Christmas Cards Etiquette

If someone asks me to name three things that Christmas is impossible without, I would name the Christmas tree, the presents, and the greeting cards. Well, actually I would name the holiday cards first because for me, the holiday season starts with signing Christmas cards. It’s a perfect way to get into the holiday spirit. However, when sending greeting cards, there are several things to be considered.

When choosing holiday cards, keep in mind that not all people celebrate Christmas though it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t wish them happy holidays. Simply choose a card that has a non-religious message such as “Holiday Greetings”, “Happy Holiday Season” or “Peace on Earth”.
For a business colleague or partner, a good quality store-bought holiday card would be the best choice. With the cards for the family members or close friends, however, you can get a little bit more creative. You can add a photograph of you and your family or even make a card yourself. Recycling old Christmas cards by making new ones out of them is a great paper-crafting project; if you have children, they will love it. Other possibilities are stitching, cross-stitching, or crocheting. A few years ago, I made several cross-stitched Christmas cards; they were very cute but it took some time and patience to make them.

Once you’ve bought, printed or handmade your cards, consider a few things before signing them.
Always sign each card personally. When the card is from more than one person, the person who signs it should write her or his name last. Many cards have printed messages, but adding a couple of lines is always nice. Another thing that must be handwritten is the address on the envelope. However, it is okay to use printed return address labels, which brings me to the point that the return address should always be included.

The only thing left to mention is when to send Christmas cards. In the US, the holiday season begins right after Thanksgiving. So sending holiday cards any time after that is all right, but the first two weeks of December are preferred because that way your cards will definitely arrive on time.