Fading Hobbies and Traditions

The link between Christmas cards and amateur stamp collecting

With the proliferation of email, letter writing has slowly faded to near obscurity. As the letters lessen, so do the use of postage stamps - especially the nicer ones used for personal correspondence. For many people, that sounds like a non-issue - unless you are a very young amateur stamp collector who, for whatever reason, is unwilling to spend much money on their hobby.

Fortunately, sending Christmas cards is one of the few traditions that keeps letter writing from becoming extinct. And what better way to send these cards than with a Christmas stamp.

The first two pages of Christmas stamps from my amateur stamp collection. It is far from a complete collection, but it is still fun and the stamps are mostly from letters I and my family received (free).

I wish I could say that Christmas cards are keeping the stamps flowing, but that tradition is also fading. It does not have to be if we pitch in.

Hang onto the addresses of your family and friends (get more if you can), especially if they have young children. By next fall, get yourself plenty of cards, then run down to your post office and find some beautiful stamps. It does not take much time, but the cards will add more Christmas joy. Maybe some people will also find an interesting hobby that does not glue them to their screens.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

J.W. Logan