Christmas Card Etiquette
Now that you have your perfect holiday card created, there are some rules of etiquette you should follow.
Write on your cards – use a pen
You really should write the names of the recipients on the card you’re sending AND on the envelope. Write it by hand and write it in ink. You should also write your name in the card too. Again…write it by hand and write it in ink. This means you shouldn’t just upload some files and have the printing company send the cards for you. Handwriting really does add the ultimate personal touch. If you have horrible handwriting (so bad that the mail carrier can’t read it), consider using a script-like font if you really must use your printer.
Don’t just send e-cards
E-cards aren’t a complete no-no, but you should also send a real printed Christmas card to your friends and family. The tiny bit of effort will show you really do care. The convenience of an e-card might just show that you were too lazy to send the real thing.
Religious card – Yes or No?
I know I will get some disagreement here. I can’t always be politically correct! It is just not right. If you are sending a Christmas card, take a minute to think about what Christmas is. Do you even know? Well, it is similar to Christian and contains the word Christ. This is what the holiday is really about. If you want to be cautious about “expressing” your faith, this might not be the holiday for you to celebrate. If your list contains people you know well enough to send a Christmas card to, then those people should know if you are a Christian or not. If you are, you should not be ashamed to express it. If you are not a Christian, then you probably won’t be sending an overly religious card anyway. We have really lost touch with what Christmas really is and it is OK to share with others what it is really about!
When to send your greeting cards
You can start sending your cards right after Thanksgiving. Many people will use the cards they receieve to build a holiday display. Make your best effort to have the cards arrive before Christmas. However, if you are sending a holiday card, seasons greeting card or some other card that is not specifically a Christmas card, you can take up until the end of the year. If you are ordering custom holiday cards, begin to think about what you want in early November and try to get the order placed before November is over. Most companies will have a reasonable turn around time, but the mail is just a little slower around Christmas time. You will want to take that into consideration!
Who do you send the cards to?
Typically, cards are sent to friends, family, neighbors, and close business associates. If you are a newly married couple, start with your wedding guest list and add new friends or acquaintances to it. Your Christmas card list will grow and change over the years. Some people will move and never tell you. Others will send you cards and it is a good idea to return the favor.
Include your return address – always! Put your return address on every card. This will help you keep your list current when those undeliverable cards show back up in your mail box. It also helps others keep their Christmas card list accurate.
(162 customer reviews)
