{"id":1809,"date":"2021-11-23T12:40:43","date_gmt":"2021-11-23T12:40:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.christmas-connections.co.uk\/blog\/?p=1809"},"modified":"2022-10-21T07:17:25","modified_gmt":"2022-10-21T06:17:25","slug":"uk-christmas-card-etiquette-10-top-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.christmas-connections.co.uk\/blog\/uk-christmas-card-etiquette-10-top-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"UK Christmas Card Etiquette: 10 Top Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Christmas cards are deeply rooted in the British culture. After all, it was in the United Kingdom that the first Christmas card was sent in 1843 by Sir Henry Cole.
\nThe sending of Christmas cards eventually turned into a firm tradition that has spread to many countries across the globe. All originating from that simple three-panel Christmas card, we now have a wide variety of cards in many designs and styles, carefully crafted to make their recipients feel extra special during the holidays.<\/p>\n

With the tradition starting from the United Kingdom, the British are especially particular about how they write and send out their Christmas cards. Here are some of the most important UK Christmas card etiquette tips that you need to know.<\/p>\n

1. Be Generous with Your Christmas Card List<\/h4>\n

The first thing you may wonder is: who should I send Christmas cards to? The answer is quite simple. Be generous, and extend a Christmas card to anyone you want to wish well in the festive season. This could include:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Family members (both close and distant)
\n\u2022 Friends
\n\u2022 Your romantic partner
\n\u2022 Colleagues and managers
\n\u2022 Employees
\n\u2022 Neighbours on your street
\n\u2022 Pen pals and internet friends<\/p>\n

In a time when most of us have been isolated from people we care about, sending out a Christmas card is one of the best ways to make them feel loved even from a distance.
\nThere are no real limits as to who you can and can\u2019t send cards to \u2013 the great thing about Christmas cards is that the wording and design can be altered to suit anyone, from the newest acquaintance to the oldest and dearest friend.<\/p>\n

2. Choose the Right Christmas Card Design<\/h4>\n

Not everyone will appreciate the same kind of Christmas card, so when picking a design, you should consider the personality of who the card is for.
\nFor example, if you\u2019re sending a card to someone very eco-conscious, avoid choosing a foil or glitter design. Choose a gloss or matte finish card instead, as these can be recycled.<\/p>\n

While traditional<\/a> illustrated and religious cards<\/a> may work well for your older relatives, they may not be to everyone\u2019s taste \u2013 particularly younger people. You could choose a funny, cartoon or contemporary design for your younger recipients instead, for example.
\nYou can even send festive cards to loved ones that don\u2019t celebrate Christmas \u2013 simply choose a secular design with no Christmas-related imagery (such as Arctic Fox<\/a>), and use non-religious wording such as \u201cHappy Holidays\u201d or \u201cSeason\u2019s Greetings\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

3. Start Writing Your Cards in Plenty of Time<\/h4>\n

You don\u2019t want to be caught up in the middle of the holiday rush and end up sending out your Christmas cards too late. What you may not realise is that Christmas cards are typically exchanged long before Christmas day itself \u2013 anytime during the first few weeks of December is normal.
\nThe ideal time to send out these cards would be in the first week of December. So, if you\u2019re ordering your Christmas cards online, do this at least four to six weeks before the holiday season begins.<\/p>\n

This will give you enough time to sign, seal, address and deliver all of your cards, and allow for some leeway if there are any unexpected delays. The earlier you order everything, the less exhausting and stressful your card-writing experience will be.
\nAs a general rule, aim to have all your holiday cards posted no later than a week before Christmas if you\u2019re going for second class or economy delivery. You\u2019ll have a few extra days if you\u2019re opting for first class or special delivery.
\nIf for some reason you missed out on the delivery window, you can still send out New Year\u2019s cards instead.<\/p>\n

4. Sign Your Christmas Cards by Hand<\/h4>\n

In a time when we\u2019re all so dependent on technology, receiving a handwritten note is such a refreshing sight for anyone. It shows your recipient that you care about them enough to take time out of your day to wish them a Merry Christmas personally.
\nAt the bare minimum, you should write names and addresses by hand. But if you ask the experts, they would tell you that if these people were close enough to your heart to be included on your holiday card list, they definitely deserve a personalised message.<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t need to write an entire essay about them. You just need a sentence or two expressing your appreciation and love in your own words. To save time, you can order personalised Christmas cards online with your custom message printed inside, and simply sign the cards by hand when they arrive.
\nThe great thing about ordering personalised Christmas cards online is that you can also choose a photo upload design to customise your design even further!<\/p>\n

5. There Are No Limits on Numbers<\/h4>\n

The average person might send anywhere between 10 and 100 cards during the holiday season, but this number is highly personal. Don\u2019t feel as though you have to limit your Christmas card list to a certain number.<\/p>\n

If you have a big family, or work in a large office where everyone is friendly to each other, then you can of course expect a long list. But if you only want to give Christmas cards to a few people, that\u2019s entirely fine. What matters here is the intention of making these people feel valued on one of the most important seasons of the year.<\/p>\n

A good rule to follow is this: if they sent you a Christmas card last year, it\u2019s good etiquette to send them one in return.<\/p>\n

6. Take Your Time to Write and Address Your Cards<\/h4>\n

You won\u2019t have the energy to sign and address cards for 50 different people all in one night. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to start your Christmas card writing process in plenty of time.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s best to write your cards over a series of days, so that you can take your time with it and start afresh each day. Your handwriting will look better if you\u2019re not rushing, and you\u2019ll have longer to think of what to write.<\/p>\n

Choose a time when you\u2019re not busy to write on these cards, and avoid distractions so you can really get in the flow of your thoughts.
\nAnother good tip is to address each envelope before putting the card inside \u2013 that way, you won\u2019t forget who the card is for after you\u2019ve already sealed it (which becomes more likely the more tired you get).<\/p>\n

7. Keep the \u201cLove\u201d to a Minimum<\/h4>\n

The phrases \u201cwith love\u201d or \u201clove from\u201d should only be written for people who are very close to you. For example:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Your spouse or partner
\n\u2022 Your parents and grandparents
\n\u2022 Your children
\n\u2022 Your siblings
\n\u2022 Your closest friends<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re writing for colleagues, business partners, neighbours or acquaintances, it\u2019s better to stick with more general remarks like \u201cbest wishes\u201d or \u201chave a good one\u201d (depending on your relationship with the recipient). You can even just write your name to make your card formal.<\/p>\n

8. Address Your Recipients Properly<\/h4>\n

Addressing people properly can be a challenge when writing a Christmas card. So, if you\u2019re not sure how to address your recipients, you can start by remembering that married couples should be addressed as Mr and Mrs. An unmarried woman should be called Miss (unless you know that she prefers to go by Ms), and an unmarried man is always a Mr. Of course, if your recipient has an earned title (such as Dr or Sir), always use this instead.
\nBut if you\u2019re writing to people who are already very close to you like your family members, you can just address them by their names, or a personal term of endearment that you know them by.<\/p>\n

9. Use the Right Envelopes<\/h4>\n

Yes, even your envelope should be carefully chosen to really give the right message to your recipients. Since Christmas cards are considered a \u201csocial correspondence,\u201d you need to use an envelope with triangular flaps. Avoid using straight flapped envelopes as they should only be used for business correspondence.<\/p>\n

Choose an envelope in a light colour that a dark pen will easily show up on \u2013 classic choices are white and cream, although pastel shades of yellow, blue, green and pink can also be used. Avoid dark-coloured envelopes as the postman may have trouble reading the address.
\nWhen addressing the envelopes, use a pen that won\u2019t rub off easily, such as a ballpoint pen. Gel pens and fine-liners are always a smudge risk \u2013 and this can look terribly unprofessional.<\/p>\n

10. Keep Christmas Wishes Short and Simple<\/h4>\n

Just like writing a letter, e-mail or essay, it\u2019s best to keep your Christmas card message short, concise and to the point. Although you can be more personal with close family and friends, you should try to keep your words to a minimum when you\u2019re addressing colleagues, clients or acquaintances.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no need to write an entire essay! Just choose a few words that express the festive wishes you\u2019d like to send, and add a personal touch or two so that your recipients know that your words are from the heart.
\nFor example:<\/p>\n

\u201cMerry Christmas to you and yours. We wish you a wonderful festive season full of love, laughter and good food. Here\u2019s hoping the New Year brings you even more happiness than the last! Best wishes from the Smith family.\u201d<\/p>\n

Where Can I Order This Year\u2019s Christmas Cards?<\/h4>\n

Are you ready to start writing your Christmas cards and sending them out to the people who touched your life this year? Follow these simple rules to make sure that you do everything properly, from choosing the right cards to writing your personalised message.<\/p>\n

If you want to avoid trawling around the card shops this year, or want to show your loved ones you care with a personalised Christmas card printed with a custom message or photo, head over to Christmas Connections<\/a>. You\u2019ll find a wide variety of Christmas card designs from the traditional to the contemporary, with themes ranging from animals and birds to classic religious scenes.<\/p>\n

All of our Christmas card<\/a> templates are fully customisable and printed to order. Simply use our easy editor to add in a festive greeting of your choice, and we\u2019ll promptly send your custom cards to you complete with envelopes.
\nNot only that, but 10p from the sale of every card goes directly to a charity of your choice \u2013 so you can support those in need this year with the click of a button.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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