Merry Christmas 2011: The Christmas Card Post

Last year I indulged in misty-eyed nostalgia for what I consider to be an endangered species, the vintage Christmas card that is actually a card rather than a photo postcard, and which actually wishes the recipient a Merry Christmas rather than a bland, politically-correct Happy Holiday.  If you're so young that you don't remember what real Christmas cards are supposed to look like, you can read last year's Christmas card post and see some beautiful examples of vintage Christmas cards here. 

Christmas Past, at least the way we remember or imagine it from the present, was simpler, less commercialized, more personal and more family and community oriented than it is today.  It was A Miracle on 34th Street, White Christmas, and It's A Wonderful Life.  This year, however, I'm sharing this 1952 Ronald Reagan Christmas ad for Chesterfield cigarettes as a reminder that, then as now, Hollywood is in the dream business, and films are magical mirrors that show audiences an idealized reflection of their society.  I mean, seriously?!  When I romanticized those magical 1950s era Christmases from The Good Old Days, I wasn't thinking about cartons of "Christmas card" cigarettes under the tree!!

Yes, I still miss real Christmas cards and I still feel annoyed rather than touched by the cards I receive from the HV/AC company and the dry cleaner (wishing me prosperity so I can continue to shop with them). If you are one of my few remaining family or friends who sends me a Christmas card with a pretty Christmas picture on the front, please know that I am absolutely delighted to receive it, even if you just signed your name and didn't have time to write a Christmas letter.  Perhaps the newer tradition of Christmas photocards is one that our children and grandchildren may look back on fondly as what Christmas cards "should" be.  With families and friends as spread out across the globe as they are today, there are some smiling faces we only get to see on Facebook and Christmas cards anymore.  I also realize that it takes a lot of effort and advance planning for families to get that perfect holiday photo and have the cards printed up on time for Christmas (is that what you people were working on while I was obsessing over turkey and side dishes last month?).

Christmas Card Ornament, photo courtesy of ScoutyGirl

If I do get any old-style Christmas cards this year, I'm saving every single one of them.  My little sister reminded me the other day that we used to recycle Christmas cards for an ornament craft project at my grandmother's house, and I found a tutorial that refreshed my memory on how to do it right here at ScoutyGirl.  In fact, I just had a flash of inspiration for this project -- if I don't have enough Christmas cards to cut up, why not print my own?  All those images of vintage Christmas cards that I tracked down and posted about last year right here could be printed on heavy card stock and used to supplement the cards that come in the mail.  There are loads of images on the internet that would be perfect for this.  I can't wait to do this with my kids over Christmas break -- thanks for the idea, Janice the Manice!

By the way, if you haven't done your Christmas cards yet, there's still time.  I just ordered mine online; with express shipping I should have them by the middle of next week.  (My favorite online sources for Christmas cards are the museum shops at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Art Institute of Chicago).  I'll probably be watching those old Christmas movies while I sign and address my Christmas cards, but I'll try to remember that the best Christmas is always THIS Christmas, this gift of time off from work, school, and other obligations when we can relax with our loved ones and be reminded of what really matters.  Yesterday we had The Santa Claus 2 on while I was mixing up cookie dough, the one where Tim Allen has to get married by Christmas Eve or else he can't be Santa anymore.  When they got to the proposal scene and Santa said that Christmas would end if the lady didn't say yes, Anders piped up, "No it wouldn't!  Jesus would still come without Santa!"  Yay, Anders!

Whether your family celebrates Christmas, Hanukkah, or another holiday at this time of year, may God bless you with his gifts of love, forgiveness, and salvation and keep you safe and healthy.  Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas 2010: The Christmas Card

When I decided to do a Christmas card blog post instead of an actual Christmas card this year, I asked my dahling husband to help me select an appropriate image.  He declined.  See what happens when I'm left to my own devices?  I find this one delightful; it reminds me of Animal Farm. 

To all of my business contacts and vendors, a handful of relatives, and the ONE friend who has sent me an actual, physical Christmas card so far: Thank you!  Yes, I got it; yes, I enjoyed it; and no, you're not getting one from me this year.  It's Christmas Eve, no cards have been ordered or purchased, and this is the best I can come up with at the last minute.

The Christmas Card as we know it is in serious decline, anyway.  When I was a little girl, I remember tons of Christmas cards like those pictured above coming to the house.  These days it's mostly so-called photocards, and it's not my cup of tea.  Used to be, you'd tuck a recent wallet-sized photo of the kids inside the Christmas cards you sent to faraway relatives, folks who actually might want to carry around a picture of your kids in their wallet.  To be honest, most of the photocards we get at Christmas end up in the trash.  I can go look at your kids on Facebook any time I want, after all -- and at least on Facebook it's clear whose kids belong to whom. 

Still, kudos to those of you who sent some kind of Christmas greeting in the actual mail -- hopefully next year I'll join you.  Without further ado, here's our family Christmas Card Post:

It's been a busy year for all of us (isn't every year?).  Rebecca went to Paris in January for the Maison et Objet trade show and had a wonderful time; if you missed it, you can read about those adventures here.  The rest of the year, Rebecca barely kept her head above water, juggling work, homework supervision, kids' activities, laundry, and grocery shopping.  I was about 15 minutes late to just about everything all year long.  So I'm really consistent! 

Bernie has been traveling a lot with work, but we enjoy the perks of his working from home when he isn't on the road.  He drives the boys to school whenever he has the chance, he has been enjoying cooking more often this year, and of course he has spent hundreds of hours of "free time" doing things like painting, installing can lights, chandeliers, and crown molding, and hanging artwork around the house. 

Lars is doing well in the fourth grade this year, and is mildly annoyed that he has already read all of the books that his class is reading together.  He continues to do well with his piano lessons and is currently playing the theme song from Jaws about a hundred times a day.  Lars also enjoys composing his own songs on the piano, and he specializes in "ominous" music.  When he's not reading, tickling the ivories, or playing with Legos, Lars is either drawing or asleep.

Anders started a new school this year for second grade, and although he has had to work hard to catch up to the other students, he's doing very well and is definitely in the best school for him.  He is also excelling at piano, but not so much at getting dressed in the morning (ahem!).  Anders enjoys playing chess competitively, reading, Legos, and doing anything Lars is doing.  His new thing is parting his hair to one side, and for some reason, he desperately wants a tuxedo.

We're headed to church now for the candlelight Christmas Eve service!  I hope this Christmas message finds all of you and your loved ones safe and sound, enjoying one another's company and the blessings of the Christmas season long after vacation has ended and we all go back to work and school.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you!