Dear Jacquelyn,

Can you offer some guidance for mailing holiday cards? It used to be this was a common tradition. Is a holiday card still an appropriate gesture? When should I mail out cards to ensure they arrive on time?

Dear Reader,

During the holiday season, nothing spreads cheer faster than holiday cards. It’s a timeless tradition.

With all of life’s normal distractions, it can be easy to fall out of touch with people you don’t see regularly. The annual holiday greeting card is a great way to keep connected to family and friends.

Send holiday cards to anyone you want to wish “Happy Holidays.”

Family members, close friends, and coworkers often make the list. But this year especially, don’t forget to send a Christmas card to the older people on your list, or even those who aren’t normally on your list and who might not receive much mail. They’ll be delighted to hear from you.

To make the greeting more personal, be sure to include a handwritten heartfelt holiday message. For example, “I miss you so much! I hope this card finds you well!”

December is a busy time for the U.S. Postal Service, so it’s a good idea to plan an early card-sending strategy. Ideally, you’ll want your cards to arrive one to two weeks before celebrating the holiday.

With this in mind, you should plan to send them two to three weeks in advance. The earlier you get them out, the less chance there is that your cards will get lost in the holiday shuffle.

A little boost of festive joy is always welcome during the holidays. Holiday cards are always a great way to remain connected with loved ones, near and far.

Respectfully Yours,

Jacquelyn

Have a question? Email: jacquelyn@ptd.net. Jacquelyn Youst is owner of the Pennsylvania Academy of Protocol, specializing in etiquette training.

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