CLEVELAND, Nov. 23 -- Thanksgiving conjures up happy, almost picturesque memories of the happy family gathered around the table for the big feast. The picture is almost never perfect. It is the "honest" experiences that connect us and provide the comic relief for a new breed of provocative, slice-of-life holiday cards from American Greetings. These cards celebrate the holiday and all the memories, just differently.

One of the new cards from American Greetings pokes fun at the less than healthy menu found on most Thanksgiving tables. It says, "Another year of avoiding burnt sweet potatoes with gelatinous mounds of marshmallow goo on top. Happy clean-your-plate Thanksgiving." Another reveals the secret fantasy many women share about Thanksgiving Day. It says, quite eloquently: "Make cranberry juice vodka cocktails, order pizza and say to hell with it!!!" Yet another card zooms in on an oven door with the frantic face of a cartoon turkey plastered against the oven window. The message inside? "Have a stress-free Thanksgiving."

"People want to send cards that reflect their own experiences and their own point of view on these classic occasions. For some people that's a traditional holiday setting with all the trimmings. Others don't mind admitting and laughing about the fact, that, despite everyone's best intentions, not everything is always picture perfect for Thanksgiving," said Steven Willensky, senior vice president of Sales and Marketing for American Greetings. "These new cards are our way of allowing people to relieve a little stress, share a laugh with friends and admit it's okay not to be perfect. Some of life's most amusing moments are unscripted. That's the whole idea behind these cards."

There is already some indication of how much consumers want these kinds of cards. A hilarious new singing disco turkey eCard from AmericanGreetings.com has danced its way across millions of computer screens to become the most popular eCard in American Greetings' history. The animated greeting parodies a familiar disco classic with a victory song for all turkeys whose necks are on the line this time of year. Downloads of the Thanksgiving turkey eCard have soared nearly 1,000 percent in just the past few days.

"People enjoy looking at the lighter side of the holidays and poking fun at all the well-meaning traditions gone astray," Willensky continued. "Whether they choose to do this by sending funny greeting cards, emailing animated greetings or a combination of both, it's a fun way to share with friends and laugh about all those all-too-real holiday moments.

American Greetings' honest and provocative cards, holiday or not, are available online at http://www.AmericanGreetings.com as well as in Wal-Mart, Target, CVS, Rite Aid and other national mass retail, drug and supermarket chains.

About American Greetings Corporation

American Greetings Corporation (NYSE: AM) is one of the world's largest manufacturers of special occasion products. Along with greeting cards, its product lines include gift-wrap, party goods, candles, stationery, calendars, educational products, ornaments and electronic greetings. American Greetings is also the creator and owner of many celebrated character properties, including Strawberry Shortcake and Care Bears. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, American Greetings generates annual net sales of approximately $2 billion. For more information on the Company, visit http://corporate.americangreetings.com.

*For images of these cards, visit http://pressroom.americangreetings.com

SOURCE American Greetings