In Japan, Xmas cards aren’t commonly exchanged — but 年賀状 (New Years postcards) are.
When I lived in America, everyone gave Xmas cards to friends and family. I had never heard of a New Years card until I came to Japan.
I have been sending and receiving New Years postcards every year since I came to Japan … but these days, more and more people in Japan … especially young people don’t bother to hand-write “real” paper New Years postcards — they just send ケータイ年賀状 (cellphone New Years postcards).
It’s not the same. I think people appreciate getting a hand-written card.
My kids love their cellphones … but they still write New Years postcards by hand, I’m happy to say.
How about you? Do you send hand-written Xmas or New Years cards?
Email cards?
None at all?
Tokyo Five 
Xmas is huge in Sweden. Long before the Christian church came, our pagan forefathers celebrated “Yule” which was a winter solstice festival. At Xmas time there is not only a lot of shopping, people also travel far to meet their relatives and have parties with them.
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Sweden must have a very long history — like Japan, China, etc.
America is only about 240 years old.
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We have finds of written language that are around 1600 years old. Earlier than that, Latin and Greek writers tell some about us which combined with archaeology can give a picture of what life was like in our country.
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Japan is many many centuries old and, although much has changed, many of the ancient traditions, food, etc are still a part of life in Japan today.
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I prefer sending e-mails with photos of my own attached. Only to people who don’t use computers I send postcards. In the latter case I rather choose art cards than specific Xmas/New Year cards.
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Do you send them at Xmas time or New Years?
I think email is wonderful … especially to send photos to friends and family — so quick and convenient!
But I think it’s important to send something hand-written sometimes too.
Sometimes I have a family photo on my New Year postcard.
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Both at Xmas and New Year, it depends. To my Japanese friends, at New Year.
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Is Xmas as big of a holiday in your country as it is in America?
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I think handwritten cards are the best! Maybe I’m biased though because I love paper & artwork… I think the NY cards here on Japan are great! I’m trying to get some made out for people back in the US even though theyll arrive a few days late most likely!
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Do you know that Japanese New Years postcards have a lottery number?
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Wow I did not know that!! Maybe I should have bought the cards from the post office!! I have a big package of generic ones I was using just for doodling that I was going to use! Hmmmm
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If you’re gonna send a New Years postcard to people in Japan it’s expected that you’d use the proper New Years cards for the current new year … if you plan to only send them overseas, then it doesn’t matter.
Also, in Japan, when people exchange New Years postcards with someone, then they normally continue to do so every year thereafter.
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