Nine in 10 UK adults are form in their belief that sending a Christmas card is the most fitting festive greeting; half of UK adults would be devastated to receive their Christmas greetings by social media rather than in a Christmas card; 80% would be incredibly sad if technology took over from sending actual Christmas cards with two thirds admitted they would feel offended if their friends or family sent a Christmas missive by text, festive photo filter or seasonal status update electronically rather than in a card.
These are just some of the findings that have come to light as a result of a study commissions by Oxfam.
Poignantly, one in ten of those polled said that a Christmas card arriving staves off a feeling of loneliness with 83% believing that more thought and feeling goes onto the written word than a speedy social media post or text message.
Commenting Fee Gilfeather, head of customer experience at Oxfam said: Us Brits love our traditional, and this survey proves our nation is united when it comes to festive greetings. Electronic messages just can’t replace reading a handwritten message from a well-wisher, or the lovely decoration they bring when strung up at home.”
Two thirds of Brits really appreciate the thought and effort that goes into choosing, writing and posting a Christmas card, with well over a third saying they look forward to reading the greeting inside.
‘Santa’s helpers’ in the greeting card industry led the charge to get festive by downing tools and picking up pens to write their Christmas cards on Festive Friday (December 1).
“As evidenced by the traffic of posts on social media, awareness and participation of Festive Friday has increased massively,” commented the GCA’s ceo Sharon Little, about what is only the 5th anniversary of the GCA-inspired initiative to kickstart Christmas card sending.
The Belly Button Designs team prepared for the ‘big day’ over the course of week preceding, decorating the publisher’s Manchester offices in readiness for the company’s card writing event. ‘It’s official, ‘tis the season to send, send, send. Come on everybody and get in on the action’ was one of its rally cries on Twitter.
Meanwhile the festive feeling was equally high elsewhere in the UK. At Carte Blanche’s Sussex offices ‘Mince pies, chocolate logs, festive hits and Christmas card writing a plenty – we’ve had a great time celebrating Festive Friday’ read one of its enthusiastic posts; Wendy Jones-Blackett ran a competition to pep things up for its Festive Friday antics offering free cards; Glick shared comedic pics of its team in card writing mode, while Laura Darrington HQ was keen to share the proof that there had been some frenetic Christmas card writing going on in its offices.
Down at GCA London hub, the day started with a visit to the Age UK Drovers Activity Centre where a group of its members could not wait to get stuck in writing Christmas cards that had been donated by publishers.
Then, at lunchtime, the pace picked up as The Depot, a bar next to the GCA/PG offices became Festive Friday ‘central’ as people from the neighbouring offices and local residents in piled in to participate in the festive fun.
“Festive Friday is such a lovely idea, I look forward to it every year. I come here with my address book and think about all the people that matter to me and send them a card. Having it early means that I know the cards I send to people overseas will arrive in good time,” commented John Edwards, who wrote over 35 cards during the hour and half event.
As part of his Greeting Card Project, Blue Eyed Sun’s Jeremy Corner (who held a Festive Friday event at its Sussex offices early), made a special video about Christmas card pack buying that he filmed in London’s Fortnum and Mason, in which he also was able to get across the message about the large sums that are raised for charity as a result of charity Christmas cards.
