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Some rights reserved by Marit & Toomas Hinnosaar
Every year it creeps up on us, and every year we cannot believe it is that time of year again. It’s Christmas and it’s coming soon!
But, for the first time in my life, I am ready for it. I bought all (yup, I am very pleased with myself) my presents and even wrote my Christmas cards, all before 1st December.
Christmas cards you may say, does anyone still send them? Friends of mine choose not to bother, claiming that it is a waste of time and money. I disagree. Christmas would not be as festive if I were not to give and receive a card.
Mind you, I love to send a card to mark a special occasion. A handwritten card that you have taken time to choose and post for that special someone in your life celebrating a birthday, a new job, a new baby, is much more appreciated than a text or email. It will be a happy memento for days, weeks or even years (for the sentimental hoarders amongst us!), whereas an electronic equivalent is simply deleted and forgotten. Unless printed and kept of course.
You also only need to look around you in between fighting through the throng of Christmas shoppers to see how prevalent print is at this time of year, and how much we possibly take it for granted.
Cards play only a very small part in the circle of Christmas print. There is a plethora of innovative and creative print and design work being produced at this time of year; you just need to take a minute to look…wrapping paper of all designs and colours, gift boxes with beautiful prints and embellishments, stunning graphic window displays with ‘glistening snow’ effects, tree decorations to name but a few.
Let’s not forget Starbucks’ highly successful marketing campaign using their paper cups as highly visible indicators that Christmas is around the corner. Over the past fourteen years the coffee company whips their fans into a frenzy by releasing their little red printed cups with the marketing slogan, it’s not Christmas until the Red Cups arrive.
I tend to agree.