| 
|
Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
| Total Views: 4,945,734
|
Article: 14388
[Religious]
Date Posted:
11/26/2005
8:50:23 am EST
Wvox Stats
Views: 6,970
RSS: 21,626
Comments: 12
|
Demand Grows For Religious Holiday Cards
Author: Hattiesburg American Source: Hattiesburg American (MS)
Title: DEMAND GROWS FOR RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY CARDS
Religious greeting cards are new best-sellers. Hallmark and American Greetings, the nation's two biggest card makers, say sales of religious, especially Christian, cards began picking up at the end of the last millennium and spiked more sharply after Sept. 11, 2001.
"Religion is part of that searching for security," suggests Tina Benavides, creative vice president for American Greetings, who attributes her company's increased sales of religious cards directly to terrorism and the war in Iraq.
Bob Fillingane, owner of Lemstone Books in Hattiesburg's Turtle Creek Mall, said he thinks Pine Belt residents find comfort in the cards following Hurricane Katrina, and he is having a hard time keeping them in stock.
"What we sell is very comforting," he said. "People have had very difficult times. Everybody's been touched by it one way or another. With so many people displaced, they're sending cards to their friends."
Others point to religion's growing profile in popular culture and politics.
| Options: [Read Full Story] [Comments Locked]
[Email to a Friend]
|
|
Community Thoughts: There are 12 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| Happy Eidukkahyulemas! | Nov 28th. at 5:27:32 pm EST
|
ForestWolf (Cheshire, England) - Email Me
On second thoughts, I don't think that greeting's going to catch on... and it still excludes loads of people!
I like to make my own cards if I have time, for a special select few people... but generally I buy the card to suit the person. for my parents, one has to be a Christmas card, whilst the other can be any general "festive greetings" type. I can't remember all the different holidays at this time of the year, but I do keep a note of whatever someone's celebrating... the one that comes to mind straight away is that any time now I should send out a Hannukah card to someone.
People really appreciate it when you tailor your card to them, especially when they finally get one "Happy Eid" (or whatever) from someone!
|
| My Cards This Year, | Nov 27th. at 1:24:37 pm EST
|
Erihu (Sunset Beach, North Carolina) - Email Me
bought at a drug store chain, can be sent to everyone on my list, Christian and Non. On the front they say "Wish", and inside they say "Sending you a special wish for all the happiness your hoidays can hold". Beautifully nonreligion specific. I especially liked that it says "...your hoidays...". It's all inclusive, and not offensive to anyone. I saw dozens of cards that would have been just as appropriate. I, too, have searched online and off for Pagan cards, and I agree with another poster that the art work isn't always great. I also agree that it is aggravating to have certain people usurp the word religious, and try to make it exclusively Christian, but I figure that's their problem, not mine. Even though some of those I send cards to will assume I mean Christmas only, I know that I'm including all Winter holidays. Not a problem for me.
|
| Religion Is Not An Exclusive Property. | Nov 26th. at 3:59:13 pm EST
|
bigcat (peoria, Illinois) - Email Me
If I have to send cards, I look for ones that come closest to what I want in picture form, then I write my own greetings. There are many cards out there that fit the bill nicely in the blank department.
As for humorous ones, I find quite a few that are either silly, beautiful or odd in of all places- hardware stores and some have a decidedly Pagan look to them. Pet stores and some book stores also have wonderful cards, so why shop at Hallmark?
As for the word "religious"-- it doesn't always mean Xtian- but it's a word, like many others that has been usurped over time. I had a time convincing some folk that being pagan didn't mean being atheist.
|
| Don't Mind The Cards | Nov 26th. at 12:05:01 pm EST
|
Mysteries Child (Garfield, West Virginia) - Email Me
I've spent the past six weeks going through the holiday madness with my Baptist grandmother. I'm helping her pick out cards; she's picking up a little comparative religion on the side.
Honestly, guys, before you open up that can-o-vitriol, take a look at some of those cards. A lot of them contain very positive messages. Plenty of those messages, minus the chapter-and-verse reference, would be quite at home on a Pagan card.
A lot of those messages could be a very nice stop-and-think reminder to some of Christianity's more venomous elements...
...if those folks were ever of the disposition to stop and think.
Autumnal Equinox to Winter Solstice is my busy season for comparative religion proselytizing, so here we go again. Appreciate the fact that I like you guys enough to write out some semi-original thought instead of copy-and-pasting the form letter.
There *are* some positive lessons within Christianity. A lot of them, actually-- which should need no argument unless you've bought into the Fundamentalist idea that their construction of Christianity is the only one-- and they tend to be most accessible to the masses around the two major Christian holidays.
Instead of griping about it, why not be happy that this is one of the seasons when the positive parts actually have a snowball's chance in Tahiti of being heard by the general populace above the destructive ones Falwell, Robertson, and Company mass-produce on a daily basis???
Besides that, Christmas *is* one of the holiest days of a major religion (probable evolution and reasons for chronological placement notwithstanding) We like to celebrate ours. So...
...why not check out some of the Yule/ Winter Solstice cards at some of the myriad Pagan shoppes online (you've got to have some access to the Internet if you're reading this) ?? They're pricey-- so if the cost is prohibitive, make your own. It's not difficult or time consuming if you keep it simple, and it's fun and educational for kids of all ages.
I honestly dislike Christmas about twice as much as the next Pagan. It's not Paganism that makes me despise the holiday-- it's all the people griping about wanting it their way, and gift-wrapped. I hated it even more when I was still calling myself a Christian.
If you don't want to send Christmas cards or generic cards, buy or make your own. Or just skip the cards-- unless you're my grandma, most of them end up in the landfill by Imbolc anyway.
Phone calls are nice-- and with all the money you'll save on skipping the cards, not really prohibitively expensive, either.
One way or the other, though...
...quit griping about feeling left out because the major holiday being celebrated 'round this time of year isn't "ours."
Quit aiding and abetting the enemy.
Happy Holy Days.
|
| Every Year | Nov 26th. at 11:44:15 am EST
|
Rev. Jeanene Hammers (Hillsboro, Nevada) - Email Me
I end up buying a box of cards that say "Happy Holidays" and personalize what I write on the inside based on the receiver.
Not only does this cover everything, but also keeps from "offending" those family members who have a problem with me wishing them a Blessed Yule (but with whom I otherwise have a good relationship with. )
|
| Pagan Cards | Nov 26th. at 10:11:11 am EST
|
ParrotPilot (Ocean Springs, Mississippi) - Email Me
There seems to be no shortage of Pagan holiday cards. Just try searching for Pagan greeting cards in your favorite search engine.
Y'all have a great holiday season!
|
Disclaimer: The Witches' Voice inc does not verify the accuracy of the details stated in this listing, nor do we vouch for the value of the goods or services presented here... As with all contacts and financial dealings in cyberspace, we encourage you to use caution and wisdom in your dealings with strangers.
Political Statements: Any and all personal political opinions expressed in the public listing sections (including, but not restricted to, personals, events, groups, shops, Wren's Nest, etc.) are solely those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinion of The Witches' Voice, Inc. TWV is a non-profit, non-partisan educational organization.
|
State/Country flags created by 3dflags.com and are used with permission
Web Site Content (including: text - graphics - html - look & feel)
Copyright 1997-2009 The Witches' Voice Inc. All rights reserved
Note: Authors & Artists retain the copyright for their work(s) on this website.
Unauthorized reproduction without prior permission is a violation of copyright laws.
Website structure, evolution and php coding by Fritz Jung on a Macintosh G5.
Any and all personal political opinions expressed in the public listing sections (including, but not restricted to, personals, events, groups, shops, Wren’s Nest, etc.) are solely those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinion of The Witches’ Voice, Inc. TWV is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization.
Sponsorship: Visit the Witches' Voice Sponsor Page for info on how you
can help support this Community Resource. Donations ARE Tax Deductible.
The Witches' Voice carries a 501(c)(3) certificate and a Federal Tax ID.
Mail Us: The Witches' Voice Inc., P.O. Box 341018, Tampa, Florida 33694-1018 U.S.A.
| |
