Is this the year the Christmas cards stopped? I’m not complaining, but we do seem to receive fewer and fewer. I’m referring to the old fashioned mail-‘em-in-an-envelope-with-a-postage-stamp-affixed Christmas cards. I get e-cards and social media Holiday hi-and-hello’s. Certainly I am sent all of those, and they are fun and appreciated.

Still, I miss the cards. I guess they’re a little like “vinyl” records. Funny, I don’t remember calling the discs vinyls. They were just “records.” Before 8 tracks, cassette tapes and CD’s, there were records. Now, they’re vinyl’s, and they’re making a comeback. Not so the Christmas cards. I fear no comeback is in site for them.

They really aren’t that old. In 1843 in England, Sir Henry Cole sent the first Christmas cards of his own creation using the newly formed Public Post Office for delivery. The post office and the railroads made those Christmas cards possible. Before that, the handling and transportation were far too expensive for mailed missives of Holiday cheer.

In the United States, cards were not widely sent until 1875 when Louis Prang started printing the Holiday greetings in mass quantities. As costs dropped, popularity increased. Then, in 1915, John Hall and his two brothers started Hallmark Cards. With the new fanciful and fun designs, who didn’t want to send Grandma and Uncle Ned a card at Christmas? The mailboxes were flung open and the flood of Holiday cards began in earnest.

Up to two billion a year – at their peak. It was down to 1.4 billion a few years back. Now, the US Postal Service says most households are sending less than half the cards they sent just the other December. And, the numbers are dropping.

I remember the joys of a child’s Christmas. My brothers, sister and I would wait wide-eyed in our beds until Santa had finished his and her work. As the house quieted, we drifted in and out of sleep until the bravest slipped to floor, crawled to the door and peeked to nod for the others to follow. Down the hall we crept to the glowing tree and the wonders beneath.

A month before, the Christmas catalog had arrived. We poured through its pages. Each could pick one wish. We did, we waited and we hoped for that night.

I can still see the small rocket launcher waiting for me. My excitement was boundless. I loaded a rubber tipped dart, aimed and fired. One of my mother’s prized ornaments exploded into glistening fragments floating to the floor. It was a moment I will never forget, both from the joy of the moment and the admonitions that followed in the morning.

From frown, the questioning brow softened to smile as the Christmas tune played in the background. All things were forgiven on that day.

To this day, I find myself singing, “Have yourself a merry little Christmas” just about anywhere, everywhere and pretty much all year long. Judy Garland first sang the song in 1944. My parents played it on Christmas mornings. It’s sung each year by new artists with new smiles and new tears. There are both in Christmas. Like the Christmas search, the rocket launcher and the shattered ornament, the song is there to surprise and comfort.

Cards may be fewer and paper less used. Pictured memories and even the music may fade with time. Let your heart be light. Have a merry little Christmas now. And hang a shining star upon the highest bough.

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Faithful friends who are near to us,

Gather near to us.

GPA Jim