To wonder if sending Christmas cards is a dying tradition

[Fallingovercliffs]

A few colleagues were just discussing this and a good few of them said they only send out a handful of cards nowadays and prefer to text or email most people. I have noticed that the number of cards I get, or that I see in people's houses when I visit over Christmas, seem to be a lot less than our parents' generation. My mother always ran out of places to put cards!

Just wondering if, generation by generation, this is becoming a dying tradition and AIBU to secretly think it would be great to not have to bother anymore?

Cards are still nicer to get than crappy old boring text messages; I text my boss to say I'm in the cafe so I'll be late for work.

We made 12 and sent them to the most esteemed family and friends. We have made a donation to a local charity in lieu of sending dozens. Yes i think it is dying out for the younger generations but think of the paper that will be saved.

I like sending and getting Christmas cards. I send about 40 every year. It's nice to get some in the post, too. Specially when people write personal messages in them.

Have been thinking about not sending them for a few years but have definitely decided NO this year. I don't like just saying "love from...." I like to write a note especially to people I rarely see and that takes so much time. I also don't like Christmas cards either, all those Victorian snow scenes, holly and robins and santas of various sorts, owls and penguins (for some reason) geese, donkeys in fields, snowy scenes etc etc (and it never snows at Christmas) I don't like getting them either these days - so far I've had 4 people send me the exact same card as last year!

Yes I know I sound like a grumpy old woman but that's it - I feel very liberated and not having to write the list, buy the cards, and the stamps and get them written and posted..........what I thought I might do is send a few cards to people I really care about towards the end of winter/beginning of Spring...........maybe start a new tradition, but no more than 10 or 12.

I still send them (about 20) and like to receive them. I don't decorate the house until pretty close to Christmas day, so as the cards start to go up it's like a gentle build-up! For me it's about touching base with people that I rarely see but don't want to lose touch with completely (admittedly to some extent Facebook has taken over that role), and also saying 'Happy Christmas' to family who I won't see over Christmas itself.
I don't get the point of giving them out to people you do see face to face (and don't get me started on the writing them to every child in class nonsense!) - if you see someone to wish them a Happy Christmas, you don't need to give them a card to say it too!

I send about 30 in the post and a similar number hand delivered. I really like getting cards, they are one of the nicest bits if Christmas for me. Let's face it, post the rest of the year consists of marketing shizz.

I spent £22 on stamps this year.

I love getting Christmas c.ards (and.. birthday cards too) but we haven't received any so far this year except from dc classmates. Ds has written several to his grandparents and aunties and uncles and is very disappointed not to have received any back

This year we donated to charity. Its a win win because I never know what to do with the cards once Christmas is over.

I don't think it's just Christmas cards though - many aspects of Christmas seem to have been re-evaluated in the past couple of years. People are starting to recognise that they no longer have to succumb to pressure to send out hundreds of cards or participate in the consumer nightmare that is the high street at this time of year.

If you feel it's a bother and a chore then it is great to feel liberated. If you enjoy it and the tradition is important to you then there's no reason not to continue.

I love sending and getting Xmas cards! Think it's a lovely way to let people who I'm otherwise a bit rubbish at staying in Touch with that I do still think of them!
Always post mine nice and early so I can guilt trip people into sending one back??!!!

I havent sent any for years. Really dont see the point in them unless its someone that lives far away and then its nice to send a xmas message.

i love sending them and have spent all evening distracted by Mumsent writing them! We string the ones we receive up around the room.

DM (miserable cow) judges popularity by Christmas cards. She phoned me and was moaning (as usual) about the price of stamps for her 60 (!!!) cards to post. I told her I haven't sent cards for years, she was aghast, 'but you still have some friends don't you?'

So cards for her, two for her friends, mil, neighbours and DPs workmates. Cheap ones for DCs for school and that's about it!

Well I like sending and receiving! Only send about 15 so not prohibitively expensive and I know every recipient will appreciate it. Shocked at people just binning cards as they receive them! I live overseas and don't send any here so I suppose it's more of a way of keeping in touch with folks back home.

Not in this house we usually end up with over 100.We do have 5DC though.

I'm usually the last to send any Christmas cards,I actually managed to post all the neighbors through they're doors yesterday and I'll be dropping all the local family's off today.

I know what people mean about the cost of stamps,we have about 20 we have to mail.I have no idea how people manage it when they have more than that to pay postage for.

It is still going strong in schools, we also get 100+ every year (4 children). I only send a handful, and hand deliver some to close friends/family.

I do think it is a dying tradition for our generation - it seems more "alive" with children and older people.

Really hate being handed cards in the office by colleagues. What are we, 6 years old?

There's a thread in AIBU at the moment in which the OP is complaining because her xh gave a card to their 3 year old son that was not a special "Happy Christmas to my Son" card. Bonkers.

I stopped sending Christmas cards years ago and give a donation to charity instead.

People are aware of this and I don't get them any more either. Maybe one through the door from a neighbour and that's about it.

We have only sent cards to over 80s this year. Worked out it would cost about £50 to buy cards/ stamps for usual list inc various overseas. Sending xmas news email instead. We are expecting no.2, trying to move house etc and it is very expensive! I Don't feel cards that just say 'to x from y' are of great value, esp if nasty cheap ones that dont look very festive anyway!

I love doing Christmas cards. I get ones from Truprint with the kids' photos on them and a Christmas design. This year I ordered 120 and they've all been sent.

I do know a few people who aren't sending them this year but they've all just had surgery or babies. If someone just plain doesn't send them then it's a shame but I'd rather send more than I get, it feels a bit more in the spirit of Christmas.

I haven't sent any for 9 years and won't be sending them again.

I pick the phone up and speak to them.

Much better use of resource.

I do send a birthday card though.

It's nice of people to give money to charities instead of sending Christmas cards but that's not keeping in touch with people, is it? If you send a message to them saying that money has been given t a charity, why not send a Christmas card instead?

I send and receive cards to my family, my neighbours in our little cul de sac and around 3 old friends and that's it. My dh is a postman so we get around 50 stamps for free at the beginning of December so I don't have to pay postage. I don't send them to people at work though, I just donate to the firms designated charity instead.