Today, more than three billion Christmas cards are sent worldwide every holiday season. In this Vintage photo from 1922, we see stacks and stacks of Christmas cards ready to be delivered from London's Paddington Station. In 1922, card sending was extraordinarily popular because:

• Telephones were less common
• Long-distance communication was expensive
• Printed Christmas cards had become affordable thanks to mass printing
• Sending cards was considered a major social ritual

By the 1920s, families often mailed dozens of cards each season, and department stores displayed Christmas cards like tiny paper art galleries. The custom had exploded after the late 1800s introduction of commercial cards in America by Louis Prang and others. The U.S. Postal Service was flooded with holiday mail each season and temporary workers were hired just for December with “Mail Early” campaigns becoming a yearly ritual. Some cards looked like miniature theater sets when opened. Others had moving parts or pop-up elements decades before modern pop-up cards became trendy again. Earlier Victorian Santas could appear tall, thin, eerie, or dressed in many colors. By 1922, the “department store Santa” aesthetic was taking over. Families often displayed cards across mantels, piano tops, mirrors, and ribbons strung across walls. In many homes, cards became part of the Christmas décor itself. A well-stocked mantel meant you were socially connected and remembered. Earlier cards leaned heavily on painted illustrations. By the 1920s, photographic printing techniques improved, and real photographs started appearing on cards, especially snowy landscapes and children posed in winter scenes.

Decorative Christmas seals exploded in popularity during the 1920s. Many were sold to raise money for charities, especially tuberculosis campaigns. Envelopes often looked delightfully over-accessorized, like tiny paper Christmas trees wearing jewelry. In 1922, mail arrived multiple times per day in many cities. Children and adults genuinely waited for the postman during the holidays. Opening Christmas cards carried some of the same anticipation people now associate with social media notifications, except these were wrapped in pine branches and postage stamps.

Go to our "Vintage Christmas" archive to see all our vintage holiday photos.

“Keegan’s Christmas” by Marcy Playground is one of those hidden holiday songs that sneaks up on you. It's quiet and nostalgic. Released in the late 1990s and later included on the compilation album Alternative Rock X-Mas, the song showcased a softer, more whimsical side of the band best known for their 1997 hit “Sex and Candy.” Written by frontman John Wozniak, the track leans into childhood wonder instead of irony or commercial holiday bombast. The song captures the restless excitement of a child counting down the final days before Christmas morning. Its lyrics follow a young narrator who cannot sleep because Santa seems to be stomping across the roof already, while parents insist bedtime is still mandatory. The arrangement is simple and melodic, fitting naturally alongside the band’s signature blend of alternative rock, folk influences, and lullaby-like songwriting. One retrospective holiday music review called it “a simple tune” whose childlike anticipation “is wonderful.”

Over the years, “Keegan’s Christmas” has developed a small cult following among fans searching for lesser-known holiday music outside the usual playlists of Mariah Carey and Bing Crosby. On Reddit and holiday music forums, listeners regularly mention the song as an underrated seasonal gem that deserves wider recognition. This one always makes the cut for my annual holiday song playlist. Take a listen!

Listen to all our seasonal recommendations
by clicking here: Holiday Song Spotlight archive!

Christmas podcast recommendation: Christmas Every Day

In a world where Christmas often seems to arrive earlier every year only to disappear on December 26, the Christmas Every Day podcast takes a different approach. Produced in Gallatin, Tennessee and hosted by fellow Christmas enthusiast Troy, the show embraces the idea that the spirit of Christmas doesn't have to be confined to a mere few weeks in December. With new episodes released throughout the year on Fridays, the podcast explores Christmas music, holiday traditions, beloved characters, festive history, and the ever-present countdown to December 25. Its mission is simple: keep the magic of Christmas alive 365 days a year.

What sets Christmas Every Day apart is its mix of enthusiasm, nostalgia, and community engagement. Episodes spotlight classic and contemporary Christmas carols, examine holiday traditions, and encourage listeners to share their own memories and experiences. Troy has also created recurring segments such as the "Naughty List" and "Nice List," where Christmas songs, characters, foods, and traditions are playfully evaluated. During the holiday season, the podcast expands its coverage to include Christmas markets, parades, events, and reaction videos to both familiar and lesser-known Christmas music.

I recently spoke with Troy about what inspired him to create the podcast.

“Podcasts have always fascinated me, and I'm a Christmas lover, so I got the idea one day that I'd just like to do one,” he said. “The Christmas Morning podcast had a lot to do with that because they post weekly, and I felt like there was a need for more weekly Christmas pods. So I just jumped in without really knowing what I was doing and started making my show.”

The popularity of Christmas-themed podcasts demonstrates that holiday enthusiasm is no longer limited to the Christmas season, and Christmas Every Day has found a welcoming audience among year-round Christmas fans. For listeners who keep Christmas music on their playlists in July or start planning their holiday decorations before autumn arrives, the podcast offers a gathering place where Christmas is always just around the corner.

“The most satisfying aspect of doing my show is the friends that I've made along the way,” Troy said. That's not something that I ever really thought about happening when I started my show. But so many people reach out to me all the time, and I've never had one negative interaction with anybody. The Christmas community is one of the best, and making new friends and acquaintances has been amazing so far.

You can find the Christmas Every Day podcast on a variety of platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Podbean, and even on youtube. You can also visit Troy and Christmas Every Day on Facebook and Instagram. New episodes arrive on Fridays.

Go to our Holiday Highlights section to all our spotlights.

The United States Post Office Department issued its first official Christmas stamp on November 1, 1962, launching what would become one of America’s most cherished holiday traditions. The four-cent stamp featured a simple green wreath with red berries and two glowing candles alongside the words “Christmas 1962.” Designed by artist Jim Crawford, the stamp captured the warmth and elegance of the era when millions of handwritten Christmas cards filled holiday mailbags across the country. More than 350 million stamps were printed, and demand was so strong that many post offices quickly sold out. The release was especially significant because it marked the first time the U.S. postal service officially embraced a Christmas-themed design after years of debate over religious imagery, paving the way for decades of beloved holiday stamps featuring everything from sacred artwork to Santa Claus to snow-covered winter scenes.

Go to our "Did you know" archive to see all our fun facts!

Our latest review!

Deck the Halls stars Matthew Broderick and Danny DeVito in a movie that received overwhelmingly negative reviews when it was released in 2006, with critics criticizing its broad humor, thin plot, and uneven tone. The film centers on a suburban rivalry between Broderick’s tightly wound Christmas enthusiast and DeVito’s attention-seeking neighbor, who creates an enormous holiday light display designed to outshine the entire neighborhood.

Read the full review of this movie and soundtrack as well as all our mini movie and soundtrack reviews, by clicking here!

In Sleigh Rides, Jingle Bells, and Silent Nights, author Ronald D. Lankford Jr. explores how popular Christmas songs became a soundtrack for the modern American holiday experience.

Learn more about Ronald Lankford's Sleigh Rides, Jingle Bells and Silent Nights, as well as all our featured Christmas books, by clicking here!