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Original poster

To send Christmas cards?

117 replies

bipbopdo · 05/12/2023 10:43

Do any of you send Christmas cards? This year it seems to be treated as a weird anachronism instead of nice thing to do.

I like having ways of checking in with friends that doesn’t rely on my phone, but a friend of mine said it creates a sense of pressure and obligation at a stressful time of year.

OP posts:
Maddy70 · 05/12/2023 22:09

Not sending a single card this year

MrsKarlUrban · 05/12/2023 22:10

I get a nice pack of 20 charity cards and that does us, tend to be left with a couple which is handy if I've forgot someone.
It doesn't take long and I like doing them

Londonrach1 · 05/12/2023 22:11

It's the cost of stamps...I'm sending one this year by post...my aunt who I not seen for a year .. if stamps were cheaper I'd be sending more.

ThinWomansBrain · 05/12/2023 22:25

send an e-card
Charity eCards | DontSendMeACard.com

you donate what you want to above £1 (for 100 e-cards), and choose a charity that you'd like to benefit - they suggest you donate what you'd otherwise have spent, but above the £1, totally up to you. I've always used charity cards, so this suits me perfectly.

I send about 3 snail mail to people I know would prefer them, and physically give cards to a handful of people I see.

the explanations on their website have improved a lot since I started using them a few years ago; I messed it up the first year.
Send individually for a personalised message.

Before I found this organisation, I made my own e-card one year with a video of my cat playing in the Christmas tree.

You can use them for one-offs in the year, like birthdays, etc

MilkChocolateCookie · 05/12/2023 22:27

I send cards. I have cut down though compared to a few years ago.

ThinkingAgainAndAgain · 05/12/2023 22:28

I send more than 100 every year. Last year, I was toying with sending any, and then decided to. Before Christmas, I thought that everyone I knew had decided not to, and vowed that I wouldn’t send any in 2023 as a result. And then we had about 40 between Christmas and new year.

So now I think I’m going to have to send cards again this year. It’s too difficult to narrow down the list, so I sort of think that if I’m sending 50, I may as well send 100.

SoCalLiving · 05/12/2023 22:47

I love writing Christmas cards and I love receiving them but I accept the fact that not many people either want to or can afford to anymore and that's okay!

I also write cards monthly to about ~10 friends and family as well as birthday cards. This is mainly because I live abroad and it feels a nice way to keep in contact across the distance. I always find that people are nicely surprised to be thought of and I try and choose nice ones.

telestrations · 05/12/2023 22:55

Yes I do for family and family friends, particularly older folk and often write all the members of their family in it (children, grandchildren etc.) and send a religious one if I think that would be appreciated more.

user1477391263 · 05/12/2023 22:57

I send them to people I only see about once a year, as a way of keeping in touch. The cards contain a letter written for the person.

I don’t understand the idea of giving cards to people you are seeing anyway; what’s the point?

abominablesnowman · 05/12/2023 23:04

I've always found cards pretty silly and tacky at best, but in these days of environmental concerns and stamp costs going through the roof, they're just horribly wasteful.
When we are constantly connected, why do we need to send these little cards that will be thrown away? The stamps are usually more expensive than the card itself.

NoThanksymm · 06/12/2023 00:48

You cannot control how your friend feels.

send the Christmas card!!! Send them two. Enclose a gift just for them making you feel that way!

Howyoualldoworkme · 06/12/2023 00:53

We send about 40, not all by post, and I buy special individual ones for my grandchildren. This year I've also lino cut and printed some so they'll go to close friends. It's just something we like to do. We get a lot sent to us as well.
I also send postcards from holiday 🙂

clary · 06/12/2023 01:06

Send them if you want of course. Don't be upset if you don't get many back tho.

I had cut down and down and finally stopped about 2-3 years ago - what a relief. A job not needing to be done at a busy time. If I receive a card from someone I care about, I send them a text saying thanks. Or maybe I have already texted or arranged to meet.

Those who send a lot (20 or more) - do you write a specific relevant message in each? Or do you just say 'from John'?

SoCalLiving · 06/12/2023 02:01

clary · 06/12/2023 01:06

Send them if you want of course. Don't be upset if you don't get many back tho.

I had cut down and down and finally stopped about 2-3 years ago - what a relief. A job not needing to be done at a busy time. If I receive a card from someone I care about, I send them a text saying thanks. Or maybe I have already texted or arranged to meet.

Those who send a lot (20 or more) - do you write a specific relevant message in each? Or do you just say 'from John'?

I send 10 cards monthly to friends/family and about 20-30 Christmas cards a year. For all of those I always write personal messages. For monthly ones I just write stuff about what me and my family have been up to (we live abroad and so don't catch up often with those back in the UK) and ask how they've been.

I don't see the point in writing cards that just say Hi/From, always write a personal message. It takes a while but I think it's therapeutic.

garlictwist · 06/12/2023 02:13

I haven't sent a Christmas card since I left school in the year 2000. I sometimes get them but afraid to say I find them pointless and they just go in the recycling Blush

HeraSyndulla · 06/12/2023 02:18

Yep, love sending them. About 30 this year.

mondaytosunday · 06/12/2023 02:27

Yes I send about 40-50. Last year big drop in what I received, though mail around here is crap.

StayingUpSleepingIn · 06/12/2023 02:38

We haven’t sent any Xmas cards for years. It seems pointless when we can keep in touch with everyone so easily now. None of my friends bother either.

Spencer0220 · 06/12/2023 02:53

DH and I love them. We're in our 30s.

I write them all, even DH's family ones, because DH has a disability that makes writing nearly impossible.

But he loves helping me pick the packs of cards and we decide together who to write them for.

We sent over 40 this year. DH sent some to his work mates (he's WFH) and they were delighted. We got a delightful message from his new colleague who is Buddhist.

He doesn't celebrate Christmas at all, but was extremely touched by the card and said that his children will be delighted to have a Christmas card in the house and to be able to put it up.

If he's still there next year, we plan to find out the names of his kids, so we can address the card to them.

Wanted to share. This made my day.

LaurieStrode · 06/12/2023 03:24

I send them & love receiving; it's like a neat little gift.

Even love the bragging letters.

Can't stand the family photo cards; give me a proper Christmas card any day.

Jaybail · 06/12/2023 07:34

I do and it's part of Christmas for me. A lot of people have stopped now so I don't receive as many as I used to and that's fine, but I shall continue to send them as I enjoy the tradition.

user1477391263 · 07/12/2023 00:04

SoCalLiving · 06/12/2023 02:01

I send 10 cards monthly to friends/family and about 20-30 Christmas cards a year. For all of those I always write personal messages. For monthly ones I just write stuff about what me and my family have been up to (we live abroad and so don't catch up often with those back in the UK) and ask how they've been.

I don't see the point in writing cards that just say Hi/From, always write a personal message. It takes a while but I think it's therapeutic.

Show quote history

Totally agree! A letter written inside a card is a nice way to maintain contact with the small group of people who you are fond of but very rarely see. But a random bit of paper saying Merry Xmas to someone you see every week is just so odd!

cardibach · 07/12/2023 00:07

eardefender · 05/12/2023 11:38

Its a lovely old fashioned tradition and i am sad it is dying out. I always send them. They are so christmassey and thoughtful. A text or email cant compare.

To you.
To me, they are a wasteful and slightly annoying way of showing thought. It doesn’t take into account that I don’t like/have any where to display them. That I have to deal with them after. I’d prefer a text or phone call.
Maybe think about recipients rather than yourself when sending greetings.

cardibach · 07/12/2023 00:09

Ponderingwindow · 05/12/2023 14:56

Yes, I absolutely despise that. Give to charity if you are going to give to charity. It is not instead of doing cards and your charitable donations do not need to be advertised. The two actions are not linked.

Show quote history

Of course they are linked if the only reason you have spare cash to give to charity is because you haven’t wasted it on a load of cards and postage…

Dogcatmousedog · 07/12/2023 00:14

I actually send about 12 in post and another 20 I deliver , I give cards by hand to work colleagues .