This take on Minted was made by undefined from , a member of Minted's community of independent artists.
Here at Minted, you could say that we exist to celebrate, and in many ways, it’s true. We’re a part of thousands of weddings, baby showers, holiday parties, christenings, and birthday parties each year, but this year, things have looked a little different. We saw brides and grooms eloping or planning micro weddings and promising a reception when it was safe. We saw bachelorettes and showers cancelled, replaced by virtual cocktails and gift-opening ceremonies. And we saw, above all things, a continued commitment to keeping these celebrations and connections alive, even when it felt impossible.
While the year 2020 will be remembered in history for the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the resurgence of the racial justice movement, and a divisive presidential election, it will also be remembered for how many disparate groups have been able to adapt to help foster the one thing we all can agree on: the importance of human connection. When we surveyed our customer base to understand what greetings they wanted to use in their holiday cards this year, a theme of hope, gratitude, and thanks was a top response. In that spirit, we wanted to do some self-reflection about the year 2020 and the different meaning the holidays and their traditions will likely take on this year. Read on for some of our thoughts and ideas on how to remain hopeful, thankful, and connected in these challenging times.
Scattered Peace designed by Michelle Taylor
Before we jump into where we are today, it’s helpful to remind ourselves of everything we’ve been through this year, as well as some of the unintended consequences of every historical event.
Although it feels like it’s been around “forever” at this point, the novel coronavirus’ first case outside of China was reported in early January, with the WHO first addressing the emerging crisis on January 10th. Its impact accelerated quickly after that date. By January 21st, the U.S. saw its first confirmed case. A few days later on January 23rd, the Chinese government imposed a strict lockdown on Wuhan and neighboring provinces, but, despite containment efforts, the virus’s earlier, unchecked circulation led to a quick global spread. Italy and Spain both saw spikes in cases and were forced into strict quarantine on March 9th and March 14th, respectively. California became the first state in the U.S. to mandate a shelter-in-place order statewide on March 19th, with New York following on March 22nd, and many states then following suit.
These initial shelter-in-place orders, where all non-essential trips outside the home were effectively prohibited, invited amazing innovation to keep human connection alive. We saw Italians make music from their balconies, New Yorkers joining together at 7pm to raise a citywide cheer for essential workers, and the quick action of new charities like World Central Kitchen to support local restaurant economies and feed those on the frontlines and in impacted communities.
This summer Minted hosted a Creativity Camp for kids ages 5 -18. Participants were encouraged to create original artwork across three major themes: My Favorite Things, Today In the World, and Summer Scenes. View all the winning designs.
These orders also, however, brought about a huge shift in how we learn and work. Almost overnight, schools across the country closed and students were transitioned to remote learning, some through streamed classes, some through self-guided packets, and some through old-fashioned home schooling. This caused significant debate as the new school year loomed, with parents concerned about their children’s ability to actually learn in this sort of environment. Obstacles included not having access to reliable wi-fi or computers, time commitments of parents not being home or not having the expertise to serve as a helping hand, or simply an unrealistic expectation that a five-year-old could sit and behave for eight hours of digital classes each day. Spotty school reopenings to-date and increasing research asserting that children can (and will) become super spreaders of the virus indicate school challenges will most likely remain nationwide until a vaccine and herd immunity are achieved.
On the other side of the equation, the unemployment rate skyrocketed with early shutdown orders forcing many workers in retail and hospitality into furlough. Many large retailers quickly declared bankruptcy, and titans in even the most “recession-proof” industries like technology and finance were forced to resort to layoffs as consumer spending waned and their cash reserves tightened up. For those lucky enough to keep a job, many have transitioned to work from home all the time, a challenge for many who are now trying to find space between work and home. The omni-present threat of burnout is also juxtaposed with companies worried about the erosion in productivity they are now seeing due to the loss of creative and brainstorm-type environments.
But, once again, this hasn’t been all bad. Many parents have celebrated more time with their children or have enjoyed interacting with them in new and different ways. Most of us have been on a virtual conference call and enjoyed the brief reprieve that is a new puppy or toddler running across the screen. More importantly, this year’s events have forced us to have a dialogue about humanity and balance in the workplace that will only be more and more important as the work-from-home revolution takes hold. In addition to this, parents and schools are banding together to be as resourceful as possible, organizing neighborhood learning groups to help support remote learning and doubling down on fundraising efforts to ensure that teachers can feel well-equipped and safe in any scenario. In case you’re interested, Minted does offer an assisted fundraising program, which you and your school can sign up for. Create unique promo codes for our site and a portion of each Minted purchase will go back to your school or organization.
Since the pandemic hit, states and countries alike have been closing down their borders in an attempt to control the spread of the virus. While some intercontinental travel has been renewed (i.e., within the Eurozone), the United States’ status as a hotspot for the virus means most international travel is still off limits. There are some exceptions, but they are generally predicated upon a 14-day quarantine requirement.
Universally, the Department of State and CDC continued to recommend essential travel only due to the health risks that air travel entails, such as extended exposure indoors, significant contact with numerous individuals, and poor air filtration. While some airlines have limited flight capacity to ensure social distancing requirements, many have not been able to do so, resulting in viral photos of overly crowded cross-country flights. As a result of travel safety concerns, most planned family reunions and annual gatherings have been sidelined to protect vulnerable family members.
Still, families have still been getting creative in how to carve out vacation time and reunite with their loved ones from afar. The year 2020 has brought in the renaissance of the great American road trip, with many people feeling safer driving their own vehicle and stopping only as necessary. There has also been a push toward more casual and frequent digital family gatherings. Early on in the pandemic, search queries for “virtual movie nights” and “how to play games virtually” skyrocketed, as these typically shared activities shifted online. The technical difficulties and foibles have become part of the fun, and, because there is an acute need for connection, family gatherings that used to be once or twice per year have been monthly occurrences, strengthening bonds and renewing the importance of these relationships.
When initial shelter-in-place mandates were issued, most restaurants, gyms, bars, and movie theaters closed immediately. States have reopened these businesses to varying degrees and across different timelines. However, even where businesses have remained open to prop up local economies, the need to protect workers has meant doing things differently, erupting in debates over requirements that patrons wear masks and varying degrees of politicization of public safety mandates.
There has been a silver lining in terms of the degree of innovation currently occurring in these industries, some changes that residents hope are permanent. Drive-in movies are once again coming back en vogue as a safe and nostalgic outing all in one. City streets are giving up parking spaces to allow restaurants and cafes to build out outdoor dining patios, making New York and San Francisco more reminiscent of a street fair and more walkable than ever before. And, there has been a clear sense of community about the need to support local and independent businesses. Although the Paycheck Protection Program passed in conjunction with the CARES act in late March, funds were quickly spent and not all applicants were able to get these employee-saving loans. While Congress decides whether and to what degree to extend the program, communities have rallied around struggling businesses, finding ways to support them even if the experience is different than it was before.
Finally, while restrictions may be somewhat laxened in many states, most still prohibit gatherings larger than 30 people. These gatherings also are encouraged to be outdoor and should allow for six-foot social distancing between guests. This means that most weddings and family reunions have been moved outside and hugs have been replaced with masks and air-fives. Dance floors are marked with social distancing circles.
But the most encouraging element has been that people have still been finding ways to celebrate. Whether it’s by holding a micro-wedding and ensuring that grandma is on a special viewing balcony or by eloping in a gorgeous natural setting where it feels like you’re the only two people in the universe. Families have organized elaborate drive-by parades to wish a lucky 8-year-old a happy birthday. People have gotten creative when planning a socially distanced baby shower or virtual birthday party. These celebrations are unique and gorgeous, and there is always the promise of a more conventional party in the future.
Now, this wasn’t the case for graduates who don’t get a mulligan on their graduation year, but even then, the class of 2020 made the best of it, participating in virtual graduation ceremonies and going “old school” with heartfelt letters and thank you notes to their friends in lieu of traditional yearbook entries. One big trend we saw was using graduation announcements to send public thank yous to important family members and mentors who helped them along their journey.
A discussion of 2020 wouldn’t be complete without acknowledging the resurgence of the racial justice movement in America and worldwide in the aftermath of George Floyd’s killing and episodes of police brutality in the killing of Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, among many other Black Americans.
Pandemic aside, protests in major cities and states called for the arrest and prosecution of police officers involved in these unfortunate losses of life. Protesters also championed more concrete measures to eradicate racial biases in police forces and a closer look at how police departments are funded. While these aren’t the first times protestors have made these calls, this is the first time in the past several decades where the movement has been this widespread and carried this much momentum.
Regardless of political stance, most were deeply moved by George Floyd’s last pleas for his mother, and there has been a renewed focus on the need to change policies to ensure these inhumane killings and systemic racism are rooted out. For the first time ever, most major corporations took a stance on these issues and recommitted to encouraging diverse representation in their own spheres of influence (read about Minted’s actions), and the nation has slowly started a pathway to healing in the long term. If anything, this movement in 2020 has sparked hope for change in the coming decade.
Finally, as we approach November, the news is tilting more and more toward a 24-hour election cycle. Given complications of the pandemic, it is likely that there will be a significant amount of vote by mail and potential issues at polling stations, so results will be slower to come by and may, in fact, be more heavily disputed than other results in history.
With political parties so polarized, this election feels much more like an end-all be-all than other historical elections. Partisan entrenchment also means that conflicts can feel much more acute at a personal level, pitting family members against each other on fundamental issues. However, given the world we’re currently living in, something exciting is happening: people are starting to open dialogue again. If the 2016 election was marked by echo chambers of partisan beliefs, 2020 seems to have ignited more grassroots discourse at the personal level. Likewise, aisle-crossing that seemed impossible even months ago has become more commonplace, with Republican and military leaders breaking with the Trump administration, and, complimentarily, Democrats coming together to help negotiate and support COVID-19 aid packages in a Republican-majority senate.
It would be an optimistic mindset to contend that this gap will close up quickly and immediately, but there are signs to more unity in the immediate future, and a willingness to listen to our peers and colleagues that will be critical to getting through the pandemic and onto a greater economic and social recovery.
We’ve reflected a lot on the silver linings of all of the events of 2020, which brings us to right now as we prepare to celebrate the holidays in a new and different way this year. In our favorite Christmas films, it feels like the moral of the story is that the protagonist needs to embrace the ineffable “Holiday Spirit”, a mindset of caring, charity, and generosity that brings out the best in each and every human. Examples include Scrooge buying the Christmas feast for the Cratchit family or the Grinch returning all of the Christmas trimmings to the citizens of Whoville. And while that sentiment may feel simplistic, it feels now more important than ever to carry those principles of unity, giving, and gratefulness to celebrate the holidays in 2020 and carry us into 2021.
Back to what we were saying at the start, wrapping up 2020 calls for a celebration of all of the small things and beauty we have been able to find in a world. As we finish up the year, remember to take photos of the celebrations and victories around the house, memorialize the children’s artwork, and let yourself get excited about holiday decorating.
We’ve seen many customers framing their own completely custom art this year to hold onto these memories, whether it’s translating a secret family recipe to a foil print or capturing your child’s silhouette in the rare moment when you’ve been able to get them to sit still.
We’ve also been hard at work trying to think of ideas to spruce up your holiday display and find ways to bring everyone “home” if they can’t physically be there. For some fun DIY holiday crafts, read about how to make garlands out of holiday cards, or create clay Christmas trees to prop up family pictures or holiday cards you receive in the mail. We hope these activities will afford occasions to make more and different memories that you can continue year over year.
The holidays can already feel lonely for some, and in 2020, many of us will be feeling the effects of being separated from loved ones. The good news is that oftentimes, something as simple and small as a quick phone call, a handwritten note, or an email to check in helps remind our friends and family that they are loved and that you’re not actually that far away.
You may also realize that you haven’t had casual, regular catch-ups with important people in your lives like co-workers or other parents at your school. We’re predicting a big return of the holiday newsletter this year to help share what we’ve been doing during our many months at home. This isn’t a letter to keep up with the Joneses, it’s a letter to inspire human connection and remind friends that we are going through everything side by side. Take advantage of Minted’s variety of updated back-of-card design templates to share additional photos or stories from the year.
We also expect that the activities that have gone virtual all year will continue to do so. Go ahead and throw your annual ugly sweater party. It may be even better than ever with playful holiday virtual backgrounds. Just send around the secret holiday drink recipe in advance so your guests don’t miss out! Beyond that, baking side by side over a video call can be fun (and maybe a little competitive) for every family. One Minted family tells us their extended family has a long standing tradition of sending their best-decorated cookies via text and email to the matriarch of the family to select a winner (who then gets to open the first Christmas gift). This might be something you could adapt this year!
On that note, we know that some things are still just better in person, so we are making products to keep some analog traditions alive through snail mail. We’re creating special insert cards for our holiday cards to share cookie recipes for those of you who might be missing an annual exchange, for example. We’ve also talked to many customers who will be participating in a fully remote Secret Santa, where you get the satisfaction of wrapping and sending off your gift complete with a handwritten card.
Of course we’re biased, but we would be remiss if we didn’t use this opportunity to underscore the importance of the holiday card tradition in 2020. Most years everyone in your address book is awaiting that family photo to see how everyone has grown. Now, more than ever, everyone will be craving that connection and that opportunity to send a text about how big your youngest has gotten or how cute the new family puppy is.
Finally, 2020 is going to be a big year to come together in a spirit of charity and unity. There is going to be political conflict. You’re probably going to have some uncomfortable conversations with other family members regardless of which way you see the issues. But one thing is clear: this has been an incredibly difficult year for many of us, and this is going to be the year to come together and help those of us who may be struggling.
We’ve seen more and more of our customers looking for ways to support our artists or otherwise give back to different charities or communities. You can do so directly on our site by purchasing from our Notes of Gratitude collection, proceeds of which directly benefit World Central Kitchen, or our Mommy & Me apron collection, proceeds of which benefit Every Mother Counts. That being said, a portion of every item you buy at Minted goes directly to the artist who designed it, many of whom rely on Minted as their primary source of income.
More creatively, we are seeing customers who are using the backs of their cards and inserts to encourage family and friends to donate to causes that are important to them in lieu of normal gift-giving this year. We say, why not both? If you are able to, consider buying your loved ones a special gift and donate to their cause of choice as well.
Festive Paint designed by Creo Study
2020 has been a long, difficult, and transformational year. However, for everything that has happened, our families and communities have responded and adapted, and have found new ways to keep their connections alive. As we look toward the holidays, we remind you to celebrate the holiday spirit in ways that are reflective of this year and what we’ve learned, but, as always, that help build bridges and bring everyone just a little bit closer, no matter where they might be.
We uncover design genius through ongoing design competitions. At Minted, all that matters is good design. Designers submit, and the Minted community votes to tell us what to sell.
