Nothing maximizes your ability to keep in touch during the holiday season like good Christmas card etiquette.
Sending out cards to far-flung family and friends lets them know that you are thinking of them, so do it right with the right holiday etiquette.
Make A List & Check It Twice
If you're a stickler for the traditions, you could easily find your holiday card list growing long enough to rival the Jolly Fat Man's list, especially if you have a large family. There's room in appropriate gift etiquette for seasonal cards for managing your list, so take advantage of it. Your greetings will mean more when they're from the heart, and not from a stress-related ulcer.
You may remove acquaintances from your list if they have not sent you a card in two years. One year may have been an oversight or a stressful event.
You may remove acquaintances from your list if they have changed addresses and you haven't been notified personally by them, or if your card was returned to sender the previous year.
Business or Personal?
Sending holiday cards to business associates, clients, and service providers is a good way to maintain goodwill and deepen your business relationships.
Business holiday cards thank your patrons for their business. Send holiday cards to clients or providers addressed to the business address.
Send holiday cards to coworkers and colleagues at their home address, and address them to the colleague's name "and family."
In both cases, your business holiday card should avoid religious overtones. A simple "Season's Greetings" or "Happy Holidays" avoids the awkwardness of mixing religion and business.
Personal cards, however, are another story. It is still not considered good gift giving etiquette to send a religious holiday card to someone who does not keep the faith or objects to the practice. Your personal relationships should give you a clue whether someone celebrates Christmas or Hanukkah, or prefers not to express their religion.
It is good holiday etiquette to keep a variety of holiday greeting cards at hand, and select the most appropriate one. Many people reserve the funny cards for those who appreciate a good seasonal joke, and send more sentimental sentiments to those who send them in kind. But if this is not practical for you, a more general card still sends your thoughts.
No matter the card style, always include a short personal thought to each recipient, and sign and address your cards by hand whenever possible.
Be An Early Bird
The holiday season seems to start earlier and earlier every year--these days, Halloween's not even over when the Christmas displays go up in stores. As cynical as this may seem, it does give you a little bit of cover when it comes to picking out holiday cards. If you're really proactive on your Christmas etiquette, you'll have this year's cards bought right around Halloween, and you can spend a leisurely November addressing them.
But it's still not quite proper Christmas card etiquette to send them out before Thanksgiving, so keep them out of the mailbox until Black Friday.
Apart from that satisfaction of ticking a holiday task off your list early, sending out your season's greetings before the last minute provides the opportunity for your recipients to reciprocate with the grace and timeliness of their own holiday etiquette.
Paper or Pixels?
No doubt about it, modern Christmas card etiquette includes the use of electronic means of transmission, and in spite of the Wild Wild West nature of the internet, electronic communications still follow appropriate gift etiquette rules.
You may exchange e-cards with others who send you an e-card--for far-flung friends in faraway lands, e-cards are more likely to be received on time, and will save on international postage and potential troubles with shipping that could find your holiday good wishes sitting in a warehouse somewhere for months or forever.
However, you should make sure that your e-cards come from a reputable source that treats the email addresses of your loved ones with respect. It's poor holiday etiquette to send out an e-card loaded with advertisements, or intrusive code that could harm your friends' computers.
Signed, Sealed, Delivered
Christmas card etiquette is one of those activities that nets a large return for a small effort. Follow the simple guidelines to personalize, propitiate, and post promptly, and you'll be spreading the holiday cheer!
A Selection of Christmas Cards and Card Makers
Thank you for reading Christmas Card Etiquette. Below you will find some selection of Christmas cards. In addition, there are also Christmas card makers, so you can create your own. If you do not find exactly what you are looking for, click on the store name to go directly to the store's website to search more easily.
If you are a coupon or deal shopper, you will now find the latest deals and coupons from our various partners. In addition, there is a search box that will help you locate a specific deal or coupon for what you are looking for. If a code is needed, click on the box, and it will reveal the code and take you to the store. If no code is needed, simply click on the box, and a new window will open for the store.
These holiday cards showcase your full frame photo with an ethereal glow. White dots reminiscent of holiday lights will bring warmth and cheer to loved ones.
Christmas and Holiday Cards: "Beary Gifted" features an adorable bear inside a gift box, three poinsettias on the corners to give a cheerful Christmas holiday touch. Simply won
Christmas Cards: "Festive Duo Green and Red" features your family or children's photo on this clean, contemporary design. The duo toned background - red and green -
This Christmas, give meaningful holiday greetings to friends and loved ones on your mailing list. Inside, you"ll find dozens of eye-catching cards you can create yourself.
It"s easy to share Christmas cards that express your personal creativity! This all-in-one set includes simple software plus seven templates for two sizes of bi-fold cards - .
All the inspiration you need for this year"s Christmas card list From silk painting to beautiful wire and bead creations this book has the festive season wrapped up.
Grandparents like yours beat stockings and Santa any day. Add three holiday photos to this sweet red card to spread some holiday cheer to your grandparents. 5" x 7" Folded Card
Perfect to make everyone on your list laugh this year, this comical card features a cartoon illustration. Add a personal message and send to make them chuckle! 5" x 7" Folded Card
Featuring pretty details like delicate red bows and dotted accents, this ornament design is sure to inspire plenty of holiday cheer. Add four beautiful faces to really make them smile! 8" x 4" Flat Card
Sweeten up their day with a photo Christmas card that young and old alike will adore. Featuring a gingerbread man, cookie, and candy cane next to your favorite photo, it's the cutest way to keep in touch during the holidays. 7" x 5" Flat Card
Show family and friends how to make the season even merrier with a photo Christmas card that looks like a cute snow globe. With your photo within the globe and a pretty banner above, it's a joyous greeting they're sure to love. 5" x 7" Flat Card
Keep in touch with family and friends during the holidays with a photo Christmas card that's cute in every way. Featuring your 3 photos, a sprig of holly, and sweet heart all against a pretty blue background, they'll love this greeting. 7" x 5" Flat Card
Send out this year's holiday greetings with style. Your special photo will look great in these unique and modern holiday photo cards created for you by Minted's global community of independent designers. Don't have enough room on the front? Add a custom backer or interior to include even more photos and a more detailed message. If you have any questions or special requests for your card, let us know how we can help at customerservice@minted. com.
Send out this year's holiday greetings with style. Your special photo will look great in these unique and modern holiday photo cards created for you by Minted's global community of independent designers. Don't have enough room on the front? Add a custom backer or interior to include even more photos and a more detailed message. If you have any questions or special requests for your card, let us know how we can help at customerservice@minted. com.
Christmas and Holiday Cards: "Christmas Wreath Photo" features a beautiful Christmas Wreath. Upload the a photo of your choice. Choose from different color backgrounds to match
Christmas and Holiday Cards: "Christmas Tree" features a beautiful Christmas tree with many decoration options and styles to match your holiday spirit.
Christmas and Holiday Cards: "Christmas Gifts Couple" features a fun and beautiful couple holding Christmas presents. Choose from different colors to match your holiday spirit.
Send out this year's holiday greetings with style. Your special photo will look great in these unique and modern holiday photo cards created for you by Minted's global community of independent designers. Don't have enough room on the front? Add a custom backer or interior to include even more photos and a more detailed message.A If you have any questions or special requests for your card, let us know how we can help at customerservice@minted. com.
Send out this year's holiday greetings with style. Your special photo will look great in these unique and modern holiday photo cards created for you by Minted's global community of independent designers. Don't have enough room on the front? Add a custom backer or interior to include even more photos and a more detailed message.A If you have any questions or special requests for your card, let us know how we can help at customerservice@minted. com.
Send out this year's holiday greetings with style. Your special photo will look great in these unique and modern holiday photo cards created for you by Minted's global community of independent designers. Don't have enough room on the front? Add a custom backer or interior to include even more photos and a more detailed message. If you have any questions or special requests for your card, let us know how we can help at customerservice@minted. com.
Send out this year's holiday greetings with style. Your special photo will look great in these unique and modern holiday photo cards created for you by Minted's global community of independent designers. Don't have enough room on the front? Add a custom backer or interior to include even more photos and a more detailed message.A If you have any questions or special requests for your card, let us know how we can help at customerservice@minted. com.
Send out this year's holiday greetings with style. Your special photo will look great in these unique and modern holiday photo cards created for you by Minted's global community of independent designers. Don't have enough room on the front? Add a custom backer or interior to include even more photos and a more detailed message.A If you have any questions or special requests for your card, let us know how we can help at customerservice@minted. com.
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