Turkey's in the oven. Have you sent our your cards yet?

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Posted: 3:06 PM- The turkey is defrosting in the refrigerator. Pumpkin pies are cooling on the windowsill. Folding chairs are stacked against the dining room wall. The greeting cards are safely in the mail . . .

What? You have to send cards for Thanksgiving now, too? Before you unravel, rest assured that this newest holiday greetings trend hasn't hit everyone - at least not yet.

Many of those sending Thanksgiving cards are businesses that have found them to be a good alternative to more traditional holiday greetings, says Barbara Miller, Greeting Cards Association spokeswoman.

Thanksgiving is a universal American holiday not tied to specific religious observances. "This is a way to avoid religious cards and it's a nice time to send a card - a time to send thanks," Miller says.

Such thoughts crossed the minds of leaders at the Salt Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau who decided to send out Thanksgiving cards for the first time this year.

"We wanted to send thanks for the support we have gotten since our past president and CEO, Dianne Nelson Binger, passed away," communications director Shawn Stinson says. "We also wanted to give thanks to all of our members, businesses and convention attendees who have given us awards." Getting cards out at the start of the holiday season is a way for the Utah Foster Care Foundation to avoid getting lost in the barrage of holiday cards sent out later in the season, adds public relations coordinator Deborah Lindner, who started sending out cards three years ago.

"Our Thanksgiving cards get noticed more," Lindner says. "We want to say thank you to our donors and supporters, and that fits the Thanksgiving holiday better, too." The Greeting Cards Association's Miller estimates 25 million Thanksgiving cards will be exchanged this year. The cards' popularity increases from one year to the next.

Hallmark created its first Thanksgiving card in 1920s, according to the company's Web site. This year, its line includes about 300 Thanksgiving or harvest cards.

Finding Thanksgiving greeting cards was more difficult three years ago when Carri Jenkins, Brigham Young University spokeswoman, started sending out greeting cards for BYU's communications office.

"There are a lot more choices out there now," she says.

Jenkins chooses to send out the cards at Thanksgiving because she and her staff have so many other year-end meetings and reports to send out. "It's just a nice little greeting at the start of the holiday season." --- SHEENA McFARLAND be contacted at smcfarland@sltrib.com" Target="_BLANK">smcfarland@sltrib.com or 801-257-8619.