Christmas letters and Christmas cards: Gifts for the heart
Self-written texts are probably the most beautiful greetings at Christmas - because they forge a very personal bond between the writer and the reader. From prominent examples to tips for beginners: the best inspirations for lovingly handwritten surprises.
What connects us - and what we miss
What were the best moments of the past year, what did we laugh about? We sorely missed common rituals and encounters at Christmas. Why not also address this longing? By the way: Many book authors and artists have also published Christmas poems. Perhaps you will find some inspiration there!
The postcard's big brother: an effort worth making
The Christmas postcard is still a standard part of the festive season in western countries. In Great Britain alone, over one billion copies are sold each season*. With wishes printed on it, it is a quick and safe thing to do, unlike a letter. Instead, personal lines can fill us with warmth or melancholy, send us back in time or into the new year. Christmas mail becomes very individual when you design the cover yourself. With great tutorials and the right creative tools, personalised one-of-a-kind items are guaranteed to succeed.
So the words flow by themselves
Not everyone has the wordiness of a poet, but when it comes to the tools of the trade, the following applies to normal writers as well as professionals: If you want to write a letter, it is best to use a fountain pen: Unlike a biro, for example, the nib glides smoothly over the paper when writing, enabling an even flow of writing and supporting the individual writing style. The Christmas letter from actor Richard Burton to his wife Elizabeth Taylor in 1972 shows how inspiring the right writing instrument can be:
"It is no use pretending you are an ordinary woman. You are no more so than this fountain pen. Of course, I don't mean that you can be compared to a writing instrument. And yet, just like this magnificent fountain pen, you are heavy and light at the same time..." **
From timing to text alternatives: top tips for successful Christmas greetings
Speaking of inspiration: some publishers have works with Christmas letters by famous people in their programme, like these lines by the painter Paula Modersohn-Becker: "I have the feeling that one has to grow with Christmas. I feel as if the barricades that one has laboriously and so pettishly built against so many things and so many people are falling down... "**.
In times when nothing is as precious as genuine closeness and individual appreciation, love letters take on a special meaning. If you want to follow the original Valentine's Day tradition, give very personal lines on 14 February. Why emotional messages make people so happy - and how they can best succeed.
Handwriting is unique - and uniquely emotional
Before flowers, pre-printed greeting cards and chocolate hearts became popular, couples celebrated Valentine's Day - according to legend the commemoration of the "patron saint of lovers" in the Roman Empire - by surprising each other with poems. To this day, messages written with pen and paper go straight to the heart, because our handwriting is so unique and always reflects our feelings.
Own words touch the most
But how can emotions be communicated? Linguist Eva Lia Wyss has identified the most important quality of successful heartfelt mail: Authenticity. "It's better to be sincerely desperate than artificially cheerful," is her credo: if you want to communicate with your loved one, you really have to share something with them. So instead of using polished phrases, it's better to look for specific qualities that make up that very relationship. Whether it's a memory of the first time you met or a tribute to a certain wonderful character trait - the main thing is that the other person feels with every word: you mean me, us.
Enjoying writing: here's how
Two factors are decisive: the ideal writing instrument - for letters, a fountain pen is highly recommended because it is lighter, more even and therefore often more beautiful than a ballpoint pen. And secondly, the flow, which we simply have to allow. When writing, you quickly notice that expressing your thoughts and feelings directly with a fountain pen activates not only your motor skills but also your imagination. You formulate in a more pictorial and multifaceted way and send your own creativity on a journey.
Find even more beautiful words: If you want to dive deeper into the world of creative writing, you can be inspired by the offers for "Literary Writing and Cultural Journalism" at the Faber-Castell Academy (https://www.akademie-faber-castell.de/infoanmeldung.html). Workshops and tutorials provide exciting impulses that extend far beyond Valentine's Day.