Holiday Hugs and New Year’s Hopes
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Part of the fun of the holiday season is sending greeting cards to friends and family. A nice change from the ads and bills that jam people’s mailboxes, greeting cards let us send a smile, love, and wishes for a Happy New Year. Religious, heartfelt or humorous, whatever we send, it shows people we’re thinking about them and keeps us connected.
This year SurfWriter Girls found a box of cards created by greeting card giant Hallmark with UNICEF (the United Nations Children’s Fund). It’s a partnership that dates back to 2006 with part of the proceeds going to UNICEF to “spread kindness and help support kids around the world.”
UNICEF has been making greeting cards since 1949 when a young Czech girl sent it a handmade drawing of children dancing around a maypole to thank the organization for its help to the war torn Czech nation. UNICEF utilized the art for a fundraiser and the positive response was so enormous that it launched its greeting card program.
Over the years the cards’ designs have showcased artworks submitted by children around the world and even famous artists, including Picasso, Chagall, and Matisse.
SurfWriter Girl Patti began sending UNICEF cards as a college student. “I loved the cards’ whimsical, uplifting messages and they were an affordable extravagance that fit into my limited student budget.”
Sunny is a longtime fan of the cards and was excited by this latest assortment. In looking through the box, we learned about the traditions behind the greeting card themes because each card has a note inside explaining the history of the images.
As noted, the cardinal symbolizes the “beauty and warmth of the holiday season.” Evergreen wreaths and trees, which remain green even in winter, represent “eternal life.” Stars symbolize “strength and unity.” The deer represent “kindness and gentleness.” The dove is a “universal symbol of peace.” And Christmas trees represent the decorating of trees that began in 18th Century Germany.
So many choices and ways to spread cheer! Now, this story is SurfWriter Girls Season’s Greetings card to you!
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.