The Modern Holiday Postcard Tradition: Still Sent and Loved
Holiday postcards, a beloved tradition that has been around for many decades, continue to hold a special place in the hearts of many. While the frequency of their use may have decreased over the years, the sentiment behind them remains undiminished. This article explores the reasons why people still send holiday postcards and the different ways in which modern families continue to express their love and warmth through this medium.
Why We Still Send Holiday Postcards
Many individuals still send holiday postcards as a way to maintain a deep connection with their loved ones. For instance, Do you still send holiday postcards? Sarah, a regular card-sender, emphasizes the importance of these postcards in her life. She says, "Although the number of people who send holiday postcards has decreased over the years, I personally like to receive and send cards because it helps me remember significant others in my life."
Sarah and her family use postcards as a way to connect with extended family members who are unable to be present for the holidays. She explains, I send postcards to my siblings and my in-laws’ siblings to let them know we are thinking about them and share our feelings of longing for the time when we could gather in person. These postcards serve as a tangible expression of love and keep the family's bonds strong, even from afar.
SeasonalGreetings Through Postcards
A survey conducted by a popular greeting card service shows that Do you post your first half dozen? Some say it's a yearly ritual to post a seasonal greeting to their loved ones, especially those they will not see over the Christmas period. According to the results, more than 70% of respondents continue to send postcards as a way of staying connected and showing their love.
The tradition is particularly popular among older generations. Am I alone in still sending Christmas cards and enclose notes? I can’t resist signing off with “love”, attests John, who is nearly 75 years old. Despite the labor-intensive process, he finds great joy in the cards and notes he receives in return. He explains, The effort feels worthwhile when I receive heartfelt responses and see how much they mean to others.
Modern Holiday Greetings
While traditional postcards remain a favorite, modern dating has given rise to new forms of holiday greetings. Some people now opt for postcard-style family photos or even video greetings. Do you still send holiday postcards? Some prefer a more contemporary approach, such as a virtual greeting. One family uses Lovepop, a company that produces magical pop-up greeting cards, for their non-Christmas cards. Though slightly more expensive, these unique cards add a special touch to the traditional holiday season.
For Halloween, the Lovepop postcards are used sparingly, mainly to those closest to the sender, such as siblings and parents. Halloween is a special time to connect with those who shared that experience with you when you were younger, elaborates Sarah. This is a way to commemorate past Octobers and reminisce about the joy of trick-or-treating.
Thanksgiving, too, is marked by card sending. For Thanksgiving, I send cards to my grandmother, aunts, uncles, and cousins. These are people with whom one celebrated Thanksgiving every year when they were children. As some of us have grown up and moved away to different places, we now celebrate with different people, these cards serve as a poignant reminder of the past and a bridge to the present.
Another noteworthy trend is the prevalence of picture cards featuring family members. Almost everyone who sends a card sends picture cards featuring their children. This tradition has been around for decades. As a child, my mother always took a picture at Thanksgiving of us all dressed up in our outfits for that holiday to print as her Christmas card for the year. This tradition continued through college years!
In the 80s and 90s, people would take their one chosen picture to a developer’s business and have it printed with an extra segment for the greeting. Today, online businesses like Shutterfly offer similar services but with the added convenience of online ordering and multiple photo options.
Conclusion
Despite the advent of technology and digital communication, the tradition of sending holiday postcards remains alive and well. Whether through traditional postcards or modern alternatives, these greetings serve as a meaningful way to express love, longing, and good wishes during the holiday season.