'Wish you were here': Postcards help Germans connect in pandemic

The First Art Newspaper on the Net    Established in 1996 Thursday, March 28, 2024


'Wish you were here': Postcards help Germans connect in pandemic
Postcard enthusiast Gesa Funke writes on a postcard in her flat in Berlin on March 1, 2021, during the ongoing coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Small rectangles of brightly coloured cardboard fill almost every wall of Gesa Funke's apartment in southern Berlin, with piles more stashed in corners and drawers. The 29-year-old student has been sending and collecting postcards for years, but like many Germans, she has found herself putting pen to paper more often as a result of travel and contact restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic. John MACDOUGALL / AFP.

by Femke Colborne



BERLIN (AFP).- Brightly coloured rectangles of cardboard fill almost every wall of Gesa Funke's apartment in southern Berlin, with piles more stashed in corners and drawers -- some from places as far-flung as French Polynesia.

The 29-year-old student has been sending and collecting postcards for years.

But, like many Germans, she has found herself putting pen to paper more often as a result of travel and other restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic.

"It's a little less effort than writing a letter, and it's still nice to receive something from another person, to have a bit of contact," she says.

While many Germans have embraced digital technology in the virus era, others have turned to more traditional forms of communication to keep in touch with loved ones.

In December, Deutsche Post said it had carried 11 percent more postcards than during the same month the previous year "probably due to corona and Christmas".

Funke told AFP that she had started sending more cards to her friends in Germany during the pandemic, "friends whom I would otherwise meet in person but that's not possible at the moment".

She continues to send lots to both her grandmothers too, she says.

Birthday wishes

Overall last year, 120 million postcards were sent, down from 2019's 147 million, the German postal service said.

However, the drop was less than expected, given international post was severely disrupted in the first wave of the pandemic.

Holidays -- usually a key reason for writing -- had also largely evaporated because of stringent travel restrictions.




But at the same time, there was an increase in people sending postcards for other reasons, according to the German MyPostcard app, which lets users print their own customised postcards.

In 2019, the traditional "wish you were here" holiday note was the most common type of card sent.

Last year, birthdays took the lead as the most popular reason.

New hobby

In October, around 66 percent of respondents to a YouGov survey for MyPostcard said they sent postcards regularly -- compared with 57 percent of respondents to the same survey in 2019.

Funke is a member of Postcrossing, an international postcard exchange project with around 800,000 members in 207 countries.

At more than nine million, Germany has sent more postcards than any other country under the project since it was founded 15 years ago.

People may have turned to postcards in the pandemic because they "have more time and simply want to try out a new hobby that they didn't know before", Funke suggests.

"Others might have discovered this hobby for the first time because they travelled a lot before and that's no longer possible, so they have started to write postcards simply to see something of the world," she adds.

According to Postcrossing founder Paulo Magalhaes, the number of postcards sent under the project declined during the first wave of the pandemic because of snags in the postal system but picked up again later in 2020.

"We are seeing this both in terms of number of (new) users and of postcards exchanged which is accelerating," Magalhaes said.


© Agence France-Presse










Today's News

April 2, 2021

It's time to put Alice Neel in her rightful place in the pantheon

Museo Jumex presents 'Normal Exceptions: Contemporary Art in Mexico'

Exhibition presents the Clyfford Still Museum art collection in two complementary but alternate ways

Kunstmuseum Luzern opens first comprehensive solo exhibition dedicated to Rinus Van de Velde's work

Kehrer Verlag publishes 'Fotogalleriet Oslo (Hrsg.) Conversations on Photography'

Christie's announces Magnificent Jewels New York

New book features ancient Egyptian treasures from the Worcester Art Museum

Paul Simon sells his entire songwriting catalog to Sony

Live performing arts are returning to New York, but not all at once

Pace Gallery appoints Christiana Ine-Kimba Boyle as first Online Sales Director

Works by Ernst Haas to be offered at Bonhams New York Photography sale

James Cohan opens an exhibition of new work by Elias Sime

China Guardian Hong Kong Spring Auctions 2021 to take place at HKCEC offering nearly 1,300 lots

di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art prominently places Mark di Suvero sculpture at entrance to property

Ryan Lee opens exhibition of new photo-based images by Clifford Ross

'The Guide' by John Myers published by RRB Photobooks

Times Square Arts presents Allison Janae Hamilton's "Wacissa" for April Midnight Moment

With guitars played by Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and Metallica's Kirk Hammett, this auction goes to 11

Vienna's Secession opens an exhibition of works by Yuji Agematsu

394-pound meteorite will be auctioned online, April 6th, by Gallery 63

'Wish you were here': Postcards help Germans connect in pandemic

GRIMM opens a new solo exhibition by Caroline Walker

Art Rotterdam 2021 summer edition: Indoor and outdoor exhibitions

With open ears, Indian ragas and western melodies merge

Msum D2L

How Online Casino Reviews Can Help You

Quick and Easy Artistic Home Décor Updates

Look At Some Interesting Advantages Of Candle Holders

Sean Kirtz Successful Entrepreneur Story

Several surprising facts about Leonardo da Vinci

Igal Ahouvi - Entrepreneur and an Art collector

What Promises Should Players Make Before Playing Slots Online And Offline?




Museums, Exhibits, Artists, Milestones, Digital Art, Architecture, Photography,
Photographers, Special Photos, Special Reports, Featured Stories, Auctions, Art Fairs,
Anecdotes, Art Quiz, Education, Mythology, 3D Images, Last Week, .

 



Founder:
Ignacio Villarreal
(1941 - 2019)
Editor & Publisher: Jose Villarreal
Art Director: Juan José Sepúlveda Ramírez

sa gaming free credit
Attorneys
Truck Accident Attorneys
Accident Attorneys

Royalville Communications, Inc
produces:

ignaciovillarreal.org juncodelavega.com facundocabral-elfinal.org
Founder's Site. Hommage
to a Mexican poet.
Hommage
       

The First Art Newspaper on the Net. The Best Versions Of Ave Maria Song Junco de la Vega Site Ignacio Villarreal Site Parroquia Natividad del Señor
Tell a Friend
Dear User, please complete the form below in order to recommend the Artdaily newsletter to someone you know.
Please complete all fields marked *.
Sending Mail
Sending Successful