The Christmas card tradition is officially decimated. It’s been dying for years, killed by the internet. Destroyed by the ability of humans to send instantaneous messages. Annihilated by Facebook. Crushed by our collective laziness. And buried by our general inability to prioritize our lives.
It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it’s certainly different for those of us who grew up annually reading the reams of handwritten cards send by friends and relatives of our parents, the cards sitting in a little basket when you came home from college or your job to spend time decompressing and flipping through who had kids, who’d moved and sadly sometimes, who had passed away.
That basket was full every year during the Christmas holiday. Maybe 40 or 50 cards, perhaps more.
When I stepped out into the “real” world, it meant creating your own tradition in terms of sending out some kind of annual end-of-the-year message or photo to encapsulate what went on in your life. I took that on in my mid-twenties, writing up a (hopefully) interesting and informative journey. Slowly, it evolved, along with my life, after marriage and kids.
At our peak, we probably received 70-80 cards a year. I think I clocked in at somewhere around 90 in terms of the most cards sent out for the year. Since that time, it’s been all downhill. A year after year decline.
Sometimes I would do a full write-up of our year, other times sending a photo with a shorter message. I tried to keep it tight, witty and worthwhile reading. It was fun, but also work.
After reaching that peak in cards arriving at our house, I began to monitor for my own sanity, who sent one and who didn’t and began eliminating those who didn’t send us a card from my list who I would send cards to. Thus began the simplification process.
Slow at first, then faster and faster these past few years. There was a watershed moment in the past three or four years when we got less than 20 cards. That’s when I pretty much stopped caring, though I still respond to anyone who sends us a card. That’s my current level of feeling responsible and staying in touch.
Ultimately, for those who use almost any type of social media to stay in touch with friends and family, people have photos of you and know what you’re up to these days. They don’t need a Christmas update, other than to give best wishes for the season.
That’s probably the major reason I feel no compulsion to stay with the old way of doing things. Anyone who is connected with me already has the most recent updates.
I still watch the mail. There is something about getting a card in the mail that stands out and says you care, and I appreciate that. Our first card has already come in for this season and I will dutifully respond over the next several weeks.
But I’m not going to lick envelopes and stamps, sign my name 81 times, then cart all the mail to the post office. No, if I have to lick and stamp 17 cards that will be more than enough.
It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it’s certainly different for those of us who grew up annually reading the reams of handwritten cards send by friends and relatives of our parents, the cards sitting in a little basket when you came home from college or your job to spend time decompressing and flipping through who had kids, who’d moved and sadly sometimes, who had passed away.
That basket was full every year during the Christmas holiday. Maybe 40 or 50 cards, perhaps more.
When I stepped out into the “real” world, it meant creating your own tradition in terms of sending out some kind of annual end-of-the-year message or photo to encapsulate what went on in your life. I took that on in my mid-twenties, writing up a (hopefully) interesting and informative journey. Slowly, it evolved, along with my life, after marriage and kids.
At our peak, we probably received 70-80 cards a year. I think I clocked in at somewhere around 90 in terms of the most cards sent out for the year. Since that time, it’s been all downhill. A year after year decline.
Sometimes I would do a full write-up of our year, other times sending a photo with a shorter message. I tried to keep it tight, witty and worthwhile reading. It was fun, but also work.
After reaching that peak in cards arriving at our house, I began to monitor for my own sanity, who sent one and who didn’t and began eliminating those who didn’t send us a card from my list who I would send cards to. Thus began the simplification process.
Slow at first, then faster and faster these past few years. There was a watershed moment in the past three or four years when we got less than 20 cards. That’s when I pretty much stopped caring, though I still respond to anyone who sends us a card. That’s my current level of feeling responsible and staying in touch.
Ultimately, for those who use almost any type of social media to stay in touch with friends and family, people have photos of you and know what you’re up to these days. They don’t need a Christmas update, other than to give best wishes for the season.
That’s probably the major reason I feel no compulsion to stay with the old way of doing things. Anyone who is connected with me already has the most recent updates.
I still watch the mail. There is something about getting a card in the mail that stands out and says you care, and I appreciate that. Our first card has already come in for this season and I will dutifully respond over the next several weeks.
But I’m not going to lick envelopes and stamps, sign my name 81 times, then cart all the mail to the post office. No, if I have to lick and stamp 17 cards that will be more than enough.