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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be a bit sad that Christmas cards are going out of fashion

95 replies

Daisysbear · 30/11/2015 11:19

I don't seem to get that many any more. Lots of people just send a text or an email.

AIBU to think loads of cards on the mantle piece look really Christmassy and texts and messages just aren't the same?

OP posts:
hiddenhome2 · 30/11/2015 13:09

Mine (from work) are always dumped in the recycling unopened unless dh wrestles them off me and opens them.

He opens any ones that are sent through the post and puts them up on the bookcase. Thankfully, we don't receive many Smile

BillWagglestaff · 30/11/2015 13:18

I love Christmas cards. The way postage prices are going, we won't be able to keep them up for many more years, but for us they are a bit of a Christmas ritual - both giving and receiving them.

Mermaid, the National Trust used to do really good packs of mixed cards - reasonably priced and a selection of lovely, traditional pictures and photos.

ElasticPants · 30/11/2015 13:24

I don't do card. DC give cards to the whole class and to their friends at swim club, cubs and beavers.

Last year we had over 100 given to them. They looked lovely stuck along the banister going upstairs, but as I was pulling them off after Christmas I did think what a waste of paper.

5Foot5 · 30/11/2015 13:32

I think it's the older person's way of Facebook likes.
Shock Well that probably puts me in my category! Except it really isn't a showy thing it is one of those things you do.

I am truly, truly astonished reading this thread at how many people say they hate them and/or don;t do them. I had no idea. I have just come back from the PO where I got the 50 2nd class stamps I will shortly need for this years.

TBH I quite like them and I always buy charity cards. And recycle them when I have finished so I don't think they are such a waste or a problem.

Also there are a few old friends who I never see but we take the opportunity to exchange a few lines when the Christmas cards go out. Again I suppose the Facebook users don't need to do that.

Enjolrass · 30/11/2015 13:34

Screen shot the text messages and FB posts wishing you merry Christmas and stick them up and then people will still know you are popular

BaronessSamedi · 30/11/2015 13:40

i'm glad they're being phased out.
we all get through enough paper and forests on this planet as it is.
i only send 4, to people who will be offended and upset if they don't get their card.
otherwise, i wouldn't bother at all.

Original poster
Daisysbear · 30/11/2015 13:41

Thanks for all the replies.

And yes, I do agree that will an older generation a certain 'popularity' thing comes into it. I'm nearly embarrassed to have my mum up around Christmas time in case she thinks my small collection of cards means I have no friends, and starts to worry about me.
She gets and sends at least 50 cards a year, whereas I get/send about 15-20.
Mind you, my dad is dead nearly four years and last year she got a couple of cards with his name included, so they are sent out of habit in a lot of cases.

OP posts:
motheroftwoboys · 30/11/2015 13:48

It must be an age thing and I am therefore ancient but I love sending and receiving Christmas cards. I take great delight in choosing which ones to buy and which ones to send to which people. I/we send (and receive) about 50 and I will start writing a few each night from tomorrow. I also do a round robin but it is certainly not a showy off one - just a factual one. I am very much a FB user but most of the people I send cards too are not. Some are elderly and I know they look forward to the Christmas catch up. Part of the run up to Christmas for me along with lighting my advent tea light each night. The cards we receive are very much part of our Christmas decorations. I don't put them up till about the 20th and they come down with the tree on 12th night. I spend ages putting cards together in colours and certain groups of colours go in certain places. Yes, I must be officially odd. However, our local shops are full off beautiful cards (lots to choose from Mermaid) so I really don't see that they are being phased out.

chrome100 · 30/11/2015 14:15

I haven't sent a Christmas card since I was in Year 10, circa 1997. I have never sent any as an adult.

CruCru · 30/11/2015 15:10

I LOVE doing my Christmas cards. I sent mine out on Friday (quite a few are going abroad and the last posting date is 7 Devember). I do a personalised one with a picture of the kids and really take my time designing it.

Varya · 30/11/2015 15:14

Ridiculously high postage costs

FishOn · 30/11/2015 15:20

I live abroad. Cost me $40 to send 15 cards last year - I'm not doing it this year.

CandlesBurning · 30/11/2015 15:24

I love sending Christmas cards, but only receive them back from around a quarter of those. But I'll still keep sending them

StillDrSethHazlittMD · 30/11/2015 15:32

I live alone and have almost no family. A great friend died on Xmas Eve when I was 18. As a result, I find Christmas quite lonely and hard. Getting cards actually helps; makes me think I may not have family but I do have friends, even if some live too far away to actually see them.

zeetea · 30/11/2015 15:39

It's still the done thing within my friends/family but reading these posts I can see how they are a bit of a nuisance really! I use those tiny pegs you get in craft stores to hang them on string from a door, so they're not falling down everywhere. I do like getting them. Always buy mine in the sales post-boxing day so they don't cost too much and I recycle the old ones I receive to use as gift tags for the following year :)

Anotherusername1 · 30/11/2015 17:16

It is ridiculously expensive these days. My mum loves them and would hate it if she didn't get any. But she also loves sending them (and postcards) too. It is a bit like Facebook likes or checking in (for the postcards). She hasn't been to a place if she hasn't sent a postcard! When I was 20 I spent a summer overseas and she actually gave me money to buy postcards to send to some of her friends (and elderly relatives)! I couldn't be bothered other than to my nana and aunt and she was really cross with me even though I gave her the money back!

And it's such a pain trying to get stamps for them. I went into town today and peered into the post office when I arrived. HUGE queue. I looked again when I'd done the rest of my shopping. Still a huge queue, probably even longer. I need stamps for Australia and Europe so can't just buy a couple of books of 1st or 2nd in a card shop. I'll be in town again tomorrow at a different time of day so maybe will have more luck.

Thingsthatmakeugoummmm · 30/11/2015 17:24

I can just about see the point of sending cards to people you do not see regularly. But seriously, what is the point of sending a Christmas card to a colleague you see every day?!

I hate Christmas cards though

Littleonesaid · 30/11/2015 17:28

I love them too OP!

nattyknitter · 30/11/2015 17:35

They act all innocent and then shed glitter all over the house. You can't even recycle the ones with glitter on round these parts. Shocking waste of money in my book. I donate to charity instead.

I won't entertain them in the house and don't send any.

The few people I know that aren't on FB haven't decided cave painting has gone out of fashion yet I see on a regular basis and the others are easily contactable through electronic means. Those that mean something to me get a personal message/phone call and the casuals get a public post.

I still do Birthday cards, but they are different IMHO.

PennyPants · 30/11/2015 19:13

Cards are a pain tbh and I've cut back the amount I send. I like Christmas very much, but one thing I wouldn't miss are the cards. I don't put many up and recycle them straight after Christmas.

Shallishanti · 30/11/2015 19:24

can't believe you miserable lot!
christmas cards are often my one point of contact with some people all year, why does that mean it's wasteful Confused
I like to hear from people, they like to hear from me
the postage is very offputting and each year I swear I will be organised enough to use 2nd class stamps but I usually fail
But round here they have scout post and I'm happy to support the scouts, so win-win

Shallishanti · 30/11/2015 19:25

Amnesty International have nice cards, btw

Kittykatmacbill · 30/11/2015 19:32

I love them. This thread is making me sad, i like to write them adding personal messages and love to receive them too as not everyone is on face book.

I don't get the Mn no thank you card thing, virtually everyone I know sends them.

Thingsthatmakeugoummmm · 30/11/2015 21:15

Do u still send them to people you see regularly kittykatmacbill and Shallishanti?

annandale · 30/11/2015 21:26

Who wanted recommendations? I got some lovely ones from the Woodland Trust this year, this hare was my favourite but I got some snowy woodland scenes too. I often go for religious ones even though I'm an atheist now but decided against this year, and ds is now too old to agree to a 'hilarious' family picture Sad

I really like sending cards, and I like receiving them, but I do feel a twinge of sadness when I get a card from someone who I don't see ever often and they haven't written anything - not even 'X is enjoying year 3' or 'still in the same village, finally settled down' - really, nothing at all?

I'm also someone who likes to get round robin letters - anything rather than nothing. Of course it would be lovely to get a four page personal letter but I'm more than happy to get a standard one if it means I actually get some news of family and friends.

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