Let’s be honest, Christmas is always going to be about friends and family and if you have neither it sucks!

If you are one of the lucky many, there are presents to buy, parties to organise, endless WhatsApp messages to reply to and approximately 47 things that need doing before Christmas actually arrives.

So, in a world where we can send a Christmas message in seconds, do Christmas cards still matter?

 

WE THINK THEY ABSOLUTELY DO! 

There’s something different about receiving a real Christmas card. Someone has chosen it, written it, addressed it, found a stamp and actually put it in the post. It takes a little more effort than typing “Merry Christmas xx” into a group chat which someone archived ages ago.

And that little bit of effort is exactly what makes it special.

Here are 20 reasons why Christmas cards still matter.

 

1. They show you made an effort

A Christmas card takes more than a couple of taps on a screen and for the most part, people can't even bother to do that!

You have to choose one, write it, address the envelope and remember how to log into Click and Drop in order to buy the stamps, which you may need an additional mortgage for! In a world obsessed with convenience, that little bit of effort says something.

 “I thought about you.”

Everyone loves to be thought of so that's a definite win:win!

2. They help with the overall look of Christmas in your house

Digital messages disappear into a phone and hanging your phone on your mantle showing the message, doesn't really work!.

With cards, you can pick one up, look at it, laugh at the ridiculous picture on the front and remember who sent it.

There's something wonderfully quaint about that.

3. They make people smile

Walking through the door and finding a pile of Christmas cards on the doormat is one of those small pleasures that still feels good, especially when one arrives from someone you weren't expecting to hear from.

Instant Christmas cheer.

4. They're personal

A Christmas card is chosen for a person.

You might pick something funny for your best friend, something sentimental for your mum or something slightly questionable for your brother because, frankly, he deserves it.

The card becomes part of the message.

 

5. They keep friendships going

Life gets busy.

People move house, change jobs, have children, travel, become terrible at replying to messages...

Sometimes you don't speak to someone as often as you'd like.

A Christmas card is a simple way of saying:

“We're still here. I'm still thinking of you.”

6. They help us reconnect

Christmas has a funny way of reminding us about people we haven't seen for ages: that old school friend; a former colleague; your cousin who now lives three counties away.

Sending a card can be the perfect excuse to reconnect and who knows, that card might turn into a phone call, a coffee or plans to finally meet up in the new year.

7. They create Christmas traditions

Some families have been sending cards to each other for decades.

Grandparents save them. Parents put them on the mantelpiece. Children help choose them.

Those little rituals become part of what makes Christmas feel like Christmas.

 

8. They decorate the house

Christmas cards are basically festive decorations that happen to have envelopes. They get displayed on shelves, windowsills, fireplaces, walls and anywhere else there's a spare inch and unlike another set of Christmas lights, you don't have to untangle them.

Win!

 

9. They can be keepsakes

Some Christmas cards end up in boxes and drawers for years.

You might find one a decade later and immediately remember where you were, who sent it and what was happening in your life at the time.

That's something a disappearing notification simply can't do.

 

10. They can make someone feel remembered

Christmas can be a difficult time for some people, particularly those who are lonely or far away from family and friends.

Receiving a card through the letterbox can be a small but meaningful reminder that someone is thinking of them.

Sometimes a few handwritten words can mean more than we realise.

11. They're a break from screens

We spend so much of our lives looking at screens. Emails, messages, social media, video calls, notifications.

A Christmas card doesn't ping, vibrate or ask you to update an app.

You simply open it.

Bliss.

 

12. They let you say more than “Merry Christmas”

A card gives you room for a proper message.

You can write about the year you've had, share a memory, add an inside joke or simply tell someone how much they mean to you.

It's amazing how different “Merry Christmas” feels when you've added a few genuinely personal words underneath it.  

If you're terrible with words, we're good at saying them for you!

13. They're a great excuse for terrible jokes

Let's not pretend every Christmas card has to be serious.

Christmas is absolutely the time for terrible puns, questionable humour and jokes that make people groan before laughing anyway.

In fact, we're pretty sure that's one of the rules.

14. They make grandparents very happy

Let's face it, Grandparents tend to appreciate a proper card and if it has photographs, grandchildren's names or a lovely handwritten message inside, even better.

Sometimes the simplest things are the ones that mean the most.

 

15. Children love receiving them

For children, getting post addressed specifically to them still feels exciting. A card with their name on the envelope can make them feel incredibly grown-up and there's something lovely about introducing the next generation to a tradition that has been around for so long.

 

16. They support small businesses and independent designers

Yes this is a bit of a selfish one!  We need supporting!!

When you buy a Christmas card from a small business, you're not just buying a piece of card, you're supporting designers, artists, printers, makers and independent businesses trying to make a living doing something creative that they love.

Every order really does make a difference.

 

17. You can find one that actually suits the person

Not everyone wants a traditional Christmas card.

• Some people want funny.
• Some want minimalist.
• Some want cute.
• Some want something beautifully simple.
• And some want a card that says exactly what everyone else is thinking.

That's the joy of having so many independent card designers around. You can find something that feels like them.

 

18. They become part of Christmas memories

Think about the Christmases you remember most. It's rarely just the presents, it's the people, the food, the decorations, the traditions and all the little things that happened around them, Christmas cards can become part of that picture.

Years later, you might find a card and suddenly remember that Christmas all over again.

 

19. They're a little act of kindness

We don't always need a big reason to let someone know we're thinking about them. A Christmas card is a small gesture. It doesn't have to be expensive or elaborate, sometimes it's simply:

“I hope you're having a lovely Christmas.”

And that's enough.

 

20. Because some things are worth keeping

Technology has made communication quicker, easier and more convenient but quicker isn't always better. Some things are worth taking your time over, a handwritten Christmas card is one of them. It says you stopped for a moment, thought about someone and decided they were worth the effort of putting pen to paper and honestly, we think that's rather lovely.

Are Christmas Cards Still Relevant?

ABSOLUTELY!

Christmas cards aren't competing with texts, WhatsApp messages or social media. They offer something different. They're tangible, personal, thoughtful, sometimes funny, sometimes sentimental and occasionally gloriously inappropriate. Most importantly, they're something you can hold on to.

So this Christmas, before you send another group message with a Christmas emoji and a couple of kisses, why not choose a few people who deserve something a little more personal?

Pick a card. Write a message. Pop it in an envelope. It might only take a few minutes, but it could make someone's day.

Send a Little Christmas Cheer

At Zumm Gifts, we love creating Christmas cards for all kinds of people, personalities and relationships - from family and friends to partners, grandparents and everyone in between.

Whether you're looking for something funny, personal, traditional or a little bit different, take a look at our Christmas collection and find a card worth putting in the post.

Because Christmas might change, but making someone smile never goes out of style.