Christmas Cards

[sofiaparker]

Hi everyone,
Christmas is soon approaching and I want to give out cards at uni.

I have always loved doing cards. But uni is a big place. I'm friendly with everyone but there are certain people I speak to more.

How can I give out cards without offending anyone. It's still quite early in the year and not all friendship groups have formed yet. And I do not want to come off as rude or leaving people out. Because I feel I could genuinely forget about someone I've spoken to or hung out with before.

Am I unreasonable for wanting to write cards in the first place?

I’d think you’re in a minority of young people who give out Christmas cards, none of my kids - ages 25-30 bother, but I do expect them to give me a card! They wouldn’t send any to friends at all. And their friends don’t either. Just write and give as many or as few as you like but don’t expect many//any in return.

Not unreasonable per se, if it's something you like doing, but I'd limit it to the people you're closer to.

Admittedly I was at uni a long time ago, but I doubt the average student is hugely into Christmas cards, so I wouldn’t expect much (or anything) back.

You'll probably find it more rewarding to put your time and effort into the friends outside uni who you know appreciatththe cards.

I think it's a lovely tradition and feel sad that fewer and fewer people send them. Each to their own preference though.
It always makes me smile when I receive a card and for that little piece of joy alone, I will keep sending them.
It's lovely that you want to do this and it will spread a little joy in the world. I suppose the way to do it is better aware and tactful. If you have forgotten to write one for someone, or don't want to give a card to someone, don't give cards out in front of them.
A top tip, is always have some spare blank ones in your bag!

Of course it’s a nice thing to do if you can be bothered. If your recipients are in halls, perhaps pop them in their post boxes so you don’t have to publicly distribute them and highlight those who aren’t getting one!

I haven’t done cards for years, when I do get them they go in the recycling. They’re outdated and a waste of resources. I can’t imagine uni students being into them at all.

Write a few for closer friends, don't go crazy if you think they won't write one for you. Cards aren't really a big thing at uni so I wouldn't worry.

If someone gives you a card and you don't have one for them, you say "oh sorry X, I left a few in my room I'll try to get it to you tomorrow"

I think you’re wasting your time and effort. Barely anyone gives out Christmas cards these days (we stopped years ago), and I’d guess no young people at all do. They’ll just go straight in the bin.

Just write the cards to the people you hang around with more eg house mates and course mates.

Almost no one amongst your peers will bother with actual physical cards. (Some, at the developmental stage of being anti-everything, will interpret being given one as an act of socio-political aggression …)

Drop one in the office of any lecturer/ tutor who has bothered to learn your name and who might be helpful if you need an extension in the spring.

Otherwise, I’d advise keeping them for home friends, and your family.

Plus it avoids the awkwardness from non card givers having to say sorry I haven’t written mine yet/sent mine yet etc.

Not very nice when someone has taken the time, effort and money to send you a card! I still send them, and receive them , and there are loads in the shops and online so somebody must be buying them! Can’t you use them as part of the Christmas decorations?

You’re in the dwindling minority. The vast majority of people simply don’t bother.

We get about 2 these days, and one of those is from from the company that supplies our heating oil 😂

As for using them as part of the Christmas decor? No way. They go straight into the recycling bin.

I can't imagine sending cards now. Im mid 60s and haven't sent any for 10 years. Hate them.

Wrote to close friends and tutors. I always did & it was well received. A lovely but dying tradition 😊

Well they’re still very much on sale so each to their own

It's a dying tradition. I'd be surprised if very many uni students actually do Christmas cards at all.

I'm 59 now and haven't sent them for at least 10 years. It was very liberating when I decided to stop. DH was horrified and insisted that he would definitely keep on with it and take over sending them to all of his larger family but guess what?! He never did. It seems it was wifework (no longer for this wife). We now barely get any and I like it that way.

If you really want to do Christmas cards then just stick with the people you hang out with most. Some might engage with it, some won't.

I think the decline in card sending, not just at Christmas, is sad. They do bring a smile to people's faces. I used to have the same dilemma when I worked in offices. I'd often be handed a card from a colleague I hadn't even thought of. So I always kept a box of cards handy in my desk drawer so I could reciprocate - without making it look too obvious. I agree with other posters though, the tradition is dying so don't expect too many fellow students to return the favour.

It does all seem a very strange evolution. I’m older than you, @Topseyt123 - and can’t resist buying cards every Christmas, and then realising once again just how few people would welcome receiving one. (Straight in the recycling …) So I send maybe a dozen and the rest pile up.

A relative of mine still insists on sending them to everyone. Every year the amount they spend on postage stamps creeps closer to £100. At which point I’m going to have to stage an intervention …

But I know people even twenty years younger than I am simply do not send them. I worry that the OP might be seen as weird (or oblivious to the environmental crisis) by her fellow students (?) if she does.

I just send them to elderly relatives and loved ones abroad. I send a whatsapp with festive stuff/clips to others.

My remaining relatives are in their late 80/90s and I'm no spring chicken myself. I don't want cards anymore, I think they've had their day for most people now.

I don’t think they’ll go straight in the bin. Many people send fewer cards because of the cost of postage but you won’t have that problem. It’s nice to receive a card and the charity Christmas cards are importantly income for good causes.

Send to whoever you want to send to. Happy Christmas

I don’t think they do bring a smile to people’s faces anymore. When I receive the few I get I think shite do I have to send one back, I really don’t want to, I wish whoever it is hadn’t sent me one.

I think it’s lovely to give and receive cards. We still send as many as we did 30 years ago, and generally receive the same amount. I always particularly look forward to the cards with the round Robin updates of what people have been up to over the last year. I’ve never come across anyone who would be so churlish as to throw a Christmas card in the bid that someone had taken the trouble to buy and write.

Don't bother, complete waste of time and paper, and they've gone out fashion anyway.

The round Robin, just telling you the best bits of their life, like Facebook.

Who cares what is in and out of fashion? I love Christmas cards, and apparently my friends and relatives still do too.