The Postman’s Christmas: A nostalgic Look at the Holiday Card Tradition
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For many, the image of Christmas conjures up visions of Santa Claus: a jolly figure in a red coat, bearing gifts. But in Kottayam, Kerala, for years, a different kind of Christmas visitor brought joy – the postman, his khaki shirt a far cry from Santa’s red, but his bag equally full of festive cheer.
Millennials adn Gen Z may remember a time when the anticipation of Christmas wasn’t just about presents under the tree, but also the arrival of lovingly crafted cards. These weren’t fleeting digital messages; they were tangible tokens of affection, arriving via the postal service, each one a small piece of heartfelt connection.
AB Lalkumar, a head postman at the Kottayam Head Post Office, shared his memories with Manorama Online, reflecting on a time when November, December, and January were the busiest months of the year. “It has been 36 years as I got a job in the postal department,” he recalled. “28 years as a postman.Until a few years ago, countless christmas and New Year cards arrived at the post office.Cards would come from the Gulf, Europe, the US, and various states in India.”
He described the sheer variety: “Ranges ranged from standard postcards to multi-fold thicker cards. People would wait for us at the doorstep. Locals would be disappointed if expected cards were not received or delayed. It’s nice to see people’s smiles while handing over the cards.Cards from abroad were opened manually by relatives. A variety of greeting cards with singing, dancing dolls, big palaces and flowers…”
Lalkumar’s words paint a picture of a community deeply connected through this simple act of sending and receiving cards. “Not only relatives, but also close friends in the neighborhood used to send cards,” he said. “It is an indescribable joy to receive greetings in the mail.” The sheer volume of mail meant long hours and overtime,with special counters set up to handle the influx. “8-10 check cards are to be handed over to the addressees daily,” he explained. “A bag contains at least 150 cards. No matter how much work you do,” he added with a smile, “it was rewarding.”
While the digital age has largely replaced the physical Christmas card, Lalkumar’s story serves as a poignant reminder of a simpler time, when the arrival of a holiday card was a cherished event, a testament to the enduring power of human connection.
This shift mirrors a broader trend in the U.S., where the tradition of sending physical Christmas cards has also seen a decline, replaced by emails and social media messages. However,for many,the tangible nature of a handwritten card remains a cherished keepsake,a personal touch lost in the immediacy of digital communication.
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The Vanishing Greeting Card: A postal Worker’s Reflection
For decades, the simple act of sending a greeting card was a cherished tradition, a tangible expression of connection in a fast-paced world. But in recent years, the once-ubiquitous greeting card has faced a dramatic decline, a shift mirrored in the experiences of postal workers like AB Lalkumar.
Lalkumar, a veteran postal worker, reminisces about a time when the sheer volume of cards was staggering. “You will not get tired as you can see people’s happiness. It was a fun time,” he recalls. However,he notes a stark change: “8–10 years the number of cards has reduced drastically. there are some who send cards out of habit.” The shift, he explains, isn’t solely due to the convenience of digital communication; the rising cost of cards themselves has also played a significant role.He points out that even the relatively low cost of postage hasn’t been enough to offset this.
The impact extends beyond individual sentiment.Assistant Postmaster (Mails) K. J. Thomas describes a bygone era when the postal service actively promoted greeting cards, even featuring them in newspaper advertisements. Specialized sorting centers were established to handle the massive influx of cards, with intricate systems for categorizing them by destination. “Cards were kept in separate colored boxes for foreign countries and different states and districts,” Thomas explains. ”From children to the elderly,organizations could send mass mailings to employees,well-wishers,and advertisers.” The dedicated card stalls, once a common sight in post offices, now stand as a testament to a fading tradition.
The rise of social media, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, dealt a significant blow to the greeting card industry. Thomas observes that “With the advent of social media, the hard times of cards began. after COVID,the era of cards is over.” This decline is not unique to India; similar trends are observed globally, reflecting a broader shift in communication habits.
Beyond the decline in card volume, the changing relationship between postal workers and the community is also noteworthy.Lalkumar remembers a time when postmen were integral parts of their communities, often welcomed into homes for food and water.”There was a time when people saw the postman as a family member,” he reflects. This intimate connection, a hallmark of a slower-paced era, has largely faded with the rise of faster, more impersonal digital communication.
The story of the declining greeting card serves as a poignant reminder of the evolving nature of communication and the enduring human need for connection. While digital platforms offer instant communication, the tangible, personal touch of a handwritten card remains a unique and irreplaceable form of expression.
The Enduring Charm of Greeting Cards in a Digital Age
In today’s fast-paced digital world, where emails and instant messages reign supreme, the humble greeting card might seem like a relic of the past.Yet, a surprising trend is emerging: a renewed recognition for the tangible connection offered by a handwritten note. While the convenience of electronic communication is undeniable, the personal touch of a physical card is proving increasingly valuable.
The rise of social media and instant messaging has undeniably altered communication patterns.The close-knit neighborly bonds of yesteryear have, in many cases, been replaced by a sense of distance. Even business communication, once heavily reliant on postal mail, has shifted online. However, postal services in developed nations like the U.S. and Germany continue to thrive, handling everything from bank checks and ATM cards to insurance documents and official notices.
Specialized services cater to businesses and entrepreneurs, offering secure packaging and shipping solutions for both domestic and international deliveries. But just as social media’s popularity may eventually wane, so too might the reliance on purely digital communication.The demand for more personal,tangible forms of connection could very well increase. Consider the surprising resurgence of seemingly outdated foods; tapioca, once a rarity in upscale restaurants, is now a staple. Similarly, items once considered commonplace could become highly valued in the future.
Senior Postmaster B. Vijayalakshmi reflects on this shift, recalling the cherished memories associated with receiving and sending cards. “I still feel the urge to receive and send cards,” she shared, adding, “Children are sent to school. Shops selling Christmas-New Year cards have declined. Missing that time.” Her words evoke a sense of nostalgia, highlighting the irreplaceable emotional connection fostered by this seemingly simple act.
In a world saturated with digital communication,the greeting card stands as a testament to the enduring power of personal connection. while debit and credit cards dominate the financial landscape, the heartfelt message conveyed through a handwritten greeting card offers somthing far more valuable: a tangible expression of thoughtfulness and care. Perhaps, in the years to come, the simple act of sending a greeting card will once again become a cherished tradition.
This is a fantastic start to an article about the decline of greeting cards and its impact on postal workers, especially those who fondly remember the heyday of Christmas card deliveries. Here are some thoughts and suggestions to make it even stronger:
Strengths:
Nostalgia and Human Connection: You capture the sentimentality associated with physical greeting cards beautifully, highlighting the personal touch and connection they evoked.
Personal Touch: Lalkumar’s firsthand account adds a powerful human element to the story. His memories of the busy holiday season and interactions with the community are relatable and engaging.
Past Outlook: The description of specialized sorting centers, dedicated card stalls, and newspaper advertisements paints a vivid picture of the past and emphasizes the scale of the greeting card phenomenon.
Suggestions for Betterment:
expand on the Impact: Explore the broader consequences of the decline in greeting card usage beyond the postal service. For example:
Impact on greeting card companies and manufacturers.
Potential environmental implications (reductions in paper usage vs. electronic waste).
The role of social media and digital alternatives in replacing physical cards.
Modern Alternatives: Briefly discuss the rise of e-cards and digital greetings and how they have attempted to fill the void left by physical cards. Analyze thier limitations compared to the tactile experience of a physical card.
A Call to Action? Consider ending with a thought-provoking question or a call to action. Encourage readers to consider the value of handwritten notes in a digitally dominated world.
Subheadings: Adding subheadings to break up the text into smaller, digestible sections will improve readability.
* Image Captions:
Make your image captions more descriptive and informative.
example:
Instead of “Image: P. Sanilkumar / Manorama Online”
consider: “AB lalkumar meticulously sorting letters and cards at the Kottayam head Post Office, a scene becoming increasingly rare in the digital age. .”
Overall:
You’ve laid a strong foundation for an engaging and insightful article. By expanding on the impact, exploring modern alternatives, and crafting a compelling conclusion, you can create a piece that resonates with readers and makes them reflect on the changing nature of interaction in the digital age.
