My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

AIBU?

AIBU to think that the annual Christmas Card tradition is dying out?

146 replies

EverySongbirdSays · 25/10/2016 21:22

I'm 35 and it feels like Christmas Cards are becoming a thing of the past

More and more now people will just status update on Christmas day

"Merry Christmas to all etc"

Buying, writing and posting 50+ Christmas Cards just seems like so mus effort and a waste of paper and money.

There was I think in the past a lot of nostalgia value around cards relatives or friends you mightnt have seen in years, and you were pondering to yourself 'I wonder how Louise is? Gosh those were the days in uni, I'll send a card at Christmas and she'll know I still think of her"

Only with Facebook culture I don't need to ponder how Louise is, I know she's teaching in Herts and has a baby.

I had a brief chat yesterday with an old friend I haven't seen in over a decade who lives in London as she had just been to see a film. There isn't that sense of urgency to send a card just to keep in touch.

Of course I'll hand out a couple of cards to my immediate/closest friends and family, and a few coworkers, but I'll probably d less than 10. Not loads as I might've done with people I don't really see if not for the invention of Facebook.

It does seem a shame that it's a dying tradition but I'm not too bothered as it does feel quite wasteful in some ways.

AIBU?

OP posts:
Report
Ditsyprint40 · 25/10/2016 21:24

I hope not! I love writing and receiving cards, even in this world of social media!

Report
madamginger · 25/10/2016 21:27

I haven't sent a Christmas card since 2006, my mil thinks I'm an old miser but I can't be bothered and they're a waste and bad for the environment.
I also hate birthday cards but the kids like them so I send them to immediate family.

Report
allegretto · 25/10/2016 21:28

I send about thirty and get about ten back! My grandparents used to get hundreds. I actually like sending them but I wish I got given a few more.

Report
DanGleballs · 25/10/2016 21:29

I hope so. Such a waste of time, effort and money. I understand sending cards when people live a distance away. A few carefully chosen cards with personal messages. However sending cards to everyone you know, added to that the kids cards to everyone in their class, defeats the whole object.

Report
TheWrathFromHighAtopTheThing · 25/10/2016 21:29

Oh I can't be fucked with them!

I only give them to close family now, mainly because my Mum would be mortally offended if I didn't. I doubt anyone else really cares.

And if they do, screw it. At Christmas I don't have a spare £50 to spend on nice cards and stamps.

Report
justdontevenfuckingstart · 25/10/2016 21:31

I will do one for my nana. That will probably be it tbh. Really not bothered but I know she likes one.

Report
sonlypuppyfat · 25/10/2016 21:32

I used to like a nice Christmas card until I worked in a card shop which destroyed my affection for them

Report
Suzietwo · 25/10/2016 21:32

I thought that until my eldest started primary school...

Report
mysistersimone · 25/10/2016 21:33

I give to family, but my tradition for the last 10 years is to donate £20 to the local hospice instead of spending a fortune in what ends up in the recycling bin. Stamp prices helped that decision too

Report
Wilberforce2 · 25/10/2016 21:35

I stopped doing Christmas cards about 3 years ago, I'm not wasting £30/£40 on cards and stamps for them to go into the bin! I now spend £30 on food for the local foodbank, money better spent I reckon.

Report
LindyHemming · 25/10/2016 21:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HeCantBeSerious · 25/10/2016 21:37

Haven't sent a Xmas card for the best part of 20 years. Waste of time, money and dishonest sentiment.

Report
londonrach · 25/10/2016 21:38

Stamp prices has sadly killed the Christmas card. Popped into the post office a couple of days ago....64p first class, 55p second. The number of christmas cards this year sent by post has dropped to 0! I used to send 40-50. Now with facebook and the fact my grandparents are not here i dont see the point. Yanbu op.

Report
crje · 25/10/2016 21:40

I didn't send any last year & doubt I will this year either.

I'm probably just being a bit bah humbug but they add nothing to my Christmas.

Report
DiegeticMuch · 25/10/2016 21:45

I stopped several years ago. Birthday cards too.

My kids used to receive from classmates, dozens of those tiny, flimsy cards with pictures of fluffy animals wearing Santa hats. They kept falling over on the mantelpiece so went in the recycling. Sometimes, I'd find one scrunched up at the bottom of a schoolbag in March.

Report
PinkSwimGoggles · 25/10/2016 21:47

good!
such a waste, think of all the trees!

Report
chibsortig · 25/10/2016 21:56

I refuse to send xmas cards to people i see daily/weekly etc its a waste of money, time and its not really environmentally friendly.
I send cards to relatives that live overseas or that i dont see as often as i'd like.

Report
Soubriquet · 25/10/2016 21:59

The last time I did Christmas cards was in school where it was custom for everyone to hand them out

No one I know does them now

Report
tibbawyrots · 25/10/2016 22:00

I send 3 a year. To people who don't have social media; are "family" even though we don't see each other from one year to the next but they always remember us so I get a warm feeling to send them cards.

Report
OverAndAbove · 25/10/2016 22:00

I'm happy to spend 55p sending a card to a cousin or friend I haven't seen for a while.

It's lovely to get one from them too. I like the ones where they include a little photo of the baby/puppy/new graduate etc; it's nice to have it in hard copy!

Report
Sniv · 25/10/2016 22:05

I love Christmas cards. I think it's one of the nicest parts of our Christmas decorations, as each one is a reminder of someone we know, and they all change every year. I'd rather get a card from friends than a random present.

We all seem to get less every year and I miss them.

Report
BaggyCheeks · 25/10/2016 22:07

We get maybe 10? We send them to immediate family, older relatives who like a Christmas card and our closest friends (the sort who we'd celebrate birthdays with, though on DP's side only the couples rather than the single men, because for some bizarre reason they don't send cards themselves), so all in 12? But the price of stamps is really off-putting, especially when I factor in sending one to my sister abroad because otherwise she'd get none and it makes her homesick.

Report

Newsletters you might like

Discover Exclusive Savings!

Sign up to our Money Saver newsletter now and receive exclusive deals and hot tips on where to find the biggest online bargains, tailored just for Mumsnetters.

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

Parent-Approved Gems Await!

Subscribe to our weekly Swears By newsletter and receive handpicked recommendations for parents, by parents, every Sunday.

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

Teddy1970 · 25/10/2016 22:07

I love sending and receiving Christmas cards, you can't beat coming down the stairs and seeing a few red or gold envelopes landing on the mat! I get it's a bit wasteful, but you can always recycle them. I think Sainsburys and Boots do this, but to be honest even if they didn't I'd stilll send them because they cheer up my house no end...a blanket message to everyone just isn't the same..well for me anyway!

Report
pennycarbonara · 25/10/2016 22:08

Agreed, OP. It seems like it's only people aged 60+ and some workplaces that give Christmas cards to adults by default now. It's weird exchanging cards with older neighbours or colleagues you've never been very close to, yet not with highly trusted friends, but that's how it goes. I think it might vary between areas of the country, however.

Report
RaspberryOverloadTheFirst · 25/10/2016 22:08

I send very few Xmas cards, but I always have to include Mum and Dad, as Mum sets great store in a physical card.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.