1960’s Etiquette of Christmas Cards

Due to the large-scale shift in population these days, more and more people are having the envelope imprinted with their name and address. According, to Mrs. Peggy Gilbert, etiquette expert for Norcross, Inc., greeting card publishers, it's not only socially correct, but it's a convenient way of notifying friends of a change of address.

Card Etiquette Adds A Nicety

No one has to speak the tongue to understand the sentiment behind a Christmas card, but sometimes we get stumped on Christmas card etiquette. If you plan to have your cards printed this year, here are some things you might like to know.

While titles like “Mr. and Mrs.” may be used on personal Christmas cards, it is friendlier to omit "Mr. and Mrs." on all but the most formal cards or those in tended for purely business acquaintances. When first names are used, the wife's name should be imprinted first.

It's correct to imprint family cards in informal ways like “The Browns,” “The Brown Family,” and so on, but when sending cards do not address envelopes to “Mr. and Mrs. Jack Smith and Family,” or "The Smith Family."

If possible, send a separate (but different) card to individual members of the family or address the envelope to the parents and on the inside write to “Mary and Jack and Johnnie and Jean.”

Due to the large-scale shift in population these days, more and more people are having the envelope imprinted with their name and address. According, to Mrs. Peggy Gilbert, etiquette expert for Norcross, Inc., greeting card publishers, it's not only socially correct, but it's a convenient way of notifying friends of a change of address.

It is also correct to send Christmas cards to persons in mourning and there are religious cards with quotations from the Bible that can thoughtfully convey a message of comfort, as well as a seasonal greeting.

It is customary to address a widow by the same title she used when her husband was alive, such as “Mrs. Frank Jones.” If you receive a card from someone not on your list, don't feel obligated to mail a card in return. Instead, send a New Year's card or a note of thanks.

Remember the post office at Christmas, too. Address envelopes as plainly as possible, avoid abbreviations and use as much information as possible, such as zone numbers. A four-cent stamp is wisest. Not only will your cards be sorted and delivered first, but you can write personal notes on your cards to friends you seldom see during the year. Santa Cruz Sentinel, 1960

🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia