Christmas Cards

From USA Today:

"It's Christmas card time: Get your greetings machine in gear"

They pop up in their little plastic boxes on the shelves of the corner CVS, often before the candy corn has gone to half price. Puppies in stocking caps snoozing by a fire. Gilded angels trumpeting good wishes. The Peanuts gang doing a jig around a tiny tree. Christmas cards are as ingrained in our culture as the cranberry sauce and green-bean casserole. But perhaps no other holiday harbinger stirs such joy — and such angst: What did you do with last year's list? How do you wrangle the kids together for that dazzling family photo? When will you squeeze them in? It's time to think about your cards, and the clock is ticking. Coral Harris' card-writing practices were inspired by members of the Greatest Generation, most notably an aunt who passed away a year ago at 94. "I would always get my first Christmas card from her on Dec. 1," says Harris, 58. That was why the Falls Church, Va., resident was studying the boxed card section at a suburban Target on a Sunday afternoon four days before Thanksgiving. "I always try to get them out after Thanksgiving, or else they are not going to get out." Technology may have transformed our lives, but for many, nothing compares to that fuzzy feeling you get when you spy your Christmas cards twinkling from the fireplace mantel. "To me there is nothing better than snail mail," Harris says. "Something about touching it and seeing it. Brings about great memories." Last year, 1.6 billion holiday cards were sold, and Christmas remains the largest card-sending holiday, says Peter Doherty, executive director of the Greeting Card Association. Holiday card sales in 2015 held "steady" from previous years, he says.  "People love to give and receive Christmas and other greeting cards because of the real connection they give to both sender and recipient,"  Doherty says. "We're finding that the digital age is helping people identify 'card-worthy' occasions ... that are best expressed with something more lasting and personal such as a greeting card." Etiquette expert Lizzie Post says for those who choose to go the digital route, there is nothing wrong with holiday e-cards. "They are cool, they are fun,"  says the  great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post and co-host of the Awesome Etiquette podcast. But she, too, is a paper pusher. "I still have the card from the kids I babysit for on my refrigerator from last year," Post says. "Not that digital messages can't be personal, but with cards you can put them on your door, decorate the tree, light your windows."

To avoid a stress fest, Post, who is also designing her cards this year, offers these tips:

• When should you get the Christmas ball rolling? "Right around Thanksgiving" is a good time to start thinking about ordering and preparing cards, Post says. But while some say you want to have your cards land in mailboxes by mid-December, there is no rigid rule. For people who send New Year's cards, two weeks after that holiday should be the limit, she says.

• Can you kick someone from your list? "Don't worry about it being reciprocal," Post says. If someone not on your list sends you a card, that doesn't mean you have to fire one off as well. Trim the list as you see fit — and even take a year off. "It's up to you whether you participate."

• What about your boss, your podmate? "You are not obligated in any way," to send cards to co-workers, Post says. But if you dispatch greetings to select work buddies, use their home addresses.

• What if a recipient isn't religious? "You can be a little sensitive," Post says, by sending a card that doesn't mention Christmas per se.

• How do you address an envelope? Post is a fan of "the XYZ family." But she says it's important to tailor the address to what the recipient would like. "If they are formal, use traditional titles."

• Should you add a hand-written note? "A quick, brief message" is always appreciated, Post says.

•  And those "round-robin" Christmas letters? Restraint is the key, Post says. "This is not your chance to brag, discuss sad news. Don't announce someone passed away or an unfortunate diagnosis." Do say "so and so is going to college, our soccer team did great this year." Pick one or two things from each family member — and keep the letter to one page.

• Did I just get a group Christmas text? Yes, some people are tapping out their holiday best wishes. "Group texts are generally a quick way to say hello," Post says. "The trouble with them is not all people enjoy being on group texts to begin with. And it's not a card in the mail."

Post's final card-writing words of wisdom: "Don't sweat it so much."

^ I love getting Christmas cards (any kinds of cards really) and every year I take the time to pick one card design and send it to people with a hand-written message inside. I also send e-cards to people as an added bonus. I don't care for "round-robin" letters. They are usually very arrogant and boring. I also don't care for getting a picture card that has a generic message on it. ^

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2016/11/22/christmas-card-writing-best-practices/94224812/