Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

No Christmas cards to people with an internet connection?

100 replies

FrostyMoanyWind · 04/12/2018 07:31

Just receiving the first round of Christmas cards. Mine will be going out Friday. Haven't printed them yet and having an internal debate between what is generally accepted as the "polite thing to do" and what is environmentally responsible. Or is it just that considered a cop out?

Sending cards to elderly relatives who don't have computers and who would be upset not to hear from us. Ok.

But to people who we usually receive cards from and have always sent cards to but are in computer contact throughout the rest of the year?

The friends of my parents who send my DC birthday presents. Rude not to send a card?

My godparents who have email/facebook but to whom we have always sent cards and who send us cards?

OP posts:
greendale17 · 04/12/2018 11:03

I love giving and receiving Christmas cards.

GrabEmByThePatriarchy · 04/12/2018 11:49

Your friends sound like exactly the sort of people who particularly need to be making environmental amends for their other choices shitlandpony!

Shitlandpony · 04/12/2018 12:17

GrabEmByThePatriarchy Grin I think you know they are not doing it for environmental reasons as much as I do. It’s that they can’t be bothered which is fair enough, just don’t dress it up as concern for the environment when it’s twenty woodland trust cards compared to two long haul flights a year plus multiple dc each.

GrabEmByThePatriarchy · 04/12/2018 12:32

Well I don't know them so will take your word for it about their motives, but frankly if they're such prodigious tat importers and long haulers, I'm relieved at any decision they manage to make that doesn't involve consumption!

GrabEmByThePatriarchy · 04/12/2018 12:33

Superb name, incidentally. I wish I'd thought of it first.

Shitlandpony · 04/12/2018 13:02

I can’t really take the credit for the name, it what we call the little sassy ponies, all have short man syndrome Grin.

Shitlandpony · 04/12/2018 13:03

*it’s, dammit, wish we could edit on here

EarringsandLipstick · 04/12/2018 13:30

Oh ShadyLady Sad
I hardly ever receive a card, I’m 34. I have a very small family, I’m single with no kids and not on any social media...it would mean a lot to receive some cards and I find it sad that the tradition is dying out. I still send cards out and I have always recycled any that I do receive.

I agree. I wish more Christmas cards were being sent and received. I still send them but despite thinking I will write them in front of a favourite Christmas movie with a glass of wine in hand, I am furiously scribbling them practically at the post box on last day of posting and it has become another chore.
I persist though, I think it is a way to stay in touch with people that while you might not have regular contact with, you'd like to remember them, even if once a year.

Dangerousplan · 04/12/2018 14:20

I like sending and receiving them. I put little note in mine to make them personal.

It's nicer than am email because it takes a bit of effort. I only send them to people I like though😘

bakingdemon · 04/12/2018 14:32

I send over 100 (big family on both sides, lots of friends) and love getting them too. I hate those e-cards, they really are no substitute for a physical one. It's a way of showing people that you think of them and care about them.

FuzzyCustard · 04/12/2018 14:36

I send lots and get lots. I love it!
But I do ensure there is no glitter on them so they can go in the recycling.

Shadylady PM me if you'd like a card. Happy to spread some Christmas love. I think it's important.

InfiniteVariety · 04/12/2018 14:46

I always enjoy sending & receiving Christmas cards and put a lot of thought into writing personal messages in them. I used to send a lot more than I do these days (only about 40 now). Sometimes the ones I receive are very beautiful (eg I have artist/calligrapher friends who makes theirs) so of course I don't recycle those as they are small works of art! I have framed some of these

drspouse · 04/12/2018 14:48

We're at the point where lots of our friends send us them - and the DCs like putting them up - but we don't send them except to elderly relatives who don't do email. I must find a charity e-card to send, in fact.

The DCs are now starting to get them from classmates. I'm afraid we won't be sending them back en masse because a) what a waste and b) neither of them can write.

drspouse · 04/12/2018 14:50

Just found this:

www.dontsendmeacard.com/

Huge range of charities and designs.

ritzbiscuits · 04/12/2018 14:57

I am 38 and planning to send some....Immediate family, a handful to relatives that don't live nearby, a few best friends and two families on the street that we're friends with.

Also, I've bought two specific Christmas cards, one for a widower who lost her husband in September (I was his friend) and to my ballet teacher to say thanks for taking me on this year!

Oh and to my son's teachers and after school staff too - to go alongside a present.

I know it's a dying tradition, but I still like using them as a way to wish people a Merry Christmas and let them know I'm thinking of them (especially the oldies).

I

sodabreadjam · 04/12/2018 16:23

I love sending and receiving Christmas cards. I write a personal message to update people I'm not in touch with throughout the year and I love to hear their news.

I don't feel guilty about using paper and card because it can be recycled unlike a lot of the plastic Christmas tat.

I had a subscription for high quality e-cards for a few years - it sent birthday and Christmas animations. It allowed you to see if they had been opened and viewed by recipients. Quite a few were not opened although people would thank me for sending them!

Dowser · 04/12/2018 16:25

Haven’t sent cards for 13 years now
I ring people up instead and donate money to charity

Mia1415 · 04/12/2018 16:35

I send well over 100 cards each year. I love it. I don't really have time to do it but to me its part of Christmas and an important way to connect with people.

speakout · 04/12/2018 16:38

I love christmas cards,
Love writing them, sending them, receiving them- it's a lovely tradition.

OftenHangry · 04/12/2018 18:39

And let's not forget neigbours!
If you recently moved into new area, pop cards through post boxes of few houses around. Everyone gives back and signs with house number and name. I keep them so I remember who lives whereGrin

ForalltheSaints · 04/12/2018 18:41

If you have sent and received cards from someone last year, then continue this year. Let them be the first to opt for e-cards, if they wish.

Purpleartichoke · 04/12/2018 18:42

Physical cards are one of those little niceties that show you care enough about the recipient to make the effort. A Group Facebook message or a bulk email is not the same.

Ragwort · 04/12/2018 18:53

I'll join you Purple as an 'elderly relative' Grin.

I love sending and receiving cards, I have just received one today from a colleague I worked with over 25 years ago, I haven't seen her since and will probably never see her again but I genuinely enjoy reading her news each year and enjoying the memories of our friendship.

I agree that writing and posting a card shows you care about people; yesterday someone went out of their way to help me at an event, today I wrote her an old fashioned thank you card. It is sad that those thoughtful niceties seem to be going out of fashion

People complain today of loneliness but I think some of it is down to not making an effort, my parents are in their late 80s but are still in touch with old school friends, people they met at university, in first jobs, through hobbies, through different house moves etc etc - obviously all these friendships started long before the internet age so they have been keeping in touch all these years through old fashioned cards and letters .... they still send and receive over 200 Christmas cards a year.

Ragwort · 04/12/2018 18:55

soda - I rarely open those e-cards, I probably do send a quick 'thank you' to the few friends that send them but I don't really want to sit and watch a screen even if it is a 'high end' card ............... I didn't realise the sender knows if you haven't opened it Grin.

TheWiseWomansFear · 04/12/2018 18:56

I'm sending them to my family members as it's nice of us all to circulate them when we never see each other. Nobody else gets them