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No More Paper on the Mantle
As a youngster, and even during the early years of our marriage, we would decorate the house with Christmas cards that came to our mailbox. Sometimes the cards would be taped or tacked around a door frame. If we had a fireplace the cards would be placed on the mantle for display. If there was no fireplace mantle, a side table or two worked just as well for the card repository.
At some point, many people have replaced sending paper cards with an annual Christmas letter. .
Here’s a little historical fact; the first Christmas letter was sent way back in 1534 when the Bishop of Rochester, John Fisher, sent Thomas Cromwell a letter wishing him a “mery Christenmas”. Fisher was in prison for denying the King’s supremacy. In the letter Fisher asked Cromwell to give him some food, a shirt, a sheet, books, and a priest to hear his confession. He also begged Cromwell to mediate with the King on his behalf to be released from prison (source; theanneboleynfiles.com).
Unfortunately for Fisher, the letter didn’t work, and he was beheaded in June 1535.
How many of us these days send a letter — no, not a paper letter that can be displayed somewhere in the home — but an electronic letter, usually in PDF format, with a few photos inserted instead of a paper card. For those who are too time crunched to put together a letter, paper or digital, there are even a number of online card services that offer e-cards for every occasion, including Christmas, of course. Some allow a personalized, albeit short, message while other e-cards will have some cute critters, a bit of Christmasy music, and maybe the sender’s name. Can’t get too personal, after all.
Okay, I’ll be first to hold up my hand and confess that I’m one of those who sends out the PDF formatted letter with some (hopefully) well chosen photos from the current year. Some recipients write back telling me they enjoyed the letter and attaching their own Christmas letter to their reply email.
Some folks let us know that the money saved on cards and postage will be donated to a worthy cause. Good for them — that’s a noble thing to do (and we assume they really do make the donation).
Others send out a paper card, but not the traditional folded card where there is space for a handwritten message inside. Instead, it’s…
