I have only started sending out Holiday greetings via snail main since I have had a child. However, I have been reading holiday cards and letters for years.
My husband's parents have been active members of their community for over thirty years and in the process have made a lot of friends and acquaintances. Each year they receive dozens of holiday greetings in the mail. Though I have never met most of these senders, I absolutely love to curl up on their couch next to the Christmas tree with a mug of hot cocoa and read every single card/letter they receive. I feel like I have come to know some of these people. From my [vast] experience as a holiday card reader, these are a few things I've learned:
1. You must give to receiveA few years ago I felt sad that our mantle displayed whole 2 Christmas cards (thank you Marissa and Ashleigh)! Do people not like us? Do we have no friends? Not necessarily. In order to receive greetings you must first send them to people. Not only will this tell your friends that you want to stay in touch or revive a contact, but it will also ensure that they have your current address.
2. Include a current photographMany of my friends from high school and college have moved away and started families. I absolutely love to see photos of them and their kids. It is also fun to receive updated photos from people I don't hear from at any other time but Christmas (like families in Rapid City who helped us when we first moved to the US). Many people choose to only include photos of their children. However, I personally, really love to see the whole family (so that I actually get to "see" my friends not just their pride and joy of an offspring).
3. Include a personal touchIncluding a printed letter that summarizes the yearly news of the family will update your friends. This is especially fun if I don't get a chance to talk to these people throughout the year and if they don't keep a blog (or I don't have access to it). I would recommend keeping these letters to no more than a half page for an average size family. Proofreading is also a good idea.
If you want your mailer to solicit a lot of smiles include a hand written, personlized note. Even something short like "Evertons, Since you've moved away, we miss seeing you at Panera Bread. Hope all is well." Makes the reader feel like you have actually been thought of. Personalized notes require quite a bit more time, however, so don't beat yourself up if it is not a realistic thing for you this year.
4. The best time for youI won't lie, I have come to love reading those cards and letter right around Christmas time. So if it is possible for your family, send them in the second or third week of December. However, if Christmas has come and gone (or your don't celebrate Christmas), you can send them out at any other time of the year. Isn't nice to unexpectedly receive something other than a bill or junk mail in your mailbox?
5. Sit back and enjoy!Remember -- it may take a couple of years to catch on.
What are your feelings about sending or receiving holiday cards? What do you love most? least? Do you enjoy physical cards? Or do you feel like the internet is a better (and cheaper) means to the same end?
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