According to the Greeting Card Association, Christmas cards are the most popular seasonal card in the U.S., with about 1.3 billion sold each year out of roughly 6.5 billion greeting cards overall. And in an Ipsos survey from 2022, more than two in five (43%) planned “to connect with friends and family through giving or receiving holiday cards.” Although a text or email can be quick and convenient, it can’t match the warmth and personality of a physical card. People still like to send holiday cards, especially when they’re topped off with a photo, a year-in-review summary, or a milestone announcement.
If you’re not convinced, we’ve put together a list of reasons why holiday cards continue to be popular. Maybe working your way through a lengthy Christmas card list is an annual tradition in your house – in which case this post is just another incentive to mark the USPS deadline on your calendar. But if you’ve never sent holiday cards, or you’ve fallen out of the habit, then we hope you’ll feel inspired to join in the fun this year.
Basically, holiday cards are a way to…
Connect with People
One of the main reasons people send holiday cards is simply to stay connected with loved ones who live far away or whom they rarely see. In fact, if you’ve found that a particular friendship has cooled (it can easily happen due to time apart or even a difference of opinion), a card is one way to break the ice. On the inside of your card, name every member of the family or friend group you’re writing to, and sign off with the name of everyone in your household, too. This lets you acknowledge every individual, rather than treating them like a single unit, and makes it easier for the recipient to respond in kind.
Share Your News
Holiday cards can also double as birth, wedding, or even graduation announcements (some colleges have winter commencements for students at the end of the fall semester). Many people recap their year in holiday cards, singling out new hobbies or celebrating any notable achievements. But big, once-in-a-lifetime milestones, like an engagement, deserve special treatment and a dedicated announcement card. Don’t worry, though, if your updates feel mundane when compared to someone’s spontaneous elopement or brand-new home. People are naturally curious, and they’ll be interested in whatever tidbits you have to share!
Show Time and Consideration
Because texts and emails are instant, free, and easy to send, they can sometimes feel like a shortcut or afterthought. On the other hand, going to the trouble of shopping for cards (or DIYing them), addressing the envelopes, and ferrying them to the post office takes time and effort, which in turn suggests care and consideration. In a 2021 survey, Hallmark found that “more than half of consumers believe cards are more meaningful than other forms of communication.” That’s at least partly because of the extra diligence required to help the card reach its destination. Cards and handwritten letters are also pleasingly analog in a chronically online world. They’re part of “The Snail Mail Revival.”
Display Photos
Not all holiday cards have photos, and for a more traditional look reminiscent of Christmas card pioneer Henry Cole (see “The History of Christmas Cards“), text and artwork may be enough. But cards are also an excuse to put the photos languishing on your phone or on social media to good use, creating a keepsake that people can cherish for several Christmases to come. For an announcement in particular, you have a chance to share recent photos that people might not have seen yet, making the cards eagerly anticipated pieces of mail. Or, if you’d like to recruit that professional photographer once more, organize a specialized holiday photo shoot, ensuring you’ve got the best possible images to work with.
Provide Holiday Décor
Once people receive your Christmas cards (or Diwali or Hanukkah cards), they won’t just toss them in a drawer, either. Instead, they’ll proudly display cards around their home, whether they’re hung like bunting, tucked into the Christmas tree, or pinned to a wreath. By itself, holiday décor – like ornaments and snow globes at Christmas, or pumpkins and gourds around Thanksgiving – does help to cultivate a festive atmosphere. But it’s the cards, complete with cute photos and messages of support, that make for the most heartwarming decorations during the coldest months. Hopefully everyone you send a card to will promptly return the favor, so you can begin shaping that holiday aesthetic!
Thank People in Your Life
Knowing “What to Write in a Christmas Card” can be tricky, but a near-blank card will feel rushed and impersonal. Try starting with a brief thank you to the recipient for their love and friendship throughout the year, highlighting one or two gestures you appreciated. Or, if applicable, send holiday cards that serve as wedding or baby shower thank you cards, and acknowledge the addressee’s role in the event. Other ideas include a note of encouragement if you know someone is struggling or a promise to catch over the holiday season, without procrastinating about it!
Start a Holiday Tradition
Everyone has certain holiday rituals they’ve adopted over the years that put them in a jolly mood. Maybe your annual Christmas Eve party is the talk of the town, or perhaps you schedule a slo-mo jaunt through the neighborhood to see the best light displays. You might even have handed-down recipes you always cook to kick off the season. Well, to this list you can now add “sending holiday cards.” It’s a articularly enjoyable activity when you have the whole family involved, and when friends and loved ones get excited about what photo, color scheme, or unexpected flourish you have planned. For more traditions to implement, read our article on “Holiday Traditions for a New Era: Building Joyful Yearly Rituals That Fit Your Life.”
Send Mail on a Budget
The holiday season can be expensive, between the cost of decorations, presents, and socializing. But compared with big-ticket items like catering services and Christmas trees, the cost of cards and envelopes has always been viewed as relatively small – it’s still less than a dollar for a Forever stamp from USPS. Further embellishments, like envelope liners, wax seals, or calligraphy, are welcome, but not necessary, and more savings are possible if you opt for smaller-sized cards or holiday postcards. Nor does your Christmas card list need to be exhaustive, either. Just prioritize close family, your immediate friend circle, and anyone who sent you a card last year.
Unleash Your Creativity
Remember how we said you could recruit other family members to help send out your cards? This year, hold a brainstorming session where you collectively decide on the family’s card design and then personalize it together. Depending on which holiday you’re celebrating, you may be able to use our new foil colors: a rich red and a gleaming green. Letterpress designs, made by pressing an ink-coated plate into thick cotton paper, are another particularly luxurious option. Then customize each card with photos, your own greeting, and even some officially licensed artwork. Sending cards can be just as fun as receiving them!
Connect with Customers and Clients
Finally, holiday cards are a useful marketing tool. There aren’t many opportunities for you to touch base with every client or partner throughout the year, at least not in a sales-driven context. If you send a card to every customer, then, it’s a friendly gesture of goodwill, but still one that will be associated with your brand, especially if you tag on your logo, attach a team photo, or appropriate your company color scheme. Some businesses also mail calendars or planners as merch with a practical purpose, but even the card by itself can open the chain of communication and show your respect for established customs.
The origins of holiday cards can be traced back almost two centuries, but they’ve survived for good reason – ten of them, in fact, which we’ve covered here. Whether you want to put your design skills to the test, issue the family newsletter, or reconnect with an old friend, there’s a card that fits the bill. Make room on that mantelpiece for the cards you’re about to receive, and then make room in your browser window for these related articles: “Top Holiday Card Trends for 2026: Your Complete Guide to This Season’s Best Styles” and “Christmas Card Ideas: Wrapping Your Heartfelt Holiday Wishes Up in a Bow.” When do you plan to send out your cards, or how many do you think you’ll send? Let us know in the comments below.
Eoin is a Content Specialist at Zazzle in Cork. He’s recently bought a house with his fiancée, and thus most of his time these days is spent trying to keep the walls from caving in and the wolves from the door. Still, he’s always open to book, game, and movie recommendations, so if you have some, let him know: he’ll add them to a very, very long list.
