Gen Z and the fading Christmas, New Year card tradition

Time was when the pavements of Mananchira Square were filled with glossy Christmas and New Year cards in vibrant colours and glitter-dusted Santas. Now is when those physical tokens have been swept away by WhatsApp stickers, animated e-cards, and Instagram stories, with technology altering the emotional quotient of Gen Z.

“The culture of exchanging greeting cards and physical gifts has given way to the convenience of instant messaging. Now, youth spend less money on such sentiments,” says Angelina Rachel, a college student.

Vendors selling Christmas cards are also no longer able to drive sales as they did before. Now, people spend less on such items, preferring to invest in practical goods. “But for us, Christmas was the time to write letters and postcards to relatives across the globe,” recalls 70-year-old Sakunthala K., who has witnessed the transformation.

A huge shift has occurred in gifting habits due to the generational gap. The Gen Z trend of texting is overshadowing the lasting warmth of a thoughtful gesture. “The rule we have for Secret Santa is that the gift has to be something we can eat together. We prefer to go out for a meal and spend time with our friends rather than giving them physical presents,” says Dharvesh K.M., an architecture student.

Cards and gifts, regardless of their price, were once able to offer people great happiness. The essence of Christmas celebrations was woven into the simple joy of sharing time and presenting tokens of affection. “This was a wonderful way to express gratitude to those we hold dear. I still prefer greeting cards over any other present. But only a few people gift each other cards now. People opt for digital messages, which are just data, while a physical card is a souvenir,” says Liyana T.K., a 20-year-old diploma student.

As in previous years, a Christmas tree is being installed at Mananchira Square, to be draped in cascading tiny lights that form the luminous heart of the city. The fragrance of freshly baked plum cakes diffuses through the air along S.M. Street.

Yet, stationery shops and bookstalls selling cards do not receive the appreciation they deserve. “The gifts we exchanged used to carry a story. Today, even that personal connection is lost,” laments Fernando Wilson, 32.