It’s a Wonderful (Digital) Life

Have your holiday traditions changed? Do you now e-mail your cards or post your holiday message on Facebook or YouTube? No doubt the web and social media have changed the way we celebrate and send our season’s greetings. Here are my favorite digital ways to celebrate the holidays.

Would Jesus Have a Facebook Page?

One of the clear signs that social media is permeating our lives is the very clever Digital Story of Nativity (or Christmas 2.0) that uses Google maps and search, Twitter, Facebook, e-mail, IM, and e-commerce to tell the Nativity story. The story is timeless; the storytelling tools are new.

Hallelujah Chorus-Flash Mob

This Christmas Food Court Hallelujah Chorus video has my vote for the most inspirational holiday happening. Shoppers at a mall were surprised when 87 “shoppers” planted throughout the food court burst into The Hallelujah Chorus. This seemingly spontaneous event was in fact a Flash Mob organized via social media and carefully planned by Alphabet Photography, a graphics firm based in Ontario, Canada. This is guaranteed to make you teary eyed.

On the 8th Day of Hanukkah

Hanukkah came early this year–on the heels of Thanksgiving. If you were still eating turkey leftovers when Hanukkah latke time arrived, you may have given Hanukkah short shrift and missed Jib-Jab’s Eight Days of Hanukkah video card. (8 neon dreidels… 1 guilt trip). This is my entry for the best belated-Hanukah card.

New and Improved Holiday Newsletter

Could the ubiquitous holiday newsletter get any better (or worse!)? Your friends at American Greetings have enhanced the concept so that you can now attach photos, video, even voice to  your yearly roundup. There’s an easy tutorial to show you how to produce this multi-media newsletter. Take advantage of the  7-day free trial to put together and distribute your holiday newsletter.

Happy and Merry!