"Jolly" just doesn't feel right

December 2, 2016 10:25 PM

Post-election, I'm looking for boxes or sets of secular winter holiday cards that have a thought-provoking or supportive message, and also don't have blithe good wishes that I wouldn't be able to send with any sincerity.

I saw and appreciated the quotes for holiday cards question and the topical message for holiday cards question, but this is a little different.

I want to buy boxes or sets (preferably not individual cards) that already have a message in them. But I don't want "May the joy of the season always live in your heart"-type wishes. Nor do I want "Peace on earth"-type messages. Both categories of sentiments just make me feel bleaker.

What I'm looking for is messages of support, solidarity, resistance, calls to action. Symbolism or relevant art, even if the card is blank inside, could be good, too. Humor could be OK, depending. Cards that aren't explicitly holiday cards but feel appropriate would be fine. Offensive/strong language cards could be OK to an extent; I usually buy 2 or 3 styles of cards to send to different people.

The closest thing I've found so far are these. I dig the "help a stranger" and "lend a hand" bits, but am lukewarm on the rest of it--and "pray for peace" is a dealbreaker. And something stronger/less cliched would be great. (If I knew exactly what I had in mind, I might make my own, but...I'll know what I want when I see it.)

Ideally, the cards would support a good cause if mass-produced. But cards made/sold by any member of the groups that may be particularly at risk under a Trump regime would be ideal.

Thanks, and uh ... happy holidays?

P. S. I am not looking for anyone's opinion on whether it's a good idea to send these cards; trust that I won't send them to anyone who'd be sent into a downward spiral by a serious message.

posted by wintersweet to Grab Bag (10 answers total)

In the past, I have received cards in exchange for a donation to the American Cancer Society. You can choose what they say, but I just did the "a donation has been made" standard thing they offer. Not specifically a Trump targeted group (although with repealing ACA, maybe) but a good cause.
posted by Ruki at 10:32 PM on December 2, 2016 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Syracuse Cultural Workers has some cards that might work. Most of them have the more generic messages you don't want, but check out the solstice cards, in particular.
posted by maurice at 4:44 AM on December 3, 2016 [2 favorites]

Best answer: I came here to say Syracuse Cultural Workers too. I just ordered a set of solstice cards from them, with the message "On this darkest night, may the magic of returning light fill your life. Happy Solstice!" I thought the reference to "darkest night" conveyed a bit of my mood.

I found this site by searching for "solidarity holiday card", by the way; you may find others that way.
posted by wyzewoman at 5:22 AM on December 3, 2016 [6 favorites]

Make them yourself.

"Money's tight
Times are hard
So this year you get
A home made card"
posted by 445supermag at 7:23 AM on December 3, 2016 [2 favorites]

Random theme idea: cards that show the planet and people, such as this example (not a card, but I bet someone somewhere has made a card along these lines).
posted by StrawberryPie at 9:54 AM on December 3, 2016 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: maurice and wyzewoman, the Syracuse Cultural Workers cards are absolutely the best idea I've run across so far. What I'm looking for is definitely in the vein of the Peace & Justice, Burn Bright, and Walt Whitman cards. (My favorite is actually Holding the Light, but darn it, I'm not Jewish.) If anyone has additional ideas along these lines, they'd be very welcome!
posted by wintersweet at 11:07 AM on December 3, 2016 [1 favorite]

“Peace is not the product of terror or fear.
Peace is not the silence of cemeteries.
Peace is not the silent result of violent repression.
Peace is the generous,
tranquil contribution of all
to the good of all.
Peace is dynamism.
Peace is generosity.
It is right and it is duty.”

Box of 6 available on etsy
posted by FirstMateKate at 3:07 PM on December 3, 2016 [4 favorites]

Storypeople has some that are whimsical but reflective in a good way. I've linked to this year's highlighted set but I am partial to the Christmas dragon when I am sending to people who celebrate Christmas. Here's another one of theirs that may be more up your alley.

For websites of cards that support good causes, some of which meet your desires:

Greetforgood-- look at doctors w/o borders and the inspiration corporation and meals on wheels and the marine mammal society
Goodcausegreetings.com -- National Alliance to End Homelessness

UNICEF has some decent ones.
posted by eleanna at 3:18 PM on December 4, 2016 [1 favorite]

Best answer: If defeatist humor is okay, a favorite blogger of mine recently created some "post-election" holiday cards that might be up your alley.

Card 1 says. "I don't know if it's going to be okay, but let's try to have a nice holiday anyway."

Card 2 says, "This is as much festive as I could do this year. It's been a weird year. Happy Holidays."

There are eight individual cards total with different messages but you can purchase multiples of each.
posted by meggan at 1:16 PM on December 8, 2016 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: I've got the SCW cards on the way, but I also have a couple of friends who are the right people for the post-election cards. Thanks, everyone!
posted by wintersweet at 8:42 PM on December 10, 2016