What happened — expert urges a return to handwritten Christmas cards
- The call comes from Emma Bache, described as a “world-leading graphologist.” (UK News Group)
- She argues that in a world increasingly dominated by instant messages, e-cards, and digital greetings, taking 10 minutes to write a physical card slows us down in a meaningful way — and helps reconnect us to what “truly matters.” (UK News Group)
- According to Bache, a handwritten Christmas card can do more than just deliver holiday cheer. It can ease loneliness and foster a genuine sense of human connection — especially during a season many people find emotionally heavy. (UK News Group)
Why handwritten cards may matter more now
- Emotional resonance & authenticity: Bache notes that handwriting engages different parts of the brain than typing, encouraging reflection and sincerity. Recipients often say handwritten notes carry deeper emotional meaning than digital greetings. (UK News Group)
- Tangible keepsake: A physical card — one you can hold, display, revisit — becomes more of a keepsake than a fleeting email. Many enjoy reading and re-reading such cards across years. (UK News Group)
- Counteracting loneliness: Research (as cited in the article) indicates many adults feel isolated during the holiday season; a thoughtful physical card can help remind someone they’re valued and remembered. (UK News Group)
- Defying digital fatigue: With inboxes flooded by notifications, social-media posts, and mass messages — a handwritten card stands out. It makes the greeting feel intentional, not automatic. (michaelleander.com)
What Emma Bache recommends
Bache suggests a few simple guidelines to make Christmas cards special: (UK News Group)
- Write by hand whenever possible — even a short note matters.
- Add a personal touch: include a memory, inside joke, or something unique about your shared experience.
- Express appreciation: mention something about the recipient that you value.
- Consider sending to someone unexpected — maybe someone who might feel lonely or isolated this season.
What past research & data say about public sentiment
- Surveys by postal/delivery services show many people still prefer physical Christmas cards over digital greetings. For example, one found 77% of people preferred a physical card this Christmas season over digital alternatives. (Print Monthly)
- People often use received cards as decorations, keepsakes, or reminders — something digital messages rarely offer. (HubPages)
- Some recipients report that the effort—and thoughtfulness—behind a handwritten note makes them feel more valued and connected than a simple text or email. (UK News Group)
What this means — and why it might matter for you & your loved ones
If you’re thinking about how to send holiday greetings this year, this push by Emma Bache is a reminder that the medium matters almost as much as the message. A handwritten card can:
- Show you took time and care — not just clicked “send.”
- Serve as a keepsake or memory, not something easily lost in a flooded inbox.
- Help strengthen relationships, especially with people you don’t see often or who might be feeling lonely.
- Make the season feel more intentional and heartfelt.
- Here’s a deeper look at the “handwritten-cards vs digital messages” debate — including some real-life case studies, research findings, and (when available) comments from people — that support the call by the handwriting expert Emma Bache to return to handwritten Christmas cards. I also point out some of the criticisms or caveats.
Studies & “Case-Study-like” Evidence in Favor of Handwritten Cards
Write to Connect / Postcards of Kindness — community-based outreach
- According to the article promoting handwritten cards, Bache mentions that charities like Write to Connect and Postcards of Kindness run campaigns where volunteers send physical cards to people in care homes, hospitals, or shelters. Recipients often display these cards and say they feel seen and remembered. (UK News Group)
- In one reported case, a woman who had not received any mail in more than five years got ten cards — she described it as feeling like she had been “hugged by the world.” (UK News Group)
- This suggests that handwritten cards can become more than greetings — they can act as emotional lifelines for people who are lonely or socially isolated.
Mindlab / Royal Mail experiment — measuring emotional response
- In a study commissioned by Royal Mail and conducted by Mindlab, volunteers (mothers) were fitted with sensors while receiving different types of messages: an e-card, a digital message, and a handwritten card. The results reportedly showed significantly greater positive emotional activity in the brain when participants opened a handwritten card compared to digital alternatives. (thinkingofyouweek.cards)
- In follow-up tests involving an Implicit Association Test (IAT), participants associated words representing happiness more strongly with handwritten cards than with social media messages or emails. This suggests that, at a subconscious level, people perceive handwritten cards as more emotionally “warm” and meaningful than digital greetings. (thinkingofyouweek.cards)
Caring Cards (as described by Psychology Today) — support-group intervention
- Caring Cards is a program where people create and send cards (handwritten) to others — sometimes strangers — who may be facing mental-health challenges or social isolation. A pilot study found that both sending and receiving such cards improved participants’ sense of connection, meaning, and belonging. (Psychology Today)
- Researchers observed that writing cards can help senders too: producing feelings of purpose and empathy. Recipients often report feeling supported and less alone. (Psychology Today)
- Although the focus of this project isn’t specifically Christmas, it serves as a real-life example of how handwritten greetings (especially in challenging emotional contexts) can enhance well-being.
Survey / Poll Evidence & Cultural Sentiment
- A survey in the UK found that 83% of adults believed more thought and feeling goes into a handwritten or physical Christmas card than a quick text or social-media message. (The Independent)
- In the same survey: about 9 in 10 adults said a Christmas card was the most fitting festive greeting of all. (The Independent)
- Many respondents said they would be disappointed to receive a festive text or social-media greeting instead of a card, especially from close family or friends. (The Independent)
- For a significant portion, receiving a card by post — hearing the letterbox, opening the envelope — evoked a sense of warmth, surprise, and emotional connection, which digital greetings rarely achieved. (The Independent)
These findings suggest that many people still associate physical cards with sincerity, tradition, and emotional value — even in a digital age.
Cognitive & Psychological Benefits of Handwriting vs Typing
- Research (and thought-pieces summarizing research) suggests that handwriting — compared to typing — engages parts of the brain linked to memory, emotion, and sensory-motor coordination. That means writing by hand may help with reflection, emotional authenticity, and deeper processing of what you want to say. (fondaskreyol.org)
- The slower pace of handwriting gives you time to think more carefully about your message: what you really appreciate about someone, a shared memory, and so on. This introspective process may help make the message more meaningful when the recipient reads it. (UK News Group)
- The tactile nature of a card — holding paper, seeing someone’s unique handwriting — also adds a sensory dimension that reinforces emotional impact and the sense of personal effort. (opaal.org.uk)
Anecdotal Comments & Social-Media / Cultural Reflections
From public forums and media:
“I held it like an archaeological find … amazed that someone under 30 still did this.” — reflecting nostalgia and surprise at seeing a handwritten note in a digital era. (VegOut)
“I used to save every birthday, Christmas … greeting card I ever received.” — a user describing how cards become emotional keepsakes, reminders of affection across time. (Reddit)Many people say that a handwritten card or letter feels more thoughtful than a text or email — precisely because it takes time and effort. It’s not just about the words but the gesture. (VegOut)
That said — not everyone loves them. Some comment that cards (holiday or otherwise) can feel like a chore, especially with many friends/family to write to; or that generic, impersonal holiday cards feel obligatory and lose meaning. (Reddit)
Critiques, Limitations, and What to Be Careful About
- Although many studies (or accounts) suggest emotional benefits, the research on long-term effects is limited. For example, in the “holiday cards and mental health” domain, one recent analysis found that trends like avoidance of handwritten cards or procrastination writing them until the last minute could signal stress, anxiety, or perfectionism — meaning that, for some people, sending cards may add pressure rather than joy. (Psychology Today)
- Not everyone values or keeps cards. Some people may see them as old-fashioned or unnecessary — especially those used to fast digital communication. As one Reddit user said, greeting cards can pile up, become clutter, or feel like a chore rather than a heartfelt gesture. (Reddit)
- For people with mobility issues, shaky hands, or time constraints, handwriting many cards can be burdensome. For them, digital messages may feel more accessible and still thoughtful if done properly. This argues for balance — maybe thoughtful handwritten cards for a few people (close friends/family), and digital for others.
What This Means — When & For Whom Handwritten Christmas Cards Work Best
Based on the evidence and experiences:
- Handwritten cards seem especially valuable for people who may be lonely, isolated, or appreciate meaningful gestures — elderly relatives, distant family/friends you don’t see often, or people going through tough times.
- They’re also powerful when the message is genuine, personal, and specific — e.g., referencing a shared memory, expressing appreciation or care. Generic “Season’s Greetings” cards have less emotional impact.
- For the sender, writing by hand can slow you down, help you reflect, and turn the act of sending a greeting into a more mindful, heartfelt ritual — often with emotional benefits for you as well.
- That said, it’s okay not to send cards to everyone. Prioritizing a smaller circle — those you truly care about — may make the tradition more meaningful and less overwhelming.