Definition

Noun: A Christmas card is a greeting card specifically sent to friends, family, or acquaintances during the Christmas season to convey good wishes, festive greetings, and often to share news about the past year.

Usage

A Christmas card is typically sent in the weeks leading up to Christmas Day (December 25th). It is a traditional way to maintain social connections and spread holiday cheer. The card itself usually features festive imagery (like snow scenes, Santa Claus, nativity scenes, or Christmas trees) and contains a printed or handwritten message.

Examples

• She received over fifty Christmas cards this year and displayed them all on the mantelpiece.
• We need to buy and write our Christmas cards before the postal deadline.
• He designs his own Christmas cards every year as a personal touch.
• The Christmas card from my grandparents included a long letter and a family photo.

Advanced Usage

• Digital/E-card: In modern usage, a Christmas card can also refer to an electronic greeting sent via email or social media.
  • Many people now send digital Christmas cards to reduce paper waste.
• Charity Christmas card: Cards sold where a portion of the proceeds is donated to a charitable cause.
  • We always buy our Christmas cards from the charity shop.

Variants and Related Words

• Greeting card (n): The general category of cards for various occasions, of which a Christmas card is a specific type.
• Holiday card (n): A more generic term sometimes used to encompass greetings for Christmas, New Year's, and other winter holidays in a single card.

Synonyms

• Season's greetings card
• Yuletide greeting
• Holiday greeting card

Related Phrases and Idioms

• To send out one's Christmas cards: The action of mailing or distributing cards for the season.
  • My goal is to send out my Christmas cards by the first of December.

Noun

1. a card expressing a Christmas greeting