The Lost Art of Birthday Cards: A Tradition Worth Bringing Back
Growing up, my mother had a knack for making me feel incredibly special on my birthday. There would be gifts, sure, but what stood out infinitely more was the amount of love she poured out on our big days.
Even today, with as many trips around the sun as I have under my belt, she still makes me feel that same way. This year, for instance, it was my first birthday in my new city, and she surprised me by driving three hours just to have lunch with me.
A Tradition Passed Down
I seem to have inherited my mother’s vigor for grand birthday gestures, as evidenced by my son’s first birthday last winter. He had no idea what was going on when he woke up, but we greeted him with balloons and a special breakfast. His birthday party included all his loved ones and his first real taste of chocolate cake.
I loved being able to make his birthday special, and I can’t wait to do it again this year when he will likely appreciate it much more. However, I realized something between airing up balloons and constructing the streamer partition in the hall: we had forgotten to write him a birthday card.
The Power of a Simple Birthday Card
Luckily our mistake was easily remedied. While he cannot read and most certainly would not have missed it, I’m so glad we opted to write him a birthday card. It will stay in the keepsake box in his closet, and we will continue to give him one every year.
Grand gestures are a great way to make a special day extraordinary, but there are subtle little details, like birthday cards and sprinkles in your pancakes, that simply add to the magic. Reflecting on this, I decided I wanted to bring back this tradition for more than just my son, but for my friends and family as well.
Expanding the Tradition
Sure, I had always given cards to my immediate family members for their birthdays, but it usually stopped there. I would do my best to always wish my friends happy birthdays, and I hate to admit that I sometimes needed Facebook to remind me.
So I sat down and wrote down all my friends’ birthdays, as well as their kids, in my calendar. I went to TJMaxx, perused their birthday card section (and was pleasantly surprised at the quality and price point, I might add), and started my stockpile so that I could begin sending birthday cards to those I hold dear.
Bring a Little Magic to Someone’s Day
It may be a small gesture, but I believe there is something magical about receiving a surprise piece of mail containing birthday wishes, especially in a phase of life where we get almost exclusively bills in the mailbox. I hope to bring a small piece of magic to their day, and I challenge you to do the same! Let’s bring back the tradition of birthday cards. What other small gestures make up your birthday traditions?