Keep the Christmas Card Alive!
In this digital age it’s rare to receive a hand-written letter. But today I am writing to defend a dying snail-mail tradition: THE CHRISTMAS CARD.
The first ones come to my parent’s house in mid-November. The different colored envelopes and handwritten addresses tend to stand out in the boring stack of junk mail and bills.
I love Christmas cards.
I love that they have been touched by another human hand. I also love looking at the different card choices my relatives make: children in a sleigh scene from grandma, sunglass wearing snowman from kooky uncle, sombre manger scene from sincere cousin…
I’ll admit it. I don’t have have time to send hand-written letters. Why would I need to when I have a Twitter or Facebook account?
But Christmas comes but once in a year. Is it such an overwhelming task to pick up a pen, lick a stamp and walk to the post box?
Now that you probably feel nice and guilty… I should say that if you absolutely can’t send a REAL card, you have options:
a.) If you live in the States, you can use this Google service to send a FREE real card from your computer. Pick somebody special: the limit is one per person.
b.) Companies like Hallmark allow you to create personalized cards and address them from your computer. Pay a fee and they’ll mail them out to different people. The hand-written element is missing but at least there’s something to display on the mantle.
c.) As a last resort (if you’re strapped for cash/Christmas spirit) you can send an e-card. (Boooooo!)
For all you tradition lovers: here’s what Canada Post has to say about postal rates.
And you can check for appropriate mailing dates here.
Happy Holidays!
Caroline (M20 Intern/Christmas Card Advocate)
