Why physical Christmas cards still have a place this festive season

Everything is e-this and I-that these days – whether it’s e-mails or e-bikes, iPads, iPhones, iGadgets or some other tech, it’s an E-I-E-I world.

But call me old fashioned (and I’ll thank you for the compliment) but I still see a hearty helping of thought and care in receiving a physical Christmas card in the mail this time of year. And I feel the same in taking the time to sit down, writing, putting into envelopes, attaching stamps and placing cards into the red Australia Post box to go to my nearest and dearest. As a once-a-year festive gesture, it still shows a level of care and kindness that an e-card just doesn’t have.

And with modern communication techniques often consisting of all-too-impersonal instant messaging, group chats and auto-generated holiday emails, here are five reasons to pick up a pen and send some handwritten cheer across the country (or across the world) this Christmas.

They cut through the digital noise

Our phones already ‘ping’ with notifications from banks, apps and group chats every few minutes. A physical Christmas card breaks through that clutter. Whether it lands in a letterbox in Wagga, Wollongong or Wodonga, it gets noticed, opened and appreciated. It’s a small but powerful reminder that not everything meaningful has to be digital.

They create a real sense of connection

A typed message can feel rushed or generic. A handwritten card—with your actual handwriting, real thoughts and a few imperfect smudges—feels like time, care and intention. For family interstate, friends overseas, or older relatives who aren’t glued to their phones, a card is a tangible expression of connection that lasts long after a text disappears in the thread.

Even Mr Bean understood the charm of real mail—fans of the show would remember he sent them to himself just to feel popular. If a grown man in a tweed jacket can find joy in filling his own letterbox, imagine how much your friends and family will appreciate receiving the real thing.

They support Australian charities and community causes

One of the best reasons to buy and send Christmas cards is the positive impact behind them. Many Australian charities—from the RSPCA and the Cancer Council to small local organisations—release annual card collections. The proceeds help fund animal welfare, cancer research, mental-health programs, community services and more.

By sending a card, you’re not just spreading festive cheer—you’re contributing to a cause that matters.

They provide a seasonal boost to some small businesses

From regional artists, small stationery shops and independent creators selling their wares on websites like Etsy, physical cards support Australian creatives who rely on seasonal sales. Buying local means supporting printers, illustrators, ceramicists who design gift tags, or First Nations artists whose designs share culture through stunning card artwork. It’s a simple way to keep creative communities flourishing.

They become part of the Christmas experience

Christmas in Australia is full of all the warm-weather rituals you don’t see in the festive movies—cold prawns, pavlova debates, backyard cricket, beach afternoons, and the Boxing Day Test humming in the background.

For many households, receiving cards and pinning them up on fridge doors, bookshelves or hallway photo strings becomes part of that tradition. Long after the tree comes down, people keep their favourite cards as keepsakes, especially when they’ve come from someone who went the extra mile.

Final thought

Amid the rush of December, sending a physical Christmas card slows us down just enough to think about the people who matter—and puts something heartfelt into their hands. This year, why not skip the quick Christmas emoji and write something real? The impact will travel much further than the envelope.