Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Christmas cards are becoming a thing of the past.

170 replies

Star4120 · 24/11/2020 13:07

Hi all, bit of a random one.

I have fond memories of my grandmother (she is 80 and still does it now) writing hundreds of Christmas cards for friends, relatives, colleagues (now old colleagues) amongst others. She would literally have piles of them and equally she would have hundreds of cards around her front room at Christmas. She’s always laid them out so neatly but so many 😅

The only cards I seem to have in the house at Christmas are either from older relatives, immediate family and for the kids from the kids friends at school!

I don’t really exchange cards with any of my friends! I write them cards but many of them just don’t do it themselves (which is fine of course!)

So is it becoming more of an old fashioned thing to send cards to everyone you know?

I will be sending out cards to immediate family and a few elderly relatives or family friends as I know they really like it but other than that I probably won’t bother?

Aibu?

OP posts:
Madcats · 24/11/2020 18:17

I am just sending to immediate family over 60 with a handwritten letter and a couple of photos for those who aren't good with email.
I'll also send a couple to friends I need to thank.

I used to nag DD(13) but I probably won't bother. I really hope they'll pause secret Santa this year.

FatimaMunchy · 24/11/2020 18:18

I don't know how close you can be to someone whose address you haven't checked in years We still get a Christmas card and round robin from someone we haven't send a card to, or corresponded with in at least six years. They have computer generated address labels, and clearly don't notice whether they get a card back. Haven't seen them for over 20 years either.

Floridana · 24/11/2020 18:22

I used to love writing out Christmas cards for my friends when I was at school! I still send the odd few to friends I don't see because it's nice to keep that contact. I seem to receive less and less as years go by so it's definitely fading off as a tradition. The things that really gets me is when people say they aren't writing out cards but are making a donation to charity instead. The two things don't seem to be connected. Why does making a donation replace wishing people a happy Christmas?? I do both.

FuzzyPuffling · 24/11/2020 18:41

I really don't like the "No cards but a donation to a charity instead".
1.It's possible to do both

  1. Why are you giving up something that brings pleasure to someone else? I've never heard people saying they are giving up turkey or wine or presents to make their Christmas charity donation. I'd be far more impressed if they did.
AnneElliott · 24/11/2020 18:46

I still send them ( and receive them) so will continue with that this year.

plutodust · 24/11/2020 18:49

I think they are, I can't remember the last time I sent one. I get one for my mum and my children but that's it.

ProtectedPeas · 24/11/2020 18:53

I get one for my Mum...a few years ago I did a massive Christmas cull - stopped sending cards and stopped buying gifts for nieces and nephews - I have 16 I don't know very well - the whole process was stressful, expensive and unsatisfying. Don't buy for dh either. I did get a lot of push back but the unpopular press was worth the freedom from Christmas organising hell.

CrownAddict · 24/11/2020 18:53

Noticed last year that I got cards after mine had arrived in a way that suggested a lot of people have stopped and just send one if they get one. My elderly relatives certainly appreciate them and I've always written a message properly otherwise they do seem a bit pointless. Good where you don't see people, nice to send and receive from my point of view, but totally dying out.

jambeforeclottedcream · 24/11/2020 18:54

I hope that this year , with people perhaps not seeing as many friends and family, that Christmas cards can be revitalised

However unfortunately yanbu. My Dm spends £40 on cards and ordered like 50 in total. Whereas I buy 20 mostly for work and very close friends

vanillandhoney · 24/11/2020 18:58

I think they're such a waste (of time, money and resources).

I don't remember the last time I wrote a Christmas card.

FatimaMunchy · 24/11/2020 19:05

DD buys one card (or cashed one from me) to send to my mother, because she knows she would be upset if she didn't send one.

echt · 24/11/2020 19:09

I still send, them, but then lots of my old friends are in the UK. In Australia I send them to people I won't see over Christmas.

MissBaskinIfYoureNasty · 24/11/2020 19:11

Nope, not written a Christmas card in years. I don't like cards in general and Christmas or birthday ones go straight into recycling. I hate having them cluttering the place up.

flowerycurtain · 24/11/2020 19:11

I still send them. It's still quite a thing in rural circles.

I love xmas at my parents house reading through all the random round ups enclosed in xmas cards of distant friends and family. They make me laugh.

bettbattenburg · 24/11/2020 19:13

I hope that this year , with people perhaps not seeing as many friends and family, that Christmas cards can be revitalised

I don't, they are by and large meaningless because people write rubbish about how we must keep in touch and then don't bother all year. I have started to get xmas cards through the post/the door from people who didn't bother to send me a condolences card when my Dad died earlier this year. Their Xmas cards are going in the recycling bin and they won't be getting a card in return.

jessstan1 · 24/11/2020 19:19

@GlowingOrb

Definitely falling away and I think it’s sad. I will continue the tradition even if people don’t reciprocate. Perhaps if some of us keep going it will resurge.
Me too. I love Christmas cards, sending and receiving. However it is not so popular amongst many younger people now.

When I pop my clogs I'll be leaving behind a big box of beautiful new cards. Can they be sold or given to charity shops, I wonder?

ShedFace · 24/11/2020 19:19

I hope so. Waste of paper, time, money etc etc.

HollyandIvyandallthingsYule · 24/11/2020 19:20

We send to my parents, siblings & 3 or 4 of my close friends (all live around the world and back home in Denmark so I don’t see them often). I have no living grandparents, sadly.

We usually send to my DH’s parents and siblings but we’ve moved near them now so we’ll see them over the season. We’ll just send one to his grandmother and one to his brother who lives abroad.

Runnerduck34 · 24/11/2020 19:21

Im in the minority i love sending and receiving Christmas cards, its the only time of year i look forward to receiving post! but numbers are dwindling , many people no longer send them, so yanbu to think its dying out.

cardibach · 24/11/2020 19:23

@Caesargeezer

I love sending and receiving them. I think it’s really sad that the tradition will die out. Getting a text just isn’t the same.
It isn’t the same, no. In my opinion it’s better. Cards are a waste of resources and I don’t know what to do with them anyway. When I used to write them I hated it and did it with bad grace and no Christmas cheer. When I text a friend I’m happy as I do it and genuinely mean what I write in that actual moment.
cardibach · 24/11/2020 19:25

@FuzzyPuffling

I really don't like the "No cards but a donation to a charity instead". 1.It's possible to do both
  1. Why are you giving up something that brings pleasure to someone else? I've never heard people saying they are giving up turkey or wine or presents to make their Christmas charity donation. I'd be far more impressed if they did.
  • It’s only possible if you have twice the money you would spend on cards and postage spare.
  • They don’t give me any pleasure when I receive them -or not more than a text anyway, and certainly less than a phone call.
    • jambeforeclottedcream · 24/11/2020 19:31

    @FuzzyPuffling

    I really don't like the "No cards but a donation to a charity instead". 1.It's possible to do both
    1. Why are you giving up something that brings pleasure to someone else? I've never heard people saying they are giving up turkey or wine or presents to make their Christmas charity donation. I'd be far more impressed if they did.
    I dont this logic either

    Christmas cards tend to be produced by charities to help their coffers. So why not get cards from a charity you support

    And that's another reason why I think cards will be popular this year. Charity fundraising has been non existent and this is a good way to support them

    Applepea1 · 24/11/2020 19:32

    I putting my Christmas cards up around the house and am sad I get fewer and fewer each year. Many years ago I was upset when it was announced at work not to give them to each other any more! I buy mine from the school pta which my dd has designed and send them to friends and family whether they send me one or not.

    tigger1001 · 24/11/2020 19:36

    I haven't written cards for quite a few years. I hate them with a passion and have always found it a chore to sit and write them. One day just thought why am
    I doing this? I hate it and it stresses me out so why just so you can say you sent a card?

    Cards just clutter up the place and as others have said many can't be recycled due to glitter etc

    StCharlotte · 24/11/2020 19:44

    I was on the verge of giving up on them one year and then they started arriving and I realise how much I enjoy receiving them (in particular the accidentally hilarious smugfest round robin letters). So I still enjoy sending them. I usually write a couple of lines about what we've been up to in some of the older relatives' cards but 2020 has put paid to that. I guarantee one particular friend will have changed jobs again this year. No stickability that boy!