To Card or not to card? The Christmas card question

I love receiving mail and this is the time of year when my mailbox overflows with greetings from friends and family. I display the cards and love seeing what has transpired in the lives of those I care about but don’t often see.

I send out card but there is always a problem. Namely, the family photo. As our family grows, it is harder to get everyone together and looking at the camera at the same time. Eyes closed, heads turned, and a toddler who doesn’t think posing is fun. We all went to San Francisco together in August and I thought we pulled off the Christmas miracle picture but… it wasn’t focused and it turned out completely pixalated. We can’t take another family picture because four of the family are now living in Central America. Oh, well. I’m still trying to figure out what to do.

In the meantime, I’m getting out the Christmas books. Here are a few featuring Christmas mail:

In 1920, after the birth of his first son, J.R.R. Tolkien sent Letters from Father Christmas to his four children. Each December, a heavily illustrated letter written with spidery handwriting arrived at their home in Oxford. The letters chronicled Father Christmas’ adventures and the shenanigans of his assistant, North Polar Bear. The letters changed as the children grew as “Father Christmas” responded to letters the children wrote to him. The collection of letters and illustrations were collected and edited by one of his daughter-in-laws after his death.

 

The Jolly Christmas Postman
by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
William Heinemann 1991

The Jolly Christmas Postman continues to be a family favorite. Our favorite postman delivers Christmas mail to the fairy tale characters that live in the village. The letters, games, catalogs, and booklets are tucked into envelopes within the book.

 

We’ve owned this book for a long time and have somehow managed to keep all the pieces which will now be enjoyed by the next generation.

 

Follow the Star all the way to Bethlehem
by Alan and Linda Parry
Word Publishing 1994

Follow the Star uses letters, games, announcements, and activities to creatively retell the Christmas story. There is an angel that brings a big announcement, a maze for the wise-men to follow, and a lift the flap page to show that there is no room in the inn. This is out-of-print so it might be hard to find one with all the pieces intact.

 

My Pen Pal, Santa
by Melissa Stanton (author) and Jennifer A. Bell (illustrator)
Random House 2013

In this sweet picture book, Ava strikes up a correspondence with Santa. She continues writing through the year and Santa answers her many questions including whether he is real or not.

 

Going through a box of Christmas decorations I found an unopened letter from my oldest daughter to Santa. Should we open it?

 

Thank you for stopping by. May your mailbox be filled with wonderful cards and packages.

Merry Christmas!