To think this is strange from my neighbour?

[Pekitothebunny]

This morning I woke up to a pack of Christmas cards that have been posted through my door. They are new Christmas cards, still sealed within their pack, unused. A note came with it saying “hi, it’s Janet from number 5. I bought these for you to send out to the neighbours next year”

Huh? Why would anyone do that? She’s isn’t my direct neighbour, she’s like 4 houses down. We don’t speak or have any kind of relationship. However, since we moved in a few years ago she has always sent us a Christmas card, and I assume she sends them to everyone on the street. We don’t bother with Christmas cards and never send them out. Could it be that she’s offended that we never send cards so this is her not so subtle way of hinting that she will be expecting a card from us in 2025?? Why would anyone care so much?

Im planning on just throwing the cards away and ignoring it. Would anyone else find this weird?

No- people have suggested perfectly reasonable replies such as "thank you but we dont send cards due to the environment". Nothing at all wrong with that.

As for the more outrageous replies - well, you play stupid games you win stupid prizes. If you take it upon yourself to lecture strangers on how they should live their lives then you should be prepared for some push back. Dont like it? then mind your own business. It's not that hard to do.

Better than what my neighbour did. She posted weed killer through my door. Apparently I had a few dandelions in my front garden that weren't keeping up with the areas 'aesthetic'. Batty old bag.

DP also thinks this as well. He said he thinks she’s just trying to be nice and doesn’t realise it comes across rude or passive aggressive and maybe just wants a bit of community or to build a relationship. But I find it odd.. if that’s the case then it’s a strange way to go about it

Sorry haven’t rtft but what if you were Jewish/muslim/pagan? It’s a big assumption of hers to think you’re a Christian.

Popping around might be a good thing, but it depends on neighbours mental state, and op is the best judge of this.

I would write the whole pack now.

In each card write:
Dear Janet, from @Pekitothebunny

Then on the envelope of each write:

For Janet (open Christmas 2025)

For Janet (open Christmas 2026)

For Janet (open Christmas 2027)

For Janet (open Christmas 2028)

etc until you have done the whole packet. Then post them all back through her letterbox today.

I'm sure the whole street will have one of these.

I'd ignore as she sounds deranged

Oooo how petty! You can either ignore and chuck them in the recycling or post them back through her door with a note saying "thanks, but I don't need them"

I really hope the whole street has received a passive aggressive pack of Christmas cards.
I like the idea of writing one out for each year going forwards and posting the whole lot back at once. But that’s too wasteful.

Just put them back through her letterbox either with her original note or no note!

My friend has popped round while I was reading this so I mentioned it to him while I was boiling the kettle because it’s funny (sorry op) but also because it’s unusual behaviour.

he replied (obviously joking) tell her to take them round to her house …small pause… and burn them on her lawn.

I wasn’t expecting it. I thought he was going to say put them back through the door so I laughed really hard, it was just the way he deadpanned with that pause it was so funny!

so there you go that’s your advice 😂

She says "I bought these for you to send out to the neighbours next year”

You don't send any cards.

I'd post them back to her with a note "I am returning these as I do not send Christmas cards to anyone so will not use them".

Cards not wasted.
She'll understand why you haven't ever sent her one.
She'll read between the lines and see that you think she's ridiculous.

I'd have to respond because she's trying to tell you you're rude or something.

This. 😂

I expect most houses on the street have received the same thing and there are bemused conversations across many breakfast tables today

Well this sort of attitude explains why society is so broken now. Would it really have hurt you to send her a Christmas card, when she's made the effort to wish you a Merry Christmas several years running OP? It could be that she's lonely and is reaching out in the hope of making friends. Personally, I'd be tempted to go and knock on her door, explain that you don't do Christmas cards, which is why you've never responded, and have a chat with her while giving her the cards back. You may find that if you go to the trouble of speaking to her, that she's actually a nice person, she's clearly got a sense of humour, and who knows, you might even become friends.

Are you new to Mumsnet? It's not the online version of War and Peace. It's okay to find humour in situations.

Put them on the local Facebook group "free pack of Christmas cards if anyone wants them".

Personally I'd just pop them back with a note saying "thanks, but we don't send cards".

I used to get one "to number 4, from number 10". Honestly, what is the point??

Send all the cards in the pack back to her next Christmas, all with her name on!

Just put them back through her door with a note, saying you don't send cards. Not difficult.

No, just wondering if people are trying hard to be funny or whether they'd actually follow through with their silly responses 😂

We had a card this year from number 17 that said, “Merry Christmas Emma and family, as we didn’t receive a card from you last year, and have, as yet, not received on this year, we will be knocking you off our Christmas card list for next year. Hope you understand. Angela and all at 17”.

Alrighty then. Not only do we understand, we really don’t care.

Is that you Janet?

🤭🤭

This. She is either insane or being rude/ passive aggressive. Id definitely post them back saying something along these lines.

It's very odd!! She's clearly pissed off that you haven't sent her a card. I have a couple of neighbours I send cards to and they don't reciprocate. It's fine!

I'd be doing my very best to stay on the right side of Janet