It seems we are all living in this fast-paced world and proper etiquette is falling by the wayside. However, when it comes to Christmas cards, which you only do once a year, my suggestion is if you are going to do them, you should do them properly. Here are 6 tips to keep in mind when doing Christmas cards.
1. Hand written
- Use handwriting on the inside, with your signature and on the outside envelope. This gives your cards a personal touch and shows you care. (The only exception to this rule is if you order cards and had them personalized)
- Hand-write a short note about their family’s well-being and a brief update on yours.
2. Get your cards ready early
- Do your cards early and have them ready to mail by the first week in December. Why? This way the receiver will get their card on time, no matter where they are located.
- Getting Christmas cards the day before Christmas is not considered good etiquette.
- You can now spend your time on other things, like Christmas shopping.
3. Be Sensitive
- Be respectful of non-believers feelings, beliefs, religion and cultures.
- If you are sending a card to someone in mourning, make sure you choose a soft, peaceful type card and honour their grief.
4. Seal the envelopes
- Why seal them – it looks unfinished otherwise and it shows the receiver “I’m too busy”.
- With the large volumes at Christmas, cards can slip out of their envelopes.
5. Email or e-cards
- Don’t send e-cards as a substitute for a real card. It’s acceptable to send e-cards to people in return for e-cards, but they should not be sent in place of a real card.
- A Christmas card should be personal and an act of generosity.
6. Double check your cards
- In the past I have received cards, where they forgot to sign the card. In most cases, they remembered to put their return address, that’s how I knew who it was from…..therefore,
- Make sure you check the cards to ensure they are signed, properly addressed with a return address and the proper postage.
- Tip: Each year when you get your Christmas Cards, check the return address and update your records to ensure you always have the most up to date information.
Having said all of this, the reality is that sometimes life gets in the way. If you are extremely busy or your hand writing is not very legible, consider hiring someone to do it but make sure you are part of the process. Each year, as a Personal Concierge, I write cards for a some of my clients. In this way, they ensure their family, friends and business associates are honoured at this special time of year.
I’d love your feedback. Don’t forget to leave a link back to your own blog if you have one via the commentluv feature here on the site.
Until next time,
Kathy
