Do you send holiday cards for the Holiday of Your Choice? Yesterday was National Christmas Card Day*, and That Lazy Mr. Dimmick Who Thinks He Knows So Much — goaded in part by Etiquetteer — set to work on Getting the Cards Out on Time.
As a reminder, Etiquetteer allows much more leeway than others about how long cards may be sent. If the Twelve Days of Christmas begin with Christmas Day, then you may continue to wish people a Merry Christmas until Twelfth Night, January 6. Why not?! In practice, however, it’s better form to switch to New Year’s greetings after Christmas Day. Etiquetteer loves New Year’s cards, and is sometimes tempted to switch exclusively to those. Begin sending as soon after Thanksgiving as you choose. Etiquetteer knows one gentleman who has his cards signed, sealed and stamped, ready to put in the mailbox on December 1.
In what order do you mail your cards? Everyone maintains their lists differently: address books, index cards**, and spreadsheets. That Mr. Dimmick records the date a card was mailed, and happily forgot to delete last year’s column before beginning this year’s cards. Last year That Mr. Dimmick didn’t even get started until December 22, and finally gave up on December 30. It’s helpful to begin by sending cards to anyone you may not have gotten to last year. Remember, they can remove you from their lists with Perfect Propriety after three years of no word. But if you have already started receiving cards from others, begin your list by replying to them before anyone else.
Yes, you may use address labels, as long as you include a handwritten note inside the card. (There must be handwriting someplace.) And please, don’t forget the honorifics! Mr., Mrs., Ms., Mx., and the rest all have their Perfectly Proper place when you address your envelopes.
You can review Etiquetteer’s holiday checklist here for more guidance on Getting the Cards Out on Time with Perfect Propriety. Etiquetteer wishes you joy in sending your holiday greetings — and joy in abstaining from sending holiday greetings if that’s what you prefer.
*Don’t blame Etiquetteer! Etiquetteer does not make up these National Days.
**Like Dear Mother (may she rest in peace). This time of year she is greatly missed as she could generally be relied on to provide the most up-to-date address for that Elusive Cousin.