• Revolution of the 'card'
• They're no different from you
• 'S Club' drops from No.1 to No.3
• Wacky? Weird? Wonderful! - take your pick
• What do other folk eat and drink at Christmas?
• Christmas customs

Revolution of the 'card'

By Ruhanie Perera

Mmmm... it's Christmas again - finally! The time of the year when the postman has something more than just bills to deliver. Yes, Christmas cards, which we tear open in impatience or scan the handwriting trying to guess who it's from. Cards that will eventually decorate every available tabletop, be pasted in scrapbooks or maybe added to someone's box of memories. 

Just like everything else cards have evolved over the years. And gone are the days when we were dependent on the cards put out by stores. Now we also have the choice of surfing the net to pick out a Christmas card or trying out the latest offer from Sri Lanka Telecom - 'Telegreetings', where you can just dial 133 and order a card to be delivered. 

These latest developments have been quite a hit, since they are economical and get to the receiver much faster than our everyday 'snail mail'. However more people opt for the traditional Christmas card, which they feel is more personal and therefore fitting for the season.

Helen Rebeira, the Sales Manager at the Bible Society bookshop feels that a card is the best way to spread the message of goodwill. "At Bible House every card is based on the word of God so that His message is carried to the people. Going by the response we've had, I think people appreciate this. For we started out with over a lakh of cards and are now left with about 2000-3000 cards." She agrees that e-cards are much faster and cheaper, especially if you're sending them overseas, but to her they're nothing like a real Christmas card. "Although times are changing and everything is moving faster, I think people still opt for a card as against sending an e-mail, for our cards finish faster every year."

Mrs. S. de Silva feels the same. "I believe only in 'real' cards, where the verse has a special meaning for the person you send it too. And I always add an extra note as well. It may take well over a week to get to the destination, but it's much better than an e-card which is cold, impersonal and just not suited for the season. If I received an e-card for Christmas I would be grateful for the thought, but I would feel a bit disappointed as well."

On the flip side of the coin there are those who are very much a part of the age of computers. In their opinion it's time to, as Michelle puts it, "get with it". "E-cards are cool and I'm definitely planning on sending all my friends e-cards this Christmas." When asked 'why', her reasoning is simple - "I'm broke". "E-cards are not impersonal," she adds, "when you buy a card it's not completely personal, you personalise it by adding a note. It's the same theory with e-cards, you personalise it and send it."

Shehan takes a more moderate view of the issue. To him it all depends on the person. "Someone special will get a special card from me, but an acquaintance (especially one abroad) will most probably get an e-card from me. 

But even in 'Generation X' one finds a card lover or two. Pascha, who is one of them firmly believes that in the season of 'connecting' traditional cards are the best option. "I just don't like the idea of getting cards off the net. It makes Christmas so horribly technical! I take great pains to find the right card to match the person I'm sending it to. And I like receiving cards; in fact I keep all the cards I get. I don't mind spending a little extra, after all Christmas comes only once a year and my friends are worth the money I spend on them."

Cards, e-cards and Telegreetings - some see all of this as the commercialisation of Christmas. Mr. R. Vandergert is a believer in hand written notes or better still going visiting. "Now that's personal," he says. "My reservations about sending e-cards is even greater, for true feelings are lost through this medium. They may come with all sorts of queer logos attached to it."

So during the season everyone will opt for his or her own favourite way of sending Christmas greetings. One thing's for sure though; the message of love has a lot more ways of getting around than it did before.

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