- Categories:
- Special Interest
- Tags:
- ActivitiesAppreciation
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every April
- Holiday emoji:
- ✉️
National Card and Letter Writing Month is celebrated throughout April, encouraging everyone to pick up a pen and connect. This month-long observance, initiated by the U.S. Postal Service, highlights the unique joy and personal touch of handwritten communication. Take this opportunity to send a heartfelt card, write a thoughtful letter, or simply appreciate the enduring power of the written word.
Want to sponsor National Card and Letter Writing Month? Learn how
Expected National Card and Letter Writing Month Deals
Throughout April, expect stationery retailers and craft stores to offer special promotions on cards, paper, pens, and stamps. Brands like Hallmark often feature discounts on greeting card bundles, while specialty paper shops such as Paper Source may host workshops or offer deals on custom stationery. Online retailers like Amazon and Etsy will likely showcase independent artists selling unique card designs and letter-writing kits. The U.S. Postal Service might promote special stamp collections or offer tips for sending mail. Look for local bookstores and gift shops to highlight their selection of journals and elegant writing tools. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as April approaches.
Platform Guide for National Card and Letter Writing Month
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #LetterWritingMonth. Share photos of your favorite stationery, handwritten cards, or a stack of letters you’ve sent and received.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #CardAndLetterWritingMonth. Create a community post asking others to share who they’re writing to this month.
Tag National Today (linkedin.com/company/nationaltoday) and use #ProfessionalCorrespondence. Share insights on the importance of handwritten thank-you notes in business networking.
National Card and Letter Writing Month Hero
Benjamin Franklin
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.
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Card and Letter Writing Month
Local businesses can celebrate National Card and Letter Writing Month by hosting ‘Write & Sip’ events, providing stationery and encouraging customers to write letters while enjoying a beverage. Stationery stores can offer discounts on bulk card purchases for corporate thank-you notes, while coffee shops might provide free postcards with every purchase. Consider partnering with a local charity to organize a ‘Letters to Troops’ or ‘Letters to Seniors’ drive, offering a collection point and perhaps matching postage costs. This fosters community engagement and highlights the value of personal connection.
National Card and Letter Writing Month FAQs
When is National Card and Letter Writing Month?
In 2027, National Card and Letter Writing Month will again be observed throughout April, providing a full month to celebrate the enduring impact of cards and letters. Use this time to send a personal touch in a digital world.
How many letters are sent annually in the U.S.?
The volume of mail handled by the USPS remains substantial, with billions of letters and cards circulating each year. Despite a decline from peak volumes, the enduring need for official documents, personal greetings, and marketing materials ensures a robust mail system.
How many people participate in letter writing as a hobby?
The global community of letter writers continues to grow, with enthusiasts finding joy in the tactile experience of paper and pen. From casual correspondents to dedicated pen pals, countless individuals cherish the slower, more intentional pace of handwritten communication.
What is the significance of handwritten letters in the digital age?
By 2027, the significance of handwritten letters lies in their ability to cut through digital noise and convey genuine thoughtfulness. They are seen as a deliberate act of communication, demonstrating effort and creating a deeper, more meaningful bond between sender and receiver.
National Card and Letter Writing Month Activities
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.
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!
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
Handwriting was used to determine personalities
Letters were used to determine nobilities and literate individuals in ancient times.
Letter writing prompts
There are writing prompts made specifically for letter writing.
The world’s first text message
In 1992, the world's first text message was sent.
Envelopes are over 5,000 years old
Around 5,000 years ago, the ancient Babylonians created the first envelopes.
Wax seals
Letters were sealed with wax to save money.
Why We Love National Card and Letter Writing Month
Letters show sincerity
Letters convey sincere feelings. The time and effort put into composing a letter convey sincerity to the reader.
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.
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.
Social Media Tips for National Card and Letter Writing Month
Individuals
Creators
Brands