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 Con 2026 shaping up to be biggest ever

Christmas Con 2026 is already shaping up to be one of the biggest gatherings yet for fans of holiday movies, Hallmark stars and year-round Christmas enthusiasts. The annual convention will return to the New Jersey Expo Center in Edison, New Jersey, from December 11 through 13, transforming the venue into a tinsel-covered celebration of cozy sweaters, romantic Christmas movie reunions and enough fake snow to make attendees forget they are standing beside the New Jersey Turnpike. Organized by That’s 4 Entertainment, the event has become a must-visit destination for fans eager to meet the actors behind their favorite holiday films and television series.

This year’s celebrity lineup is packed with fan favorites from the Hallmark and Great American Family universe. Among the biggest names announced so far are Lacey Chabert, Tyler Hynes, Andrew Walker, Danica McKellar, Ryan Paevey and Niall Matter. Organizers have also confirmed a major reunion for Hallmark’s beloved TV series Good Witch featuring Catherine Bell, James Denton, Bailee Madison and other cast members.

Beyond celebrity photo ops and autograph lines, Christmas Con has evolved into a full holiday experience. Attendees can expect live Q&A panels, behind-the-scenes discussions about upcoming Christmas movies, themed games, ugly sweater contests, vendor halls and exclusive merchandise reveals. Organizers have hinted that several networks and studios will preview new 2026 holiday movie projects during the weekend, giving fans an early glimpse at casting announcements and upcoming storylines before the next Countdown to Christmas season officially begins. Vendors are also expected to unveil new ornaments, holiday collectibles, handmade decorations and seasonal apparel aimed squarely at the convention’s fiercely enthusiastic Christmas fandom.

What makes Christmas Con stand out from other fan conventions is the atmosphere itself. Fans routinely decorate themselves in blinking lights, Santa hats and full Christmas-themed outfits while swapping stories about favorite Hallmark movies and annual viewing traditions. For many attendees, the convention has become an emotional kickoff to the Christmas season itself, a place where holiday nostalgia arrives three weeks early.

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!