Does anyone send Christmas cards still?

[trader21c]

Every year I resolve to stop then someone sends me one and I worry about offending them if I don’t reciprocate. It’s a faff and expensive to buy a stamp when I’m in touch with anyone I might want to wish a Happy Christmas to on social media. But every year I crumble just prolonging the process … do you send Xmas cards? Even a few? Or is it an old tradition that genuinely is dying out? Not sure how to play it this year …

Postage is expensive, and I personally find writing cards a faff, but I do it for our older relations who enjoy receiving them. It's mostly the over 70s that get them.

Aunts, uncles and great aunts and uncles and my one remaining grandma. That's 8 left on my side and 5 left on DH's side to be posted.

Between us we've got more than a shed load of cousins, so that's what FB is very good for!

I've cut down to about thirty- about 18 of which are posted.
They matter to me. But now I only send them to those I really what to.

This 100%

It’s also important to me that people write just a few words just to personalise their message. It’s perhaps unreasonable but like another poster has said, to get a card saying ‘from Jane’ for example is always a slight disappointment. I photograph people’s messages in cards so that I can refer back the following year and it works well. I don’t judge people for not sending them though, I just enjoy the whole process.

I send them to overseas friends. I used to have strings of them, but only a few now, it is getting expensive to send them. I do like seeing them on display, it seems a bit sad when people don't have any out.

A few, to older people ( fewer and fewer every year). I think it's a way to say I'm thinking of you without wring a letter.

I do, and judging by the millions that card shops & supermarkets sell, so do a lot of other people.

I enjoy it, An evening writing, aided by a glass of something festive. And I have a few elderly relatives who don't spend their life on social media. Spending £1 on a friend or sibling I haven't seen all year doesn't seem a lot

I’m exactly like you. Send about 50 and love receiving them. Sadly I think we’re a dying breed as we get fewer each year.

I post 2 cards and hand out a few more, when I moved into my street most of the neighbours posted cards through the door last year it was 3, maybe people just can't be bothered anymore. I'm not particularly festive anyway so the less I "have" to do the better.

Sorry, this was supposed to quote @TeenDivided 🙄

I do a few for neighbours and family, but at 33 none of my actual friends have ever really sent out Christmas cards so it very much feels like something that's bottom of the priority list.

Agree with MintJulia, I enjoy it ... doesn't seem a 'faff' to write a few words to people I care about, I don't do social media - apart from Mumsnet - and have quite a few friends scattered around the country who I rarely see but it's still nice to exchange news at Christmas. And, assuming you are not totally broke, it doesn't seem a huge expense compared to the cost of going out for a meal or theatre tickets which plenty of people seem happy to do at Christmas. (And yes, of course I gave to charity - time and money - as well).
Probably send and receive around 70 cards ... used to be more.

Yes, about 30. I love the act of writing them, posting them, receiving post with proper Christmas stamps on and hanging them up on a ribbon.
I’ve got a collection of my favourites from past years and I’ve got at least one from each of my loved ones. You never know when it will be the last card.

I send about 50, of those about half are posted. I enjoy writing them (always write a short note inside them for people I don't see regularly) and enjoy receiving them. If someone stops sending me one I will still send the next year but after that I'll get the hint and stop. Although I spend a lot of time on messenger and whatsapp not everyone I know does. I buy the stamps early to spread the cost and only exchange gifts with immediate (small) family so the budget is available for cards and stamps.

I always send one through the post (even though I see her in real life) to my 75 year old mum. She has always loved receiving cards, probably more so than presents. I always get a huge thank you and appreciation for how beautiful it is.

Yes, we send around a dozen, to family and friends not close by. The children write in most of them too, so it encourages them to
think of other people. I find the social media donating to charity instead trend so naff. It's possibly to do both and not publicly for praise and recognition.

Yep, I'll send about 85-100 this year - some posted, many hand delivered. DC will make theirs as a Christmas craft activity. It's getting more expensive, but as a PP said, a pound or so per friend per year doesn't seem like very much. The cards are always from charities so are a donation in themselves, it helps keep Royal Mail in business, it shows friends that I'm thinking about them, any cards I receive myself are displayed on red ribbons as Christmas decorations, and are then re-used as gift tags the following year. I think it's a lovely tradition.

I always send cards to our parents. I used to send them to the neighbours in our street too, but I’ve got less and less in return every year. Only one neighbour has sent me a card this year. I’m debating not sending cards any more.

Two of DC’s school friends have sent cards to the class. I think it’s a dying tradition. Maybe people don’t have the money any more.

Don't send them, do receive a few each year but numbers are thinning out.

I give about 5 out. Never send any because i just can’t be bothered.

i love Christmas, but cards? Nah.

Yep, I love it, sending and receiving them 😊

Yes. I love them. I love receiving them, I love displaying them, I love hearing from people, even if it’s just “happy Christmas “ it’s a connection - they were thinking of you when they wrote it, and you are thinking of them when you receive it. I am sad we get very few nowadays, especially because it makes me realise older relatives , the ones that sent cards more regularly, are dying.

I love the whole process of sending them - choosing the cards, buying them, picking the best one for each person, writing them with a mincepie and Christmas music, posting them. When I was little we had a tradition of hand delivering all the ones within a two or three mile radius, in the car, with Christmas music playing.

Having said that, I am aware the costs make it prohibitive, and that not everyone likes getting cards. I don’t think ill of any specific person who doesn’t send one, I’m just sad in general that the practice is dying out.

I am reducing massively. Now for people who either live a long way away but I want to maintain some sort of contact or people who would take great offence if they don't receive one. (Looking at you, DH's so-called best friend who is precious about these sorts of things - DH write's that one).

Otherwise - no.

I love them and send around thirty to family, friends and colleagues.

I always write a thoughtful note in them too, never just 'To Peter From Stone.'

I have fewer to send every year.

I don't really enjoy writing cards, but it's a habit I just keep on with, secretly hoping others will stop first 😆

I post exactly three - my godparents and an elderly aunt. I write cards to immediate family and give them out when I see them on Xmas day, likewise close friends if I see them around then.

I remember my mum writing and receiving dozens and dozens, and hanging them all on strings. What a faff and waste of paper!