An Electronic Alternative to Christmas Cards
Got writer's cramp? Tired of sending out dozens or hundreds of paper Christmas cards every year? Try the electronic alternative.
Tradition demands that we send out Christmas cards every year, though the rules about who should get them can be pretty confusing. If Cousin Melvin forgot to send you one last year, does he deserve one this year? Have you ever gotten one from Uncle Jack?
Or are you one of those people who doggedly sends everyone you can think of a Christmas card, no matter what? Or quite the reverse: do you send cards only to a select few individuals? So: who should be on the list this year? Decisions, decisions!
Exchanging Electrons
Thank goodness tradition doesn't spell out the format of cards for Christmas, so you're free to take advantage of a cool trend: sending cards by email. It's pie-easy and costs nothing but your time, so you can stop worrying about all the little rules and regulations, and just send cards to everybody.
Who cares about rules anyway?
The concept of sending people e-Christmas cards isn't brand new, but it's taking people a while to embrace the concept that Christmas greeting cards don't have to be made of physical materials you can hold in your hand. Fortunately, people are getting more tech-savvy every day.
Where to Go, What To Do
One great thing about electronic Christmas cards is that all you have to do is go to one of the many, many e-card sites online (your choice!), decide which free Christmas cards you like, personalize each a bit, enter the recipient's email address, and click Send.
They instantly receive directions telling them how to pick up the card. What could be easier?
Why Bother?
That's a question you'll have to answer yourself. After all, why bother to get your Mom a Christmas present in the first place... or why bother to do anything? But I will say this: if you're going to send Christmas cards at all, sending 'em by email is the cheapest way to do it.
And wouldn't you rather spend that money you've saved on a nicer present for Mom?
Now, I realize that some people won't have email to receive virtual cards by, and some may be horrified at the thought of receiving them at all, bemoaning the loss of tradition. Those folks you can keep sending paper cards to, if you care to.
And regarding "loss of tradition"? This is just an evolution of existing tradition, not a loss! After all, our modern tradition of sending folks colorful paper rectangles to celebrate the Savior's birth isn't exactly ancient--in fact, it's less than two centuries old.
Let's face it: electronic Christmas cards are just the latest expression of a living, evolving tradition, one that has adapted to modern technology and culture.