OLD-FASHIONED CHRISTMAS GREETINGS FROM FLORIDA

POSTCARDS INCITED ENVY WHEN SENT FROM SUNSHINE STATE TO NORTHERN FRIENDS, FAMILY

Written by: Brenda Eubanks Burnette

In the dead of winter, the Sunshine State is always quite appealing to our Northern neighbors, with many of them making Florida their winter home. In decades past, snowbirds would communicate with friends and family members—especially at Christmastime—through postcards, because that was the most affordable way to keep in touch.

I have several postcards from the 1920s and 1930s that boast beautiful citrus-themed artwork, and writing that states “Christmas Greetings from Florida.” All required only a penny or two to mail. One postcard says “Place One Cent Stamp Here” and another says “for United States and Island Possessions, Cuba, Canada and Mexico. TWO CENTS for Foreign.” It’s hard to believe that 2 cents would get that card overseas—even back in the 1920s!

Obviously, some people liked to incite envy from their Northern friends and family members. One of the postcards shows a cold winter scene next to a scene of balmy Florida. It was printed by The Hartman Card Co. of Portland, Maine, and of Tampa. The tagline on the front reads “You can coast in the North while I pick flowers in the Sunshine State” and the back notes “From the Mountain Pines of Maine to the Sunny Sands of Florida.”

And then there are the cute postcards, such as a smiling orange topped with a Santa hat, and the greeting “Merry Christmas from Florida.” Another postcard shows a box of fruit with writing on the side of the box that says “Here’s the box of fruit I promised you from Florida”—meaning there is no real box of fruit, just the postcard!

Some of the holiday postcards even have poems on them. One is titled “Hearty Christmas Greeting from Florida.” The verse says: “From grapefruit tree and fruitful vine I send this hearty wish of mine, May the Christmas Day be filled with cheer And happiness follow you all the year.”

A wonderful wish to leave you with! And for those of you who’d like to see more citrus-themed postcards, visit the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame website at FloridaCitrusHallofFame.com. The Florida Citrus Hall of Fame works in partnership with Florida Southern College’s McKay Archives Center in Lakeland. FCM