Sending Greetings for the Holidays

Christmas is ten days from today (as I sit here typing).  One Christmas tradition I enjoy is sending and receiving Christmas cards.  In the years past I created my own cards for family, friends and acquaintances but the past year as well as this year I have not done so.  Last year I found some cute cards in a catalog.  One set of twelve cards had a little magnet that accompanied the card and the other set had a little recipe book of holiday treats.  After purchasing them, I found I had more than enough left over to use again for this year.  Being a veteran, I belong to veteran’s organizations.  One of the organizations sends out Christmas cards as a fund raiser.  This year I received some very lovely cards with matching envelopes.  They became my back-up set in case I did not have enough left from the previous year to send.  

I recall years ago, by this time in the season, I’d have a nice stack of cards received.  Some even with a letter detailing the sender’s year in review.  Yes, I too had done the year end letter, but like the creating my own cards, the year end letter has gone by the wayside.  The other day I had to pick up a few boxes of cards for a project for one of the veteran’s organizations which I belong.  These cards were to be signed ‘Santa & Mrs. Claus’ or Santa & Mrs. Santa’.  They are to be given out to nursing home veterans at a luncheon this week.  As I walked through the store, I found the cards with a sale sign to buy one box get the other box fifty percent off. 

 I wondered about this sale so early in the month.  Pondering this reason for such a sale before the fifteenth of December, I have come to a conclusion.  It seems people are sending less and less Christmas cards or not sending any at all.  Social media is how many send holiday greetings to family, friends and acquaintances.  E-cards sent via email, text messages, Twitter and Facebook has become the way of keeping in touch during the holiday season.  With the hustle and bustle of our lives, creating one text, one email, one posting to Facebook we now can wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Happy Holidays or Season’s Greetings via cyber space. 

I too have wished many a Happy Birthday, Happy Anniversary, Congratulations and words of condolence through social media; I still like to sit down, pen in hand, address book opened, Christmas music playing in the background and a cup of hot chocolate near and write out my cards.  Not only do I sign my name and my husband’s but I include a personal message to the receiver.

Until next time…..stores are having a sale on cards, why not pick up a box and return to the old fashion tradition of sending out to family, friends, co-workers and acquaintances.  Who knows, you may be bringing back an old tradition.  A card sent could mean a card received.  

Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season to one and all
May you have a Merry Christmas and happy and healthy New Year.