May Contain Peanuts

Ho ho ho!

It's the holiday season once again, and once again it's time to make the list of people you get to buy gifts for. I always try to get something the person wants or something that would mean something to them, just to make Christmas day more than a gift exchange. If I can't find something decent, there's always cash. Everyone likes money. One thing people also seem to like are Christmas cards. A gift is not complete unless there is a card attached with words and cute picture expressing just how much you cheer and joy you want to wish the person over the course of the season. What's worse is that we are so used to giving and getting these cards, that if we don't receive one, we may think less of the people not sending them. It's like candy on Valentine's or cake on your birthday. You don't have to get those, but it doesn't feel quite right without it.

Businesses have capitalized on this fact. If you go to a Hallmark store during the holidays, most of the store is rearranged just for holiday cards. In fact, for any holiday, the store gets changed for all those cards. My question is, why are cards so popular? I know it is nice to see a message from someone, or get a quick laugh from a lame punchline, or well up at some comforting words, but after the card is read, it becomes nothing more than recyclable material. I mean, do people keep their cards longer than two weeks after they are read? (Side note, actually, I do keep some of them, but they are in a pile in a box, just waiting to be tossed away). If you do keep the cards, are they ever read again? Sure, some may say yes, but I doubt much concern is taken for all the cards once the holiday/event is over. At my office for example, we put up all the cards from our different vendors up around the front desk. It's a nice reminder of the holidays and well wishing and what have you. Come January 2nd, we have a full garbage bin.

Now, I am not saying I have anything against spreading good cheer, but in an age of economic awareness and material valuing, is it worth spending 3 bucks on a card that will get 25 seconds of attention? I know the reason for cards' popularity is the convenience factor. They are relatively cheap, easy to send, and the card does most of the work of saying a touching thought. It's too easy, especially in the case of the vendors above or mass mailings, to just send out a card to everyone and cover your bases for the holidays. Nice and convenient, just the way we like it.

What I am a fan of, however, that is just as convenient, are e-cards. Same idea, just over email. No waste, no real cost (except for your Internet connection), and the thing can be discarded with the click of a button. Nowadays, you can find just as many e-cards online as you do regular cards in stores. Send your cheer electronically if you really need to send it out for the season.

As for the people who are determined to have a card to go with their gifts, how about a hand written note? At least that way you know the words actually came from the person's head and not some marketing guy in Albuquerque. I know I feel a bit uneasy when I read a card that's a bit too cheesy or wordy. I also know that I smile just a much from any card with messages of happiness and well-being, whether they are store bought or not.

So my advice is this: If you need to send a message of happy holidays to a large group of people, use an e-card, or better yet, just a regular email to those you care about. Everyone like getting email, and it's that much better when it's not trying to sell you something. If you need something to go along with the gift you are giving or need something to wrap around that crisp 50 dollar bill, try writing a note instead of buying one. I may not keep my cards, but I keep my notes. Those are from the heart and to me, express more about what the holiday season is about, recognizing and appreciating the people you care about.