When should one mail out holiday/Christmas cards? : Hot Topics

Mon Nov 02, 2009 12:46 pm

I know the answer: after you've stopped shedding Swine Flu. haha.
Obligatory H1N1 reference aside, around what date should one mail out holiday/Christmas cards? Around this time of year the mail gets bogged down by the volume, so you want it there on time (I've had cards arrive after new year's) but not too early. Also, people who may wish to send you a card back need time to do so (I'm an spotty card sender.) This year I want to do it properly.
So, if you send out cards, when's the best time to post them?

(btw, yes, yes, bad for the environment, but so is wrapping paper, ribbons, tinsel, and everything else that comes with the holiday season. I'm thinking of making my own cards and I usually use alternate wrappings--newspaper, cloth, etc--so this is my version of cap'n'trade.

Mon Nov 02, 2009 12:53 pm

Anytime after Thanksgiving.

I lost my old holiday card address list when we moved so this year we are going to wait and see who sends us a card then send them one back; thus compiling a new card mailing list.

Mon Nov 02, 2009 12:56 pm

Utah Peach wrote:Anytime after Thanksgiving.

I lost my old holiday card address list when we moved so this year we are going to wait and see who sends us a card then send them one back; thus compiling a new card mailing list.

American Thanksgiving once again sets the standard.

Mon Nov 02, 2009 12:58 pm

I typically send out Holiday cards roughly the 1st week of Dec.Once the Xmas tree goes up, out go the cards! This year I already have the cards prepared, minus the picture insert. We'll be adding two to this years picture here shortly! They are already written out, signed, and stamped :-)

BUT im only already on the ball because I have NO CLUE when these boys will make their appearance! Normally I dont send out the cards till like the 2nd week of Dec *eeek* haha so this year, i jumped on the wagon!

Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:02 pm

preggoWtwins wrote:I typically send out Holiday cards roughly the week after Thanksgiving. Once the Xmas tree goes up, out go the cards! This year I already have the cards prepared, minus the picture insert. We'll be adding two to this years picture here shortly! They are already written out, signed, and stamped :-)

BUT im only already on the ball because I have NO CLUE when these boys will make their appearance! Normally I dont send out the cards till like the 2nd week of Dec *eeek* haha so this year, i jumped on the wagon!

See, you're on the ball. I've got a 18 month old, and I've yet to actually do the holidays right and stress-free as an adult, and I've decided this will be the year. So operation 'happy holiday' has officially commenced.

btw, good luck with the twins!

Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:04 pm

I usually send them about a week to 10 days before Christmas. I think anytime after Thanksgiving is fine though. This year I may send them out later because I want a good picture of DD to use or possibly a family pic and I'll probably do that when DH comes home from Iraq for his R&R (2 weeks leave)... that will be around Dec 15-17. Last family pic was taken July 29 and DD has changed a lot since then!

Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:06 pm

We had our family pictures taken yesterday (Nov. 1). They will be processed and a CD out to me by next weekend. I will then spend a couple of weeks creating the "perfect" holiday card and upload it to WHCC. It usually takes 5-7 business days for my cards to arrive from WHCC. So, I imagine they will go out sometime near the first week of December. If I can get them done sooner, I would prefer to send them out the day before American Thanksgiving.

Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:13 pm

To people within the US, I send after Thanksgiving. When I have sent before to people outside the US, I found that was too late and the cards didn't get there in time. If I were sending to anyone outside the country, I'd probably be sending them now.

Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:15 pm

I *try* to get mine out the day after American Thanksgiving. Since that's really not a big deal to you canooks, I would say Nov. 15 through the end of the month would be a good time, plenty of time to arrive and be shown off at the receivers homes before Christmas.

Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:22 pm

ErinAlanna wrote:I usually send them about a week to 10 days before Christmas. I think anytime after Thanksgiving is fine though. This year I may send them out later because I want a good picture of DD to use or possibly a family pic and I'll probably do that when DH comes home from Iraq for his R&R (2 weeks leave)... that will be around Dec 15-17. Last family pic was taken July 29 and DD has changed a lot since then!

I don't know if you are aware of Operation: Love Reunited - but you might check it out for your family photos. www.oplove.org - your husband might like those.

Christmas cards.... lol.... whenever I get them ready to go. Usually way later than I have planned... lol...

Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:50 pm

i send em out 10 days or so prior to christmas.

i am glad i don't get any super-early cards! first because i would probably lose track of them before christmas. second because i like to open all my cards at once - usually christmas eve. it makes it more special, and definitely more christmas-y..

i've stopped sending cards to the i'm-sending-you-one-because-you-sent-me-one folk lol. if they want to send me one i'd love it, but i don't want it to feel like an obligatory exchange!

Mon Nov 02, 2009 2:24 pm

Dee-Cajungaltx wrote:
I usually send them about a week to 10 days before Christmas. I think anytime after Thanksgiving is fine though. This year I may send them out later because I want a good picture of DD to use or possibly a family pic and I'll probably do that when DH comes home from Iraq for his R&R (2 weeks leave)... that will be around Dec 15-17. Last family pic was taken July 29 and DD has changed a lot since then!

I don't know if you are aware of Operation: Love Reunited - but you might check it out for your family photos. http://www.oplove.org - your husband might like those.
Christmas cards.... lol.... whenever I get them ready to go. Usually way later than I have planned... lol...

Thanks, I'll check that out!

Mon Nov 02, 2009 2:31 pm

I usually get mine out the first of December. Hanukkah is early this year -- December 11th -- so if you have a religiously diverse holiday card list that includes Jews and your hope is to get your cards to them prior to Hannukkah, early December it is.

Mon Nov 02, 2009 2:37 pm

me&zooey wrote:
Anytime after Thanksgiving.

I lost my old holiday card address list when we moved so this year we are going to wait and see who sends us a card then send them one back; thus compiling a new card mailing list.

American Thanksgiving once again sets the standard. ;-)

oops.....you could just mail them now, since it is after Thanksgiving after all

Mon Nov 02, 2009 4:36 pm

If I'm sending them out (which is rare) I have them in the mail by Dec 1 for US/Overseas and Dec 10 for Canada.

Mon Nov 02, 2009 4:44 pm

well, lets see...I bought Christmas cards in 07....and I think they're still floating around my house somewhere.

I'm horrible at mailing things (including bills). I think maybe I'll send out E-cards this year. I'm much better at stuff on the interwebz. :D

for normal people, any time after thanksgiving is probably a good idea if you want them there before new years

And if you don't actually have a tree/santa or elves in it, mail it after halloween

Mon Nov 02, 2009 4:49 pm

<julie> wrote:i send em out 10 days or so prior to christmas.
i am glad i don't get any super-early cards! first because i would probably lose track of them before christmas. second because i like to open all my cards at once - usually christmas eve. it makes it more special, and definitely more christmas-y..
i've stopped sending cards to the i'm-sending-you-one-because-you-sent-me-one folk lol. if they want to send me one i'd love it, but i don't want it to feel like an obligatory exchange!

There are so many preferences to consider with this greeting card business. I know a lot of people who like to cover their mantel or string up their cards for display, or even sticking them to the indoor-side of their front door. So it's tricky trying to get the right timing for everyone.

Mon Nov 02, 2009 4:51 pm

ArielnAudreysmom wrote:To people within the US, I send after Thanksgiving. When I have sent before to people outside the US, I found that was too late and the cards didn't get there in time. If I were sending to anyone outside the country, I'd probably be sending them now.

Good point, I've got a few overseas friends who are great at sending me postcards throughout the year. I should perhaps do this in waves: overseas, north america, domestic.

Mon Nov 02, 2009 4:53 pm

deborahdeborah wrote:I usually get mine out the first of December. Hanukkah is early this year -- December 11th -- so if you have a religiously diverse holiday card list that includes Jews and your hope is to get your cards to them prior to Hannukkah, early December it is.

Very good point (and thanks for the info.

My friends and family are...diverse, to say the least.

Mon Nov 02, 2009 5:19 pm

me&zooey wrote:
To people within the US, I send after Thanksgiving. When I have sent before to people outside the US, I found that was too late and the cards didn't get there in time. If I were sending to anyone outside the country, I'd probably be sending them now.

Good point, I've got a few overseas friends who are great at sending me postcards throughout the year. I should perhaps do this in waves: overseas, north america, domestic. ;-)

Sounds daunting. Better to just skip it this year.

Mon Nov 02, 2009 6:43 pm

If I remember at all, mine go out mid January with a big "Ooops sorry it's late" written on it! :p

j.

Mon Nov 02, 2009 7:48 pm

When I send them, I usually have them in the mailbox on Thanksgiving so they are picked up the next day. But I just do it that early as a joke b/c my aunt and cousin always have them out by them.
I didn't send them last year, I was too busy with teh baby. I sent out St. Patty's cards instead. I got that idea from a Guiness advertisement a few years back. Plus, everyone remembers that you sent a card on such a random date (esp. since DH's family is German). And they remember your card, it's not just 1 in a million cards.
Jeannine

Mon Nov 02, 2009 9:37 pm

usplilsis wrote: I sent out St. Patty's cards instead.

I only send one of those~to my uncle Pat~who was born on St. Patty's day. And, courtesy of our relationship, I find the rudest one I can, so that he'll laugh. :D

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When should one mail out holiday/Christmas cards?