The Christmas Letter—Loved, Hated, or Nearly Extinct?
- Sue Leonard
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
One of the holiday traditions slowly slipping into oblivion is the Christmas letter tucked inside a greeting card. With people sending fewer and fewer cards, the Christmas letter is in danger of going the way of the dodo bird.
When my husband and I were first married, long-distance calls cost a fortune, and the Internet was a military tool, the Christmas letter was often the only way to keep up with far-flung friends and family. Now there are countless ways to send holiday greetings or stay in touch.
These days I get holiday greetings from Facebook, email, texts, even LinkedIn—which I find odd, but I guess that’s the people who know I don't look at Facebook that often. And, of course, texts. Lots of texts.
Christmas letters come in all varieties. Some are pretentious, cataloging every accomplishment of the writer, their children, and occasionally their pets.
Our very first year, we accidentally received a card and letter meant for my husband’s younger brother. We still laugh about a line that read, “And this year Kathleen became a member of the prestigious Covington (Ky) Coffee-ettes.” Prestigious? In Covington, KY? Maybe the Coffee-ettes are prestigious there, but I personally would have gone for a loftier name: Coffee Connoisseurs, the Coffee Conclave, or maybe Cuppa Compassion for a group that does community service.
Then there are the informational letters. These I enjoy. Partly it’s the writing style, and partly it’s the relationship. I always read the letters; I like hearing what my faraway friends are up to. I even scanned years’ worth of them during one of our moves, and sometimes reread them just to see the winding paths people’s lives have taken.
Through the years, we’ve watched babies arrive, grow, graduate, get married, and have babies of their own. Many letters include family pictures, and I enjoy seeing how my friends and their families change over time—although I admit, a few look so good I wonder if the photos have been airbrushed, filtered, or run through AI.
Some people go all out with two-page, single-spaced epics—no pictures. One friend wrote hers in a Q&A format: “What’s going on with your work? Any travel news?” It’s clever and easier to skim.
Me? I try to stay informative, focusing on our vacation destination of the year and what we enjoyed about it. But I’m sure some people roll their eyes and think, “Oh, the Leonards went to Italy. Aren’t they fancy?” I mention job changes or moves. I mention my blog—though based on my reader stats, I suspect most recipients aren’t exactly waiting breathlessly for my next post.
Even when I include a letter, I still handwrite a little greeting on each card. It feels more personal.
Surprisingly, on the website Quora, the responses to “Is it appropriate to send letters to friends during the holidays?” were unanimously yes. Apparently, Christmas letters—once mocked and sometimes ridiculed—are seeing a resurgence among younger folks. Who knew?
And if you want to create your own holiday letter, the internet is loaded with help. Online marketplaces like Canva, Etsy, and Zazzle offer templates, stationery, and instructions. Just Google “help creating holiday letters” and you’ll find more options than you expected.
Why do people write holiday letters?
In her blog Holiday Letters, Kate Bracy asks herself, “Why do I do this to myself?” Most of her friends don’t send anything at all, and she admits many ojf her letters go straight into the recycling bin. But she also knows some people read them, laugh at them, and feel more connected because of them. And she says it’s good for her soul to reflect on her year.
I feel the same. According to my files, I didn’t start writing holiday letters until 2000, right after I retired from my first career. Before that, I figured I didn’t have much to share. I worked, I cleaned, I didn’t have kids, and I rarely traveled. (Good grief—on paper that sounds dull, but it didn’t feel that way at the time.) I just didn’t think people were waiting to hear about my latest craft project or what my cat did yesterday.
After I retired, we traveled more, became consultants, and our gigs took us to a variety of companies. I had more time—and more to reflect on—and writing a holiday letter began to make sense.
How about you?
Do you enjoy receiving holiday letters, or do they go straight into the recycling bin? Do you send updates to your friends during the holidays—by letter, email, Facebook, text, or smoke signal? Or are you too busy, don’t celebrate Christmas, a bit of a Grinch, or simply believe that anyone who wants your yearly update should be grateful you remembered to sign the card?
Either way, if you do write a Christmas letter this year, rest assured—I’ll read it. I may even save it. And if it includes a photo so flattering I can’t tell whether it’s you or your AI-generated twin, I’ll still put it on the fridge.
References
Kate Bracy, Holiday Letters, medium.com/Crow’s Feet, Dec 20, 2022
Is it appropriate to send letters to friends during holidays?, Quora