritten sentences on them. Somewhere along the line I started writing my own letter to send to family and friends.
Eventually I bypassed the U.S. Postal Service, instead opting to send my annual news via email. (For the peeps who don’t do electronic mail, I put a stamp on an envelope.)
When I stopped celebrating Christmas I started emailing my greetings on New Year’s Day.
I have been contemplating skipping sending a letter this year. It isn’t written, so who knows what I will ultimately decide. Part of me wants to keep the letter tradition alive because I know how much I enjoy hearing from people.
Some on my list are people who I only hear from at the holidays. We still care about each other, have some shared past, but just aren’t really involved in each other’s lives.
Others on my list I’m doing a better job of staying connected with throughout the year, but still don’t necessarily know all that is going on. I love reading about whatever has happened in the past year to someone I care about, whether it’s sad or happy, good or bad.
I suppose the important thing isn’t so much about connecting at the holidays, but reaching out to those who mean something to you throughout the year. A simple text or email, a postcard, a letter, even a phone call.
I think we could probably all do a little better at being present in the lives of those we care about.
I don’t care so much about sending cards anymore. But we do! I’m married to a writer and that’s what he does! The letter is written before I get any input. I do Facebook and Instagram and I love them as I keep up with lots of friends all year. He doesn’t do FB so he wants to keep up with them once a year with a letter! 🤷🏼♀️Most of my friends know all this stuff already. I think Social media is why Hallmark is having a hard time!!
Merry Christmas Kae,
I think a big part of people not sending cards is the price of postage. We still do.
Happy Holidays.
I always loved reading your family Christmas letter and then later in life, yours. I understand considering no longer doing it but I definitely enjoyed it over the years. Also, I like the idea of keeping in touch more throughout the year, not just at the beginning/end. XOXO
I think we should tell our dear ones – those far and near – that we love them all year long. Not just on Christmas, new years, or valentines day – but every day. Letters, calls, texts, thoughts – all good for me.
oh and by the way – I love you. ;)
I hope you don’t give up doing your letter. I always enjoy it even though we stay in touch through the year.
As you know, I am the United States Postal Service’s #1 fan. I sent 783 pieces of mail last year). History is told in the letters left behind (think about that). I will continue to send holiday cards, complete with a family photo and newsy letter. It brings me joy. I certainly do not send to receive. This is one of my favorite quotes:
“A friendship can weather most things
and thrive in thin soil;
but it needs a little mulch of letters and phone calls
and small, silly presents every so often-
just to save it from drying out completely.”
-Pam Brown
I hope you had a Merry Christmas. Yes, very few people send cards. I have not sent cards for a few years either. This year I decided to water color my own cards. So the few that I send to my family were special💕 It is about the feelings and message within the card, not the commercial aspect.