National Card and Letter Writing Month is celebrated throughout April, and this year is no exception. This month-long holiday celebration was initiated by the United States Postal Service as a way to honor and celebrate the efforts that go into mail service. In this day and age, letter writing has been largely supplanted by digital technology. Sending a text or an email takes a few seconds, on the other hand, letters are thought-provoking and personal. The time taken to stamp and post these letters makes them invaluable possessions.
History of National Card and Letter Writing Month
The United States Mail Service (U.S.P.S.), also known as the U.S. Mail or Postal Service, is an independent agency of the United States federal government that is responsible for providing postal service throughout the country. The U.S.P.S. was founded in 1775 during the Second Continental Congress. With the enactment of the Postal Service Act in 1792, the Post Office Department was established and upgraded to a cabinet-level department in 1872. The department was reconstituted into the United States Postal Service as an autonomous agency by the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970.Only the U.S. Postal Service is responsible for the delivery of letters in the United States. Letters can be traced back to ancient India, Egypt, Rome, Greece, and China, and it is still relevant today. Letters were used to self-educate throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. Letters were primarily used to provide information, news, and pleasantries. For some, writing letters was a means to improve their critical reading skills, express themselves creatively, and engage with others who shared similar interests.Letters were written on a variety of materials throughout the ancient world, including metal, pottery fragments, animal skin, and papyrus. According to Ovid, Acontius wrote a letter to Cydippe using an apple. Letters have primarily been written on paper in recent years, either handwritten or typed. For many years, letters were the primary mode of communication in both personal and business communication until telegraphy and internet communications replaced them. Illiterate persons could pay literate people to compose letters and read letters from distant correspondents. Letters were significant even in the period of telegrams and telephones, until fax and email further eroded their primacy, especially since the turn of the twenty-first century.
National Card and Letter Writing Month timeline
The first recorded handwritten letter is written by the Persian Queen, Atossa.
Men start disseminating letters and are called Master of the Posts.
The United States Postal Service is formed during the Second Continental Congress.
Internet instant messaging is introduced as a way of sending short messages through the internet.
National Card and Letter Writing Month FAQs
How do you start a card?
Cards are started with “Dear” followed by the recipient’s name.
What did the first-ever text message say?
The text message was sent in December and read, “Merry Christmas.”
What are the three types of letters?
They are formal, informal, and semi-formal letters.
National Card and Letter Writing Month Activities
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Join the writing challenges
You can participate in National Card and Letter Writing Month by taking part in writing challenges like the WriteOn Challenge. This is a good way to improve your writing skills.
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Share on social media
During April, you can celebrate by sharing posts with letters, cards, and using the hashtag national card and lettering month. Get your friends and family involved to share the word!
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Write a letter
Pick up a pen and some paper, and write a meaningful note or letter to someone you miss, love, or who has recently helped you. Express your gratitude to them in the letter.
5 Interesting Facts About Letter Writing
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Handwriting was used to determine personalities
Letters were used to determine nobilities and literate individuals in ancient times.
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Letter writing prompts
There are writing prompts made specifically for letter writing.
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The world’s first text message
In 1992, the world's first text message was sent.
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Envelopes are over 5,000 years old
Around 5,000 years ago, the ancient Babylonians created the first envelopes.
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Wax seals
Letters were sealed with wax to save money.
Why We Love National Card and Letter Writing Month
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Letters show sincerity
Letters convey sincere feelings. The time and effort put into composing a letter convey sincerity to the reader.
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Letters have emotional impact
Receiving a heartfelt message from a friend or a loved one can brighten up a person’s day. Letters have an emotional impact on the receiver.
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Celebrates the art of postal service
National Card and Letter writing month celebrates the postal service and creates awareness of the importance and historical significance of cards and letter writing. Posting letters has become rare and needs to be reintroduced.
National Card and Letter Writing Month dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | April 1 | Saturday |
| 2024 | April 1 | Monday |
| 2025 | April 1 | Tuesday |
| 2026 | April 1 | Wednesday |
| 2027 | April 1 | Thursday |
