11 Reasons Why We Still Like To Send & Receive Greeting Cards

It’s 2021. We can email, text and send digital greetings to friends and family in the blink of an eye. We can send gifts and money across the world without putting socks on to leave the house. With instant luxuries available at our fingertips, why do people still practise the old-fashioned art of writing greeting cards?

Here are 11 reasons why greeting cards are here to stay for a while.

. . .

1. They’re tangible. We can hold it in our hand and place it on the fireplace to be reminded of the people who sent it to us.
   
   
2. They’re art. Sure, not every card that comes along is special, but the ones that are can serve as lovely decors. They can be be framed, displayed, collected as memorabilia and looked at fondly for viewing pleasure. In my living room, bear cards from my sister and friends perch on nooks and shelves and bring me joy from time to time when I spot them.
   
   
3. They’re physical. Revisiting tangibility, but can you imagine sending electronic flowers to Mom on mother’s day? Or send your significant other 6 🌹 emojis on Valentines day? Love e-cards and SMS, but I think we can agree it’s not the same. And there’s something about a nice card that completes a beautiful bouquet.
   
   
4. They’re personal. When someone takes the time to select a card specifically for you in mind, locate a working pen to write a personal message, dive through 3 months of text conversations to find your address, google the postal code, then buy a stamp to mail out a card... that takes a bit of effort, and we appreciate it. 🥰
   
   
5. They’re proof that Millennials and Gen Z’s can write by hand. Urban myth has it that handwriting is a lost art to digitally native younger generations. That’s probably a joke but handwritten greeting cards are a good way to debunk the stereotype. Bonus points for cursive to really show them.
   
   
6. They generate a visceral impression for the recipient. The effort and personalization stand out from the barrage of emails, alerts and notifications in our inbox. It comes as a pleasant surprise amidst the pizza flyers and we spend more time looking at a card than the 17 seconds reading on a screen.
   
   
7. They create stronger bonds. Sending and receiving a greeting card fosters new connections, nurtures old relationships, and bring a sense of closeness.
   
   
8. They’re great gifts. In a post-material world, sometimes a handwritten card means more to us than a beige sweater. Unless it’s Gucci.
   
   
9. They make excellent vessels for gift cards. Sometimes, even with the best intentions, giving a store gift card can be tacky. But when it’s enclosed in a beautifully made card with a thoughtful written message, it becomes a perfect gift. And how else do you elegantly give your nephew cash that you got from the ATM on your way their birthday? #sendbitcoin
   
   
10. They mark the milestones. Life is full of celebrations and little moments. The obvious occasions and the thoughtful ones. A 40th anniversary. A thank you note. A holiday cheer to family in another country. Greeting cards are a way to recognize the special moments and make them sacred.
    
    
11. They’re fun. They’re timeless. They’re an excuse to spend a quarter of an hour browsing the card aisle at Shoppers Drug Mart or on Etsy to shop for someone else. They’re a reminder that above all, people > things. 
    
    

Share your favourite card giving & receiving reasons ❤︎

 

 

Cover Photo: by Aleksandra Sapozhnikova on Unsplash