Photos / letters in Christmas cards

[KimmyKimdoo]

Just wondering if this is the norm in some places?

We’ve recently moved to a new house and this week have received our first Christmas cards from our neighbours. They’re pleasant people generally although we only know them very little. Small chats about the weather as we pass on the drive sort of thing.

One neighbour pushed a card through and to others surprise it had a full size photo of them (a couple in the sixties at a guess) pushed into the middle of the card. Not ringed on the card, presumably for us just to recognise them if we see them out? we just assumed they were a bit quirky, binned the photo and ignored.

Today a second card has arrived. A full (backed) letter is included in the card with details of their activities throughout the year. It says how many times they’ve visited their adult children, where they holidayed etc there’s also a photo of their grandchildren included. Now that can’t be so we recognise them in the street??? They must think we are wanting these photos of themselves/ their family to enjoy ourselves??

Is this totally mad or socially normal in some places? Are we supposed to be doing the same back?

😂
not the norm anywhere I’ve lived. Only far flung friends/relatives include a (not wanted or needed thanks to FB) photo or a round robin letter of what they’ve all been up to.

This is the Facebook of the older generation. The dreaded Christmas Letter. Totally normal for people of the generation in their 70's and above.

I know a couple and the only contact had with them for the past couple of decades has been the annual Christmas card. They always put a letter in with their card, detailing what they've been up to, what holidays they've been on, how well they or their son is doing etc. I think they put one in all their Christmas cards. I give it a quick skim and bin it. They're not part of my life and I really have no interest.

TippedOverIceberg
Sweeping generalisation of the older person as usual.

I'm over 70 and can assure you this doesn't happen with my older friends. The only ones I catch up with are family, just a small note written in the inside of the card.

Don't know anybody who sends photos, we all use Facebook as well.

Also object to people on here who refer to little old ladies. We were teenagers in the 60s and paved the way for your generation, just stop with the patronising names please.

Maybe. I'm going by my parents and their friends, none of whom have Facebook as far as I'm aware and who all send each other such letters

@TippedOverIceberg

Maybe. I'm going by my parents and their friends, none of whom have Facebook as far as I'm aware and who all send each other such letters

But you don’t also pop them through your neighbours doors…do you?

But you don’t also pop them through your neighbours doors…do you?

Well, I certainly don't (because I would never write one) but I can't comment on what my parents would do...

We were teenagers in the 60s and paved the way for your generation, just stop with the patronising names please

Totally agree. It's really weird the way some people talk about people over 70. They were young in the 1960s, think about it. My mum (82) sees my generation (and my DDs) as very conventional and overly concerned about what things look like and consuming things.

We get an annual card from our former neighbours down in London - an elderly gay couple who recently learned how to use a computer. Every year they photoshop a picture of DH and i with all sorts of festive spangles, and print it out on that special shiny photo paper.