I read an article on another blog this morning – Momfinds.com – about holiday cards and how they are becoming somewhat obsolete with the power of social networking. Â I never really thought about it, but it is an interesting idea – the evolutionary demise of the holiday card. Â I guess it makes sense. Â The amount of time and money that is invested in sending out cards to people every year is crazy. Â In some cases it seems like people compete to have the best looking (professionally photographed) family, on the most expensive card stock, with oversize envelopes that require extra postage. Â My own holiday card has diminished in scope over the past ten years to the point that I didn’t even send one last year. Â It seemed like one more thing to get done before the holidays, and somehow it didn’t make the cut. Â But I never really thought about the fact that for the most part, the people to whom I would be sending greetings are friends on Facebook, and have ready access to the photographic and editorial passages of my children. Â And my life. Â So what exactly would I be imparting to them should I make the effort to send a holiday card – presuming of course that I would post some sort of holiday greeting as my status.
The thing is, I like getting cards in the mail.  It is a refreshing change from bills or junk mail.  It’s fun to see your friend’s families grow and expand and compare the relative sizes of  children that you don’t see on a regular basis.  And let’s admit it – there is always that crazy rambling “Our Year In Review” letter that makes you feel really good or really bad about what you may or may not have accomplished in the same 365 days.  But the labor cost and the tangible cost to produce these annual traditions are increasing, and in a tough economy it may seem superfluous.  I doubt that I’ll be sending cards this year.  The practical factor of getting two teenage girls to agree on a photograph that they BOTH find flattering is near impossible, coupled with the fact that their younger brother never sits still long enough to have his picture taken.
What will YOU be doing this holiday season? Â Cyber greeting everyone or doing it the old fashioned way?