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The Daily Insight

When should you send cards

Author

Emma Valentine

Published Mar 23, 2026

It’s not an exact science. But if you want to assure your cards arrive prior to Christmas — place them in the mail by or around December 10th (the closer to the 1st the better). They may arrive a few days early, but by the time December rolls around we’re all in a permanent holiday state of mind anyway!

On what occasions do you send cards?

Although greeting cards are usually given on special occasions such as birthdays, Christmas or other holidays, such as Halloween, they are also sent to convey thanks or express other feelings (such as condolences or best wishes to get well from illness).

How early is too early for Christmas cards?

“Ideally, holiday cards would be mailed out the first week of December,” says Hunt. “But receiving cards all the way up to Christmas Eve is still acceptable and fun!” To get ahead of the holiday chaos, Hunt recommends starting early … as in, October early.

What is the most popular day for sending cards?

  • Christmas – 1.6 billion cards.
  • Valentine’s Day – 151 million cards.
  • Mother’s Day – 141 million cards.
  • Father’s Day – 93 million cards.
  • Easter – 57 million cards.
  • Halloween – 17 million cards.
  • Thanksgiving – 13 million cards.

Is it rude not to send Christmas cards?

Is It OK to Stop Sending Someone a Christmas Card? … There’s no rudeness inherent in dropping someone from your card list, especially if you’re sending standard cards instead of email cards. Money is hard to come by this year, so if you’ve been thinking about trimming names off your list, this will be a good time.

Why do we send birthday cards?

Keeping in contact with them is undeniably important and a birthday card is one of the ways to retain the bond that you have with them. They also give an authentic touch. Personalised cards are a far more meaningful greeting than a simple Facebook post – which anyone could do with the click of a button.

How do you date a greeting card?

Look at the back of the card; if it’s a “name-brand” card there’s going to be a date of when it was initially designed/printed. I just checked an entire stack of greeting cards and almost all of them had a year printed somewhere on the back of the card.

Are Easter cards popular?

Rounding out the top five is Easter, which sees around 57 million greeting cards purchased each year. Together, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Easter make spring the second-biggest season of the year for sending holiday cards.

Do people give cards on Easter?

Industry-wide, an estimated 40 million Easter cards are exchanged annually, making Easter the fifth largest card-sending holiday in the US. According to Hallmark research, people associate Easter with family, religion, children and spring.

Is Valentine's Day the #1 card giving holiday?

Approximately 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged industry-wide (not including packaged kids’ valentines for classroom exchanges), making Valentine’s Day the second-largest holiday for giving greetings cards.

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When should Xmas cards be mailed?

To guarantee a timely arrival, you should order your printed Christmas cards four to six weeks before Thanksgiving, which ensures you won’t run into any rush fees and allows a bit of padding for any unexpected delays. Once your order of printed Christmas cards arrives, plan to send them out the first week of December.

Is November too early for Christmas cards?

1. Mail your cards as early as possible, but not more than a week before Thanksgiving. … While sending them too early is not the best scenario, keep in mind that the post office is extremely busy this time of year and you don’t want your cards to arrive after Christmas day. I know not all of us are always that organized.

Is it too late to send Christmas cards?

HOW LATE IS TOO LATE TO SEND CHRISTMAS CARDS? As a general answer, plan to get your cards in the mail no later than December 12 if you are selecting basic ground delivery.

Why you should send Christmas cards?

  • Cards provide a tangible touch. …
  • Handwriting is personal in the digital age. …
  • A Christmas card can be kept for years to come. …
  • It’s a piece of mail that is sure to bring a smile. …
  • Christmas cards keep you connected to people. …
  • People enjoy displaying cards in their home.

How do you end a holiday card?

When signing your name and your family’s names on the holiday card, include a closing appropriate to the recipient, such as: “Happy Holidays,” “Merry Christmas,” “Warmest Regards,” “Season’s Greetings,” “Happy New Year,” “Peace and Joy,” or “With Love.”

When should I take Christmas card pictures?

Remember – don’t wait another few weeks. Year-end is the photography industry’s busiest season, and many photographers will be all booked up for fall by the end of October. Now go get to it. And after you send your messages, you can treat yourself to a little something fun while you check this item off your to-do list.

What do I write on a first date card?

  1. “That dress looks amazing on you.” …
  2. “Don’t worry. …
  3. “Did you hear what the President said yesterday?” …
  4. “I know what you mean. …
  5. “I definitely want kids.” or “Marriage is important to me.” …
  6. “On a Sunday morning, I like to…” …
  7. “My family is really important to me.” …
  8. “Thank You.”

How do you date old Christmas cards?

Some cards will have the year printed on the front or the back, but motifs can also help date the card. “If they look Victorian, they usually are Victorian,” Kovel says. Popular themes of the era included flowers, robins, and personified animals in general.

Are birthday cards necessary?

The short answer to this question is yes. You should always include a card with a gift. It’s an extra touch for the recipient that makes the gift more personal. On a practical note, including a card also ensures that the recipient will know who the gift was from.

Do you think it's important to give someone a card when it's their birthday?

If you’re going to be seeing someone on their birthday and you know about it in advance, it’s a good idea to have a card to offer them to help make their day special. A gift is nice too, but you could always offer to shout them a coffee or another small gesture along with the card.

Are greeting cards relevant?

Greeting Cards also evoke pleasant memories with our loved ones as the content of the cards are mostly things both the sender and receiver would have context of. Not only that, Greeting Cards can be kept for many, many years and the sentiment and memories would still be intact, even with the yellowing of the paper.

When should you post Easter cards?

send cards in advance , so that recipients receive them before Easter!

When should I mail Easter cards?

I generally recommend sending cards within two weeks of the actual event date, so you certainly didn’t overstep the boundaries of good etiquette. In many cases, having a card arrive a little early can even make it more memorable, simply because it stands out from the rush of other cards.

Why do Christians send Easter cards?

Christians love to send Easter Cards to share this story of God’s love for everyone and to encourage people in their journey of the faith that there is more to life than the ‘here and now’.

What is the biggest holiday for sending cards?

Mother’s Day is always the second Sunday in May. Mother’s Day is the third-largest card-sending holiday in the United States, with 113 million cards exchanged annually. Almost 85% of adult men and women celebrate Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day is the largest card-sending holiday for the Hispanic community.

What is the meaning of Easter card?

Noun. 1. Easter card – a card expressing an Easter greeting. greeting card – a card sent to express personal greetings.

What's the most popular holiday in the world?

  • Christmas. Christmas may be represented by presents and Santa Claus nowadays, but this popular holiday had another origin story. …
  • Hanukkah. …
  • New Year. …
  • Chinese New Year. …
  • Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr. …
  • Easter. …
  • Valentine’s Day. …
  • Diwali.

Whats the most popular holiday?

Americans’ favorite holiday: Christmas Christmas is the favorite national holiday in the United States, placed before Thanksgiving. It is celebrated on the 25th of December, as Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus. Approximately 85 percent of Americans celebrate Christmas.

What is the oldest known valentine?

But, the British Library in London holds the oldest known surviving valentine, a poem composed in French in 1415 by Charles Duke of Orleans to his wife, which he sent while imprisoned in the Tower of London.

What is the last posting date for USA?

ServiceLast recommended posting dateCanada, Czech Republic, Finland, Poland, USAMonday 13 December

When should I send Christmas cards UK?

Traditionally, Christmas cards are usually sent during the first week of December. This leaves plenty of time for them to arrive, plus a period of time for people to display the cards in their homes for two to three weeks in the run up to Christmas.