About 15.8 billion cards, letters and packages... that's how much mail the U.S. Postal Service expects to process this holiday season. It may sound like a lot, but it's 200-million pieces less than last year.
Nicole Lockard of Boardman said she used to send more cards than she does now.
"I got busy with the kids," Lockard said. "But now that they're older, I'd like to start sending them again."
Most people we talked to said they've also cut back on Christmas cards because of time and the cost of postage. It's also because of the digital age; more and more people are sending holiday greetings online or even via text message. So is the traditional Christmas card going out of style?
"Handwritten notes and handwritten messages are more heartfelt and sincere than something that's digital," said etiquette expert Jennifer Kuczek. "But I know we're not going to go back to being that way. We're going to keep going more digital with technology getting better and better every day."
Even in these changing times, Kuczek said traditional cards are still the way to go.
"It just shows that you're giving more of a personal touch to it. Anyone can use the Internet to send an e-card," she said. "But I think when you send an actual card, it just shows you took time to pick out the card. You took time to write a note."
Lockard agreed.
"With all the viral and everything?" she said. "It kind of takes the personality out of it."
If you are keeping with tradition, you want to put your cards in the mail by Dec. 20 to make sure they arrive by Christmas.
