The Art of Giving and Receiving Holiday Greeting Cards

In this blog, we will tackle the greeting cards and their immense power in affecting joy both to the receivers and the senders, as discussed in our Creatinuum podcast Episode 30, “From Me to You: The Joy of Holiday Greeting Cards.”

Photo by George Dolgikh

When was the last time you received a well-thought-out card from someone close to you, and you didn’t appreciate it? Whether digital, print-on-demand, or personally crafted, receiving a holiday card can truly tug on the heart. In a time when fast and easy communication is glorified, greeting cards (even the physical ones) still bring some value to the hearts of sentimental people. It just can’t be helped. Having someone send you a personalized greeting card means that they’ve put more effort into it than just hitting the keyboard and sending you a chat in seconds. 

Are Handwritten Cards Still A Thing?

In the age of instant everything, one may think that a handwritten card or a letter is already obsolete. But that’s not always the case. In fact, some people consider gift items with a personal touch, like a handwritten card, more premium. Nevertheless, all forms of greeting cards are still very much a thing nowadays.

The Joy of Receiving and Sending a Card

If you received a holiday card, especially the printed and the handwritten ones, think of the efforts the person had to take and go through before it landed in your mail—the agony of choosing the right design with the right words, the monetary value it costs, and the amount of creativity it took. It is almost impossible not to appreciate someone special who is willing to go through all these to give you an almost weightless item but packed with generous kindness.  

In the same way, sending a greeting card creates a special kind of bliss. It becomes an act of gratitude; a token of love that cannot be otherwise conveyed via email or phone conversation. The schedule is swamped, but you’re taking an intentional time to send someone a sweet message through a card. It speaks volumes about how much you want to say “I appreciate you,” “you are important and valued,” and “I see you, and I’m grateful I get to sojourn this life with you.” It shows not only thoughtfulness but also the desire to deepen a connection with someone. 

Cards as Gifts

Greeting cards are memorabilia of devotion, of care, and of sentiment. They’re a wonderful keepsake that can remind someone of their relevance in someone’s life. They are gifts in and of themselves, an embellishment of friendship and ties between the sender and the receiver. And the words inside them? They’re not merely generic or performative acts of remembrance. More often than not, they are sincerity woven into notes—especially when they’re crafted and written by the sender.