Christmas cards! Is there any better feeling than opening your mailbox to find a brightly-coloured envelope with a beautiful card inside? I love to send Christmas cards, and I love to receive them. Sadly, sending Christmas cards seems to be a dying tradition in our fast-paced digital world.
In today’s Blogmas post, I’ll keep the tradition alive with a look at the history of Christmas cards and why I’m not ready to give them up. I hope to inspire you to send a card or two this festive season!
History
According to Smithsonian Magazine, the tradition of sending cards dates back to the mid-1800s, when Henry Cole, a prominent educator and patron of the arts, found himself with too many friends to correspond with thanks to the introduction of penny post.
To save time sending responses, Cole asked an artist friend to design something for him. His friend, J.C. Horsely, had 1,000 copies of the illustration he created printed on cardboard. The Christmas card was born!
It would be several decades before the tradition fully caught on.
In 1915, the modern Christmas card industry began In Kansas City with postcard company The Hall Brothers Company – known today as Hallmark.
With over 150 years of history, it’s sad that the Christmas card is in decline. If you’re looking for reasons why sending Christmas cards has lost its popularity, look no further than the higher cost of postage, and the simplicity of electronic greetings.
Why I still send cards
No matter how busy life gets, I still make time to send Christmas cards to friends and family. I’ve noticed a trend, though. Every year, I receive fewer cards in return.
Despite my focus on green living and waste reduction, I’m not ready to give up Christmas cards, mainly because it’s a simple, and relatively inexpensive, way to bring a smile to someone’s face and let them know you’re thinking about them. It always makes me feel good to receive a card, knowing someone took the time to write it just for me.
Here are some of the favourites I received last year.
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Reducing the environmental impact
If you’re concerned about the environmental impact of your cards, there are a few ways to reduce the impact.
- Make your own cards using recycled paper, or buy cards printed on recycled paper.
- Avoid cards with glitter, foil or other embellishments. They are not recyclable. With this in mind, I need to do a better job picking my cards in future.
- Upcycle last year’s cards into gift tags.
Why not send a card or two this Christmas?
If you’re reading this post and you’ve made it this far, there’s still time! Why not commit to sending two or three cards this Christmas? It’s a relatively inexpensive and easy way to make someone’s day.
Do you send Christmas cards? Tell me your thoughts below.
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I have sent Christmas cards for decades, a tradition learned from my mother. I generally try to include a few lines of personalized comments, too. This year, however, I have decided not to bother. Cards in return, or any kind of feedback suggesting that my cards are appreciated, just doesn’t happen much. These things are a way of “putting yourself out there” for people you care about, but when there’s little response year after year, it’s a bit saddening. Thus, no Christmas card effort this year, I’m sorry to say.
Hi Dan. I understand how you feel. As I look at the stack of cards waiting for me me to sign and send, I have to admit I have similar thoughts. Maybe it’s time to cut back the list. Thanks for dropping by and commenting. Merry Christmas to you!
Two of the Christmas traditions in my household are:
-sending out Christmas cards
-creating a yearly calendar for family or fridge magnet for close friends (of Charlotte’s pics over the past year)
Everyone looks forward to it every year and while it’s a bit of a task on my end, I’m happy to have a collection of them! 🙂
Also, I love love love giving and receiving cards for special occasions ❤️❤️
Oh I love the photo calendars. When my girls were small, I used to make them for my mum and my mother-in-law for Christmas. They loved them. In fact, my mum still keeps some of hers out and looks at them all the time.
Awww that’s sooo sweet 😙🤗
I used to send about 40 cards a year especially quite a few abroad. I didn’t last year and probably won’t this year. Instead we donate to charities that are close to home.
I donate to charities too, but I’m just not ready to give up sending cards—especially to my overseas family and friends.
I tend to keep glittery cards because I use them as Christmas decorations. I’ve managed to buy recyclable cards, this year.
Those glittery cards are very pretty. I’m glad to hear you found recyclable cards. I will definitely be looking for them in future.
I love sending Christmas cards! This year I made simple cards with my family using washi tape to make little Christmas trees. It was a fun project to do as a family and it didn’t take very long. I send out about 50 cards each year but, like you, I have seen a decrease in the amount of cards I get in return. I hang the ones we get on a closet door in the shape of a Christmas tree to help decorate our home. 🙂 In the past I have used old Christmas cards in scrapbook projects or I let my kids cut out the pictures and use them to create whatever they want. I plan on sending Christmas cards indefinitely! I love making them and getting them. 🙂
Oh, those homemade cards sound so cute Suzanne! I like to decorate with my cards too. I peg them onto strings with decorative Christmas clothespins. Like you, I will continue to send cards. It’s a big part of the Christmas festivities for me.
I didn’t know about the history of the Christmas card, Michelle! Thank you for sharing that! I wax and wane with sending Christmas cards (as you probably know)! But this year, I’m waxing (if that means I’m sending them, then yes)! LOL Cher xoxoxo
Woo hoo. Waxing is good. 😂😂😂
I send cards to our siblings and close friends since we live far and don’t see them often. Last year I made cards, with embellishments and glitter. Making new cards from old card would be a good way to recycle and a fun, creative project.
That would be a fun project to try. I might have to do that next year—although I send way more cards than I receive so it would take a couple of years for me to have enough to go around.
Yes, I do too. And mostly we get the family picture cards.
interesting post. I do get a few cards for christmas and it does make me feel warm & fuzzy especially since it’s not as popular today as it once was & it’s nice to know that someone took the time to write me one.
I didn’t know about the cards with embellishments not being recyclable though — and good idea about using them as gift tags.
That’s one of the reasons I love Christmas cards, Helen. It’s a simple way to make someone feel good. I only recently learned about the glitter and other embellishments not being recyclable. It’s definitely something I need to do better at.