If you’ve ever had the feeling that Christmas isn’t quite as magical as when you were a kid, it might be more than just your imagination.
Years ago, the season was filled with traditions that built up to the arrival of Christmas morning. Mailboxes were stuffed with Christmas cards sent from near and far. Families headed downtown to shop in local department stores for presents. Special scarves were knitted and cookies were baked as handmade gifts.
Christmas hasn’t seemed the same for a while, and it’s not just a feeling. Research shows that there are 3 Christmas traditions that have been declining in recent decades, and we think they’re worth bringing back.
Sending Christmas Cards
Ten years ago, a trip to the mailbox in December produced a handful of Christmas cards from old neighbors, aunts and uncles across the country, and coworkers who moved away. Over the season, our family would receive so many cards that we attached them to garland, which we strung up in the living room. Last year, we received three Christmas cards throughout the whole season.
The decline in card sending extends beyond my own mailbox. According to the USPS Office of Inspector General, greeting-card mail volume fell 54% between 2008 and 2023. Although that figure includes cards for all occasions, it documents a substantial retreat from the tradition of sending a personal greeting through the mail.
Why Are We Sending Fewer Christmas Cards?
I find it interesting that a tradition that began in the 1840s with the first commercially produced Christmas cards has declined so rapidly. I don’t have data that explains the reason why it’s happening, but I have a couple of theories.
One thought is that social media has made it easier for us to connect with people we might only have heard from during the holidays. Through status updates and shared photos, we no longer have to wonder what people are up to each year.
Another change that we saw during this time was the trend of sending professional photos as Christmas cards. With this trend, Christmas cards evolved from simply buying a box of cards and stamps into buying outfits for the whole family and scheduling a professional photographer. The Christmas card turned into a Christmas production.
How to Bring Back the Christmas Card Tradition
Whether these are the reasons for empty mailboxes or not, I encourage you to revive the Christmas card tradition this year. A post on Facebook wishing everyone a Merry Christmas isn’t as personal as taking the time to individually send a Christmas greeting to your friends and family.
If you haven’t sent cards in a while, don’t worry about finding a photographer and compiling a list of 200 addresses. Simply take a few minutes to pick out a box of Christmas cards that you think are beautiful and send one to 20 people who might appreciate a little Christmas cheer in their mailbox.
I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through this link.
Shopping for Christmas Gifts in Person
Remember the days when your whole family would load up into the car to go downtown for Christmas shopping? Along the way, you’d see lamp posts with Christmas wreaths and business marquees with holiday greetings. The local department stores were filled with festive displays of holiday outfits and gift ideas for the whole family, and in the corner of the store, kids stood in line for their turn to sit on Santa’s lap.
Today, instead of getting in the car to go Christmas shopping, more and more people are simply shopping online.
According to U.S. Census Bureau data, online shopping accounted for 18.3% of U.S. retail sales in the final quarter of 2025, more than double its share a decade earlier. That shift reflects how much shopping has moved away from the decorated storefronts, personal encounters, and shared outings that can make choosing Christmas gifts part of the celebration itself.
Why Are More People Shopping Online?
I like to do Christmas shopping online for several reasons. While wearing pajamas, I can simply “add to cart” without bothering with traffic jams or standing in lines. In under an hour, I can visit 10 stores virtually and finish my entire shopping list.
When I asked readers why more people are shopping online for Christmas gifts, Jessica Greene replied, “Convenience. Simple as that, but I try to make an effort to go shopping every year for the memories! My dad would always go a day or two before Christmas. It was funny seeing him scramble.”
And while online shopping is incredibly convenient, we’re losing a bit of the Christmas magic by staying at home.
Make Christmas Shopping an Outing
I’m not suggesting that you forgo online shopping completely. The reality is that online shopping is a useful tool that allows us to spend our time in other ways throughout the holiday season.
I think a way to support our local brick-and-mortar businesses, while also experiencing the spirit of the season, is to create an annual Christmas tradition where we make an event of doing a little in-person shopping.
Wouldn’t it be a fun tradition for dads to take the kids shopping at a local boutique to find a few things for their mom every Christmas? I also love the idea of scheduling an annual girls’ lunch followed by some Christmas shopping in town.
The tradition of Christmas shopping may never look like it did in malls years ago, but in-person shopping for presents is still a festive way to spend an afternoon.
Making and Giving Handmade Gifts
Having an artist for a twin brother has certain benefits. Some years I received a piece of art as a Christmas gift, and those became some of my most treasured gifts. A small painting of my newborn son’s face is framed on my nightstand, and when I see it, I don’t just think of my son. I think of my brother, who took the time to notice how the light illuminated my baby’s cheeks and hair and then painted it for me.
A study published in the Journal of Marketing found that shoppers say they were more likely to buy handmade products for loved ones, in part because they saw handmade items as a way to express love.
And if we appreciate the sentiment behind handmade gifts, why have we stopped giving them?
Why Making Gifts Can Be Hard to Fit In
There are quite a few possibilities why people have stopped the tradition of giving handmade gifts to their friends and family. The biggest reason is probably time. In a world where efficiency and instant gratification are expected, knitting a scarf over the course of a month can seem hard to justify.
Another possibility is the rise of gift cards. Gift cards are a way of giving somebody something they want, without having to figure out exactly what that might be.
I must admit that I’m not the biggest fan of gift cards. To me gift cards feel impersonal and transactional. On the other hand, a handmade gift is exactly the opposite.
How to Make Handmade Gifts a Christmas Tradition
Each year my neighbor walks over with something she baked to give us for Christmas. I know the apple cake she brought us last year took all morning to make, and I can’t think of something more precious for someone to give me than their time. Her tradition of bringing us baked goods is something we look forward to every year.
Last year, my 25-year-old son and I sat down one afternoon and made 12 bottles of vanilla extract. We cut the vanilla beans, placed them into special bottles, and filled them with our favorite bourbon. We’ve stored them for the past year, and now they’re ready to be used as gifts this Christmas.
You don’t have to make every gift by hand. However, the experience of making gifts each year can become Christmas traditions in your home. An annual baking day fills tins with cookies to give away. A summer morning can be spent simmering strawberries to make jelly ahead of time. A few autumn evenings crocheting is enough to make a scarf that truly shows people that you love them.
It’s Up to You to Keep the Christmas Traditions Alive
The kids are nestled in their beds on Christmas Eve, and parents can practically hear them buzzing with excitement. For weeks, there were visits to Santa, Christmas parades, and classroom Christmas parties.
But the magic of Christmas doesn’t have to end with childhood. Carrying on these small, meaningful Christmas traditions will keep the spirit of Christmas alive for the young and the young at heart. This year, make a point to send a Christmas card, stop in to a local store to purchase a gift or two, and make something special for a friend. And who knows, maybe you’ll find yourself searching the skies on Christmas Eve again.
Check out these other reader favorites: