Perry's Pen

Of all the Christmas scams out there, greeting cards are well, one of them. I’ve heard that Santa Claus was invented by Coca-Cola, and part of me believes that. I know Santa is real though, and I just put that down to “haters gonna hate”.

The Christmas Card Origin Story

Madonna may have been Jesus’ mom, but necessity is the mother of invention, and Christmas Cards were indeed an invention. Englishman Henry Cole had an overflowing inbox and no time to write the required correspondence to the cats in the upper class that he swung with. Ye olde quill pen wasn’t going to cut it. Hank wanted to express himself to everyone, but he needed a timesaver – a hack in modern parlance.

Cole’s solution to being swamped with work was to “drain the swamp”. His hack, his time saver, was to print 1000 cards with the same image (seen above) and send them to everyone on his Nice List. Everyone gets the same – Seasons McGreetings.

Wouldn’t you know it, Christmas Cards went viral, and Henry Cole’s “time savers” are still around to this day. Three cheers for Hank!

Protecting our kids from social media – and Christmas Cards!

Some people thought that the image used on Hank’s image depicted kids chucking back wine as if they were members of The Pogues. Naturally there was an uproar.

In today’s world, Australia would ban Hank’s creation for kids under 16, and Justin Trudeau would ban them and create a tax trying to make Hank give money to hockey players.

Maybe all of that is why Christmas Cards didn’t become popular in the United States until about 30 years later. And of course it was an immigrant in a “sanctuary city” who unleashed Hank’s invention on the good people of Boston in 1875.

Christmas Cards were invented as a timesaver – ChatGPT is a timesaver. Talk about peanut butter and jelly!

A lot of people fear AI and things like ChatGPT. I love ChatGPT and consider it a massive timesaver, much like Henry Cole considered Christmas Cards to be a timesaver.

Finding the right Christmas Card can be expensive and time consuming. They now do the opposite of what Henry Cole intended. People who receive Christmas Cards spend about the same amount of time with them as ChatGPT spends responding to your prompts.

I say Make Hank’s Cards Great Again!
Write them with ChatGPT!

I forgot to pickup a Christmas Card for a friend, and had no time to rectify the matter. An epiphany struck – have ChatGPT create it! It was a Christmas Miracle, not unlike Carol Brady getting her voice back just in time for the Christmas pageant.

My first attempt at writing a Christmas Card with AI

I didn’t expect much, but the results were stunning. ChatGPT has a sense of humour, and really expanded on my very minimal prompt. I approved of the results, and I think old Hank Cole would too!

First Prompt:

I was surprised that the results were pretty good, maybe excellent when you consider that I was ‘last minute shopping” for a Christmas Card. I asked ChatGPT to tweak the results with this prompt:

The Results – my first ChatGPT Christmas Card!

Front of the Card:
🎄 “Happy Holidays… or should we say, ‘Politically Correct Non-Denominational Festive Season Greetings’?” 🎄

Here are some of the key advantages of having ChatGPT write your Christmas cards:

1. Customization and Personalization

• ChatGPT can tailor messages to suit your unique voice, humor, or sentimental style.
• It can include specific references (e.g., hobbies, inside jokes, professions) to make each card feel personal.

2. Creativity Boost

• It brings fresh, creative ideas, from witty jokes to heartfelt sentiments, ensuring your cards stand out.
• If you want themed cards—whether for jazz lovers, punk rock icons, or politicians—ChatGPT can adapt to any concept.

3. Saves Time and Effort

• No more staring at blank cards wondering what to write! ChatGPT generates thoughtful messages quickly.
• It handles the mental load, letting you focus on the fun parts like picking out designs or addressing envelopes.

4. Polished and Professional Wording

• Say goodbye to awkward phrasing or spelling mistakes—ChatGPT delivers clear, polished messages.
• If you’re writing to colleagues, friends, or family, it balances tone to suit the recipient.

5. Humor on Demand

• It can craft witty or playful messages, perfect for adding some lighthearted fun to your cards.
• Whether poking fun at trends or adding clever wordplay, ChatGPT ensures the laughs keep rolling.

6. Versatility

• From formal corporate greetings to quirky family updates, ChatGPT can shift its tone and style effortlessly.
• Got a mix of recipients? It creates unique messages for each one.

7. Inspiration for Unique Themes

• If you’re stuck on a theme or concept, ChatGPT can help brainstorm creative ideas for your cards.
• It’s perfect for coming up with memorable taglines, holiday puns, or even song lyric-inspired messages.

8. Always Available

• Last-minute card writing? ChatGPT is here 24/7, ready to help whenever inspiration (or time) is running low.

Using ChatGPT ensures your Christmas cards feel thoughtful, engaging, and uniquely you, without the stress of coming up with the perfect wording!

Merry Christmas, my friends!

*Image and information from The Smithsonian Magazine article The History of the Christmas Card.