With Thanksgiving looming ever closer in the rearview mirror, that means the time of holiday cards is getting closer, too. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or just New Year’s Day,* it might be helpful to review just what you’re going to need to Get the Job Done.
Names and addresses. Have your list of names and accurate addresses ready to go, which could mean filling in some blanks (some loved ones are just so pesky, moving across country or someplace all the time). Get started on that first so that your card writing won’t get interrupted.
Holiday Greeting Cards of Your Choice. Whether you are doing something highly personalized with family photos (Etiquetteer loves those) or just a couple boxes of small colorful cards from the drugstore (Etiquetteer loves those, too), get enough for your list — and a few more for when your pen slips or you mispell someone’s name accidentally. Rumors to the contrary, you don’t have to send everyone on your list the same kind of card.
Postage stamps. Sweet mercy goodness, it’s frustrating to run out of stamps once you really get going. Order now from the USPS, or head to your local post office. Or order personalized postage stamps with an image of your choice.
Pens. Some people have a favorite pen they love to use, others just grab a ballpoint, but have a couple extras where you can find them. Some people like to go wild with inks in holiday colors, but remember that good Perfectly Proper blue-black ink is kindest to the eyes. You don’t want people to struggle reading your message. (This might also have something to do with your handwriting . . . )
Something to say. Even if it’s just “Dear [Insert Name Here], Love, Me,” you need to write something your own self so that your recipients will believe your card didn’t come from a soulless machine.
A Perfectly Proper Spirit. It is easy to think of sending holiday cards as drudgery, especially with so many other claims on one’s time during the season. The task will feel lighter as you give yourself time to remember each person you’re addressing, and why. Allow yourself enough time over as many days as you need to send all your cards by . . . January 6, Twelfth Night, the Twelfth Day of Christmas. Now Etiquetteer knows almost everyone would rather get the cards out by Christmas Day, December 25, and that’s absolutely fine. But just in case you don’t, you do have a buffer.
Etiquetteer wishes you comfort and joy, and Perfect Propriety, as you prepare to send Greetings of Love to those you love.
*Really, Etiquetteer thinks we should return to the time when New Year’s Day was more celebrated than New Year’s Eve and Christmas.