Advent :: Day Five / Greeting Cards

Something for you to read: The History of Christmas Cards via All Things Christmas - I had no idea that Christmas cards originated from England! To quote the site: "The tradition of sending Christmas cards begun in 1843 – about the same time as the first Christmas seal was published. The first Christmas card was produced in England, and the idea was well-received, because the following year, more than 25,000 Christmas cards were sold. However, the first Christmas card provoked controversy in certain circles in England, because the Christmas card pictured a company of people touching glasses and saying “Merry Christmas”. Putting alcohol and holy Christmas in one picture did not please the English citizens then.

For more than thirty years, Americans had to import greeting cards from England. In 1875, German immigrant to the U.S. Louis Prang, opened a lithographic shop with $250, and published the first line of U.S. Christmas cards. His initial creations featured birds and flowers, unrelated to the Xmas scene. By 1881, Prang was producing more than 5 million Christmas cards per year."

Something for you to do with friends: I can't remember where I read this, but I thought it was a brilliant idea. Writing out holiday cards can sometimes be tedious - so why not liven it up and have a card-writing party with a few friends. Adding hot cocoa, music and conversation makes any task more fun!

Something for you to listen to: Another Christmas at Home by Eux Autres

Something for you to make: Holiday Pin-Up Wreath via Martha Stewart. I think this is such a clever way to display your holiday cards. The materials are cheap and the result is super cute!

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I was reading this post about greeting cards over at Pink of Perfection and it got me to thinking about my own stance on sending out cards. I started sending out Christmas cards after Matt and I got married, but I have a little system that I think makes the task less stressful.

I have three rules when it comes to cards:

The first year that I wrote out cards, I did not send any until I started receiving them. As each card rolledl in, I would send one in reply. My thoughts are, if you care enough to send a card to me...I will take the time to send a card to you!

I *do not* send cards to my friends and family that I see on a regular basis, (unless they send a card to me).

I keep all of the received cards from the previous year, and use that as the basis for my send out list for the current year.

This has kept my card list to a manageable size. I don't feel guilty about not sending cards to all of my large, extended family, because I know that I'll be sending a card to the family members that care about sending and receiving them.

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Tonight I'll be going to my grandmother's wake, then zipping up to Portland with Matt for opening night of A Christmas Carol. A busy weekend lies ahead!