Every December, my inbox and mantlepiece fill with variations of the same warm sentiment: "Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays," "Wishing you happy holidays and a merry Christmas," or the classic "From our family to yours." For years, I'd send my own cards, but something always felt a bit distant. The pre-printed message, the static photo from summer, it never fully captured the spirit I wanted to share—the genuine connection, the warmth of the present season. It wasn't until I started working with digital frames and calendars at BSIMB that I discovered a more meaningful way to bridge that gap.
Those familiar phrases are more than just seasonal formalities. They are linguistic bridges, carefully constructed to be inclusive and warm. "Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays" acknowledges a specific tradition while opening the door to broader celebrations. "From us to yours" creates a powerful sense of connection, visualizing two households linked by goodwill. These aren't just words; they are tiny vessels for human connection. The challenge, then, is ensuring the vessel truly carries the cargo of our genuine feelings.
This is where the concept of authenticity in our holiday communications becomes crucial. A wish gains its power from the thoughtfulness behind it. When you receive a card with a hastily scribbled signature under a generic poem, you feel the distance. When you receive a message that references a shared memory from the past year or showcases a genuine moment of the sender's current joy, you feel seen and valued. The medium we choose to deliver these wishes—"Merry Christmas," "Happy Holidays," "From our family to yours"—plays a significant role in conveying that authenticity.
At BSIMB, we've seen how digital displays can evolve from simple gadgets into conduits for personal connection. A digital picture frame is no longer just a slideshow; it's a living, updatable window into your world. Imagine sending your holiday wish not as a single, static card, but as a dynamic, shareable album directly to a loved one's frame. You could start with a video of your family decorating the tree with a "Merry Christmas from us to yours!" overlay, followed by photos from throughout the year that show your shared journey, and end with a serene, snowy scene wishing them peace in the new year. The message becomes an experience, a narrative of your goodwill.
Similarly, a shared digital calendar can be a surprisingly intimate tool for holiday connection. Instead of just announcing your holiday schedule, you can create a shared "Countdown to Togetherness" calendar with family. Mark the days with little notes, share recipes for Christmas Eve, or set reminders for a virtual hot cocoa toast. The recurring event titled "Thinking of you this season!" holds more weight when it pops up on a screen they look at daily. It transforms the "happy holidays wish" from a one-time event into a sustained presence.
My own turning point came a few years ago. My grandmother, who lives across the country, felt the distance of the holidays keenly. Mailing a card felt insufficient. So, I loaded a digital frame for her with a special holiday playlist. It began with a scanned image of my father's childhood Christmas photo, then cycled to recent videos of my kids singing carols (slightly off-key), pictures of our baking disasters and triumphs, and a final, slow-fading image of our lit hearth with the text, "All our love, from us to yours." When she called, her voice was thick with emotion. "It feels like you're right here with me through the season," she said. The technology didn't replace the sentiment; it gave it a richer, more resilient canvas.
This approach aligns deeply with creating trustworthy and helpful content around holiday traditions. The advice isn't about selling more products; it's about empowering people to connect more meaningfully. Recommending ways to use a digital frame to tell a seasonal story, or a calendar to build anticipation, is based on observing what genuinely brings people closer. It's practical guidance that helps users solve the real problem of emotional distance during the holidays.
So, as you draft your messages this season—whether they read "Merry Christmas," "Happy Holidays," or a blend of both—consider the container you're using. Let your chosen words be the sincere caption for a deeper, more engaging shared experience. Use the tools at your disposal to send not just a wish, but a feeling; not just a greeting, but a glimpse of your home and heart. In doing so, you transform the timeless phrase "from us to yours" from a closing line into a genuine, open doorway.