The Annual Holiday Letter You Definitely Didn’t Ask For

Happy Christmas Card Day!

Dear Reader,

Today, December 9, happens to be Christmas Card Day, which means it’s time for that beloved, dreaded, unavoidable yearly tradition: the annual holiday letter.

Every year around now, mailboxes (and email inboxes) across America begin filling with that cheerful, overly detailed, single-spaced recap of an entire family’s “milestones,” sent in a font last seen on a 1994 yard sale flyer. The letter that tells you more than you ever needed to know about your neighbor’s puppy’s gluten allergy.

All delightful. All unnecessary.

Sir Henry Cole invented the Christmas card in 1843 because he had too many letters to answer. Today, people send holiday letters because, well, because nothing says “festive spirit” like forcing your entire social circle to read three paragraphs about your nephew’s first clarinet recital. (As cute as he was Linda, we’re good.)

In honor of the tradition, here is my completely unnecessary, utterly unrequested, (almost) entirely fictional Cohen Family Year-in-Review.

You’re welcome.

My father once again broke his personal record for “Attempts to get the remote to work before asking for help.” We’re up to 23. Go dad!

My mother has been spotted at Trader Joe’s buying greeting cards “just to have on hand,” which means she currently owns no fewer than 211 cards for occasions ranging from “Happy Birthday” to “Congratulations on Your New Spleen.”

My sister Jackie continues to ignore all group texts unless they involve discount coupons at the 99 Restaurant & Pub or weather emergencies.

My niece Paige (21) is now a senior at UMass Amherst and just performed in her 417th vocal showcase. We are very proud. And also very tired. If you listen closely, you can hear her warming up in the distance right now.

My nephew Andrew (18) started his freshman year at Stonehill College and has already mastered laundry, which is to say he owns three pairs of identical sweatpants and rotates them.

My sister Meredith has been busy raising two small humans while also balancing work and life, and remembering that sleep is a concept, not a guarantee.

My brother-in-law Tom grew so many flowers this year that he is now legally classified as a botanical phenomenon. He has requested we stop calling him “Tom Thumb with a Green Thumb.” We will not.

My niece Ruby (4) informed us she is “almost an adult,” which we believe is a reference to the fact that she now wears socks that match.

My niece Colette (1) says “Hi!” to everyone, including mannequins, pigeons, and a bagel once.

Ollie, our tiny black dog, continues to be the first to greet the mail carrier…whether they want greeting or not.

And me? I’m just over here writing letters, avoiding annual holiday-letter territory… and somehow ending up here anyway.

But truly, whether you send cards, emails, texts, or a letter stuffed with updates no one asked for, today is a lovely reminder that staying connected matters. And in a season built on connection, that’s not such a terrible thing.

With love (and a mailbox full of joy),
Felice

P.S. If someone in your life sends the holiday letter every year, check your mailbox. It’s coming.

SONG OF THE WEEK

I’m Sending a Letter to Santa Claus by Gracie Fields.

ATTENTION BOOK LOVERS: Your Dream Cruise Is Here!

Felice Cohen is an award-winning author, best known for squeezing big ideas into small spaces—like her 90-square-foot NYC apartment (yes, really). Her books include Half In: A Coming-of-Age Memoir of Forbidden Love, 90 Lessons for Living Large in 90 Square Feet, and What Papa Told Me, with praise from legends like Elie Wiesel and Rita Mae Brown. Her viral YouTube tour has racked up over 25 million views—mostly from people wondering where she kept her shoes. More at felicecohen.com.