Christmas Traditions

Cards Galore Christmas Traditions Blog

Hands up if you are excited about Christmas? At Cards Galore Online, we certainly are!

And if you are anything like us, you will know that part of what makes Christmas so magical is the traditions that we all look forward to year in, year out.

Having evolved over time, the very nature of our festivals means that they are bound up in tradition. And it’s those familiar traditions which we return to year after year that help make the seasonal occasions we love so special. The Cards Galore Team have rounded up some of our favourites:

Oh, Christmas Tree.

Let’s face it, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a decorated tree to liven up our homes in the middle of winter. Whether we opt for real or faux, a statement-making six footer or a cute miniature version, full-on baubles and tinsel or a few carefully chosen minimalist decorations, we’re acknowledging the approaching yuletide is a time to be merry and bright.

 And while red and green are quintessentially Christmassy colours that never really went away, they’ve certainly been overshadowed by blues and pastels over the last few years. The good news is that this classic colour combination is back in a big way for 2021! You can’t go wrong with tartan accessories or a beautiful foliage wreath entwined with scarlet berries hung on your door.

Do you believe in Father Christmas?

For children who still believe in Santa, leaving out a mince pie and a glass of whisky when Christmas Eve finally arrives is an absolute must. If you don’t, then there’s always the risk he might not leave you any presents! This particular tradition enhances the magical atmosphere in homes across the nation as the excitement and anticipation of Christmas morning builds. Remember to put out a carrot for Rudolph too- after all he’s got his work cut out tonight and that sleigh won’t guide itself if he doesn’t get the refreshments he needs to sustain him!

Carols that evoke a thousand memories

Carols are synonymous with the festive season, often making us feel nostalgic-think Silent Night, The Holly and the Ivy and Away in a Manger, which have the power to instantly transport us back to childhood Christmases.

Perhaps carollers don’t routinely call door-to-door as they once did in the run-up to December 25^th but carol services in churches, schools and community centres remain popular today even among the non-religious. And every household in the UK owns at least one CD from this genre that gets dusted off annually during advent-right?

A food lovers paradise

It’s fair to say that any celebration isn’t complete without food. Christmas Dinner typically provides the perfect opportunity for friends and family to gather round the table together and enjoy a slap-up meal. While turkey with all the trimmings remains a firm favourite when it comes to festive nosh, veggie and vegan show-stoppers feature more widely than ever on the menu. It’s the one day of the year when sprouts are compulsory too. Over-indulgence is a real temptation especially when the main course is followed by Christmas Pudding doused in brandy and set alight, a boozy trifle or a mouth-watering chocolate Yuletide log. Or perhaps all three?

Writing your Christmas cards

Naturally, we couldn’t write about Christmas without mentioning the long- held tradition of sending greeting cards! The first Christmas card is said to have been commissioned in 1843, the same year that Dickens wrote ‘A Christmas Carol’.

What might be surprising to us is that Victorian versions didn’t always depict light-hearted seasonal scenes. In fact, illustrations of sinister-looking snowmen and dead robins weren’t uncommon at the time-clearly not so jolly!

In 2021, modern tastes are more than catered for here at Cards Galore Online with our extensive ranges which include the humorous, the sentimental and the classic. And as a nation, it’s not just our nearest and dearest we buy them for. Often sending Christmas cards is the only time we are in touch with certain people but it’s a lovely way to let them know we are thinking of them nonetheless.

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If you’ve been wondering why it is that we find ourselves returning to familiar traditions year after year, psychologists have an explanation – and it makes complete sense. They say that having a special time of the year when we know exactly what to do, the way we’ve always done it, provides a comfortable sense of structure, control and stability in our full-on lives.

And while we’re on the subject, don’t forget to hang up the mistletoe.