Christmas cards are the dying festive tradition I want to save

With the continued high cost of living, the ever-changing digital world that we live in and the recent price hike of 1st and 2nd class stamps, it's not surprising that Christmas cards are on the decline. 

A recent poll of 2000 people named the sweet and simple tradition among the top 10 traditions in danger of dying out alongside putting pennies in a Christmas pudding and carol singing. 

While Brits are losing interest in satsumas in stockings, the poll - conducted by Mars - revealed the country is turning towards more modern but equally festive ways to celebrate.

25% of respondents are opting to dodge the festive rush to the shops by taking up a new tradition of shopping in November instead.

Meanwhile, 23% choose to wear pyjamas all day on Christmas day and 22% are embracing a more sustainable lifestyle by regifting at this time of year. 

Don't get me wrong, it's the way it should be. Change is the only thing we can truly count on.

It's inevitable and there really is something beautiful about the birth of new traditions - witnessing how they begin - and watching them grow until they embed themselves into the fabric of our culture. 

But as we welcome the new, we can't help but lose some of the old along the way.

Although I wouldn't be particularly heartbroken if we left roasting chestnuts or marzipan fruits in the past, I do not doubt that plenty of people would.

It's just that neither of these traditions has left a lasting imprint on me -  at least not in the way that Christmas cards have. 

What makes this gesture so special then? Especially when we can send festive e-cards for free around the world and back again or Facetime our loved ones in an instant. 

It's hard to explain their magic if you don't feel it yourself.

To me, Christmas cards are an anchor. They ground me with memories of my childhood and connect me to the women in my family who write them religiously year after year.

It's my early years - sending cards to everyone in my class in my primary school's Christmas post. 

It's my adolescence - visiting my grandparents and seeing floods of cards on the mantlepiece, cabinets and taped to wooden doors.

It's my adulthood - creating my community amongst my neighbours in my own home. 

A Christmas card I received after sending ones to my neighbours. ( Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest)

Although, I might be fighting a losing battle - I take comfort in knowing that I'm not in it alone. 

A recent article in the Guardian reported that we're not abandoning the tradition altogether but it is changing. 

Major retailers like The Works and John Lewis spoke to the newspaper saying that consumers are becoming creative and are either buying single cards for close family and friends or are turning to craft scissors and glitter for a more personal spin.

You'll be forgiven for thinking that it's just parents with small children who are getting out their Pritt sticks.

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I turned to TikTok - a video-sharing platform popular with Gen Z - whilst writing this article and found an endless list of hashtags of young people looking for creative Christmas card inspiration.

I was blown away by what I discovered- #christmascardideas has accumulated over 53.1 million views, while #homemadechristmascards has garnered 1.7 million and there's been an overwhelming 192.7 million views for #christmascards on its own.

Sure, we might be less likely to hunt in address books and fork out a fortune on stamps every Christmas but the tradition is far from dead. 

In fact, I think Gen Z might just be the answer to keeping them alive and well.