Seasonal Felicitations: The Art of Writing a Christmas Letter

            Christmas is coming, folks! It's time to get some paper and pens because we are going to write letters. I am without question a traditionalist because I thoroughly enjoy both writing and receiving letters. Letter-writing was an important form of communication for many centuries. It is one part of past society that I do not wish to give up. A card is always nice, but there is something about a letter that makes it seem extra special to me. A letter is such a unique way to communicate with others, especially for the holidays. It forces a pause as you take the time to write. It is symbolic of what the receiver means to you because you took that time to write those words. This week, I am going to be sharing some tips and ideas for you to use as you write letters to your friends and family this season.

            Before you begin writing, there are a few things you should keep in mind to make your letter better. The first is to avoid trite expressions and cliches as much as possible. You mustn't just put words on a page for the sake of filling it. Using filler words defeats the purpose of writing a letter. This message should be, in some ways, similar to having a face-to-face conversation with the person. It should mean something for both of you. Rambling about everything that pops into your head or stringing together overused holiday phrases does nothing for you or the receiver. The letter should communicate whatever it is that you want the reader to know. The Christmas cheer you're sharing means more if you stay on point and don't stray into trivial topics that are not part of that point.

            It also helps if you shut off the mental editor. The length of the letter and the grammar does not matter. Remember, the message of your letter is more important than the length of it. If you cannot stop yourself from editing while you write, I suggest writing a draft before making the actual letter. In actuality, I would advise everyone to start with a draft. It makes it so much easier to decide what you want to say without the pressure of it being a final decision.

            Now it is time to start writing. Often, it can be very hard to get that first word onto the page. The following are some ideas that will hopefully get you started with your holiday letters. My first suggestion is to be reflective. Write about the past year. What has changed? Did something good happen over the past year? You can think about your relationship with the receiver. What do they mean to you? What would you say to them if you were with them right now? Is there something you wish they knew or would take away from the past year? As you answer these questions you might be able to see the beginnings of a letter forming. Christmastime is good for all those deeper thoughts as you face the end of another year. It can also make you more appreciative of people and circumstances.

            If you don't want to venture into overly emotional writing, you can take a more conversational approach. Treat this letter similarly to the way you would treat any other letter. Talk about whatever you want to tell the recipient the same way you would in a conversation with them. Of course, this letter is supposed to be for the holidays. You can always decorate it by having a conversation about the holidays and what you both have happening in your lives. Write about holiday plans or what you would like your holiday season to be like. Ask the receiver about their holidays and the traditions they will be keeping. You can mention memories of past holidays and what about them you hope will carry on into the approaching season.

            There are many more ideas out there that one can find on the internet. You can also look at different books, movies, and songs for inspiration. I found several hours worth of enjoyment looking at Victorian Era books about correspondence. Just be certain that you give credit where it is due when quoting so that it doesn't appear that they are your words. The possibilities are endless which is something that I have always liked about writing letters. I can say what I want without all the noise. I feel like I have better chances of being heard because it is simply my words on a page without any other added nonsense.

            I hope these tips and ideas get you started as you write letters this holiday season. It can be just as enjoyable to write these letters as it is to receive one. Besides, you can brighten people’s day by making sure there is something worth receiving in their mail. A letter can be a nice change of pace and a very pleasant surprise. Happy writing to all of you! For those of you who celebrate it, I hope you have a lovely Santa Lucia Day.

Seasonal Felicitations: The Art of Writing a Christmas Card

            It is once again that time of year. People all over are getting ready to send out their holiday cards and letters. For many folks, the thought of any type of card or letter sends their brain into a panic that results in writer's block. There is no need to worry though. Writing a holiday greeting can be enjoyable and is much simpler than you think. There are many tips and tricks you can use to help you know what to write. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be giving you some of the tips and ideas I use for filling the blank page with a nice and heartfelt message.

            First, let’s focus on cards. Sending a card to family, friends, or other acquaintances can be a thoughtful and personal way to wish others well no matter what season it is. It can be tempting to let the card do the talking and simply sign your name, but I promise you that writing something will make the card that much more special to the receiver. To start, I’ll give some basic parameters to help you as you think about what to write. Afterwards, I will include some ideas that I often use to help get the words flowing.

            To begin, the most important thing to take away from this is to not be trite! No one wants to hear "'tis the season" or "deck the halls." It has been said way too often and is an opening for some very bad puns. You can do better than that. The point is to make the card special for the receiver. For it to be special, it needs to carry your voice in the words. If you truly mean it when you say one of these classic phrases, by all means, use it. Just don’t let it be a way to cut corners in your writing.

            That leads me to my next tip. You don’t have to be a poet. No one expects you to write a long, fancy message in a card. If that is part of your personality and writing style, it will work well for you. Otherwise, it’s best to use plain English and only write a few lines. It takes the pressure off you if you stop trying to write a well-polished piece ready for publishing. It isn’t necessary and can make your card overly formal. The Victorians firmly believed that something handmade was more valuable whether it was clothing, decorations, or a remedy for illness. Your card should follow this same idea. Its value comes from you.

            My last tip is to be concise. Cards are small. They are meant to send a nice little note. It doesn’t have to contain a novel about the past year or what the receiver means to you. The recipient of your message is not an editor (unless, of course, they are) and is not judging your writing. No matter the length of your message, the person receiving it is going to be focused on the heart behind it. You took the time to write to them and that is what matters. Remember: quality, not quantity.

            OK, now that you have some guidelines to follow as you write, it is time to start generating ideas. With cards, it can be much easier because the message tends to only be a few sentences. It is just enough space to get your meaning across without being overly verbose. I will give you some ideas that I use to start writing in my cards. I know that some of these tricks are unusual, but they’ve always worked for me and, hopefully, they will for you as well.

            The first idea is to turn to the greats. Start with a good quote or just read what literary geniuses have written to see if it inspires some writing gold of your own. It can especially be helpful if you know of someone your recipient particularly likes. A quote from that person, book, movie, or song can be a good personal touch to the card’s note. There is a myriad of quotes out there. The best way to find the perfect one if you don’t have a person or work in mind is to choose a theme. What exactly do you like about that person or want to tell them this holiday season? As an example, let’s say I want to tell my family and friends how much they mean to me in the cards I’m sending. After doing various searches online, I decide I want to quote the poet Christina Rossetti. I’ve loved her work ever since I read her poem “Remember” not long after my grandma passed away. I find a collection of her works available on poets.org[1]. Sifting through her works, I decide to use the final stanza of her poem “Christmastide.”[2] Using that I can write in the cards something along the lines of this: “’Love shall be our token, / Love be yours and love be mine, / Love to God and all men, / Love for plea and gift and sign.’ I send my love to you this Christmas and thank you for the gift of yours.”

            If quotes just aren’t doing it for you, there is another trick you can try. As someone who loves languages, I’ve been known to diversify the location of my cards. I can’t claim credit for this idea though. Many years of cards I couldn’t read because my brother wrote them in multiple foreign languages served as inspiration. In all honesty, it can be a useful idea. Languages often have words with nuances that your native language can’t convey. It can also be a personal touch if there is a certain country or culture the receiver enjoys. For instance, I might write “Buon Natale!” in a card to my family because we are Italian and that is how you say “Merry Christmas” in Italian. I have an interest in Norway, so folks aren’t surprised to receive Norwegian messages from me. Hey, I have to practice on somebody! I know ancestry has gained new prominence in society as of late. Try writing a greeting in your ancestors’ native languages. One word of advice I would give is don't depend on Google Translate. It is better to find it either in a dictionary or on a language learning website. You have better chances of it coming out grammatically correct.

            One final idea I have for card-writing is both simple and hard. Write from the heart. Yes, I know it sounds cliché. Whether you think so or not, your best writing happens when you write what comes to mind without giving it too much thought. You can always write a draft first and put an edited version in the card. Sometimes our first thoughts can be our truest because they are unfiltered. If you are taking the time to write in a card, you want it to convey your feelings and true thoughts. You want the person receiving it to know that they are appreciated and valued. They are worth the effort of a card so your message should represent what is in your heart.

            I hope these tips and ideas will help you get started on what proves to be a successful card-writing season. I also would be happy to hear what you do to write in your cards. Do you have certain tricks or tips for getting past that dreaded blank space? I’m always open to new ideas. Next week, we’ll talk more about my favorite holiday writing: holiday letters. Until then, I hope you enjoy Advent and the rest of the holiday season.

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[1] Academy of American Poets, https://poets.org/, retrieved November 29, 2019.

[2] Christina Rossetti, “Christmastide,” Academy of American Poets, https://poets.org/poem/christmastide, retrieved November 29, 2019.