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Christmas

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Original poster

No one's sending Christmas cards anymore!

57 replies

popserinis · 12/12/2013 00:23

I just think it's so sad. We donate to many charities throughout the year but also enjoy the joy of writing traditional handwritten heartfelt messages to friends in Christmas cards. Now it seems most can write one generic email on facebook to all. I wish all the charities well and donate all year round to seven different charities as well as volunteer. Many local charities would benefit more from your time than your money and true festive charity spirit should be giving your time not opting out of christmas cards. If you can't afford stamps, fair enough - if you can, put a bit of time into charity and still send your friends a christmas card (ducks prepared for the onslaught!)

OP posts:
timidviper · 12/12/2013 00:26

I still send some but less than I used to.
We have agreed, with friends that we see regularly, not to send cards and to donate to charity instead

Original poster
popserinis · 12/12/2013 00:33

I understand both sides, can't help but think Christmas spirit is dying - better get elf in! A lot of charity donations only just cover the cost of the fundraisers they employ and the marketing campaigns they run for major corporate sponsors. This part a lot of people don't think about. Lots of smaller local charities don't get the support they need in time or money.

OP posts:
normaleggy · 12/12/2013 07:15

I don't understand the connection between Christmas cards and charity - why does it have to be one or the other?! I think it's sad people don't bother anymore, I bet half of them don't actually donate to charity anyway, just use it as a reason not to send cards..

msmiggins · 12/12/2013 07:19

I give and receive lots of cards. I buy them at jumble sales throughout the year- there are always lots of umopened packs selling for pennies. My last buy a month ago was a box of 200 mixed unused christmas card with envelopes in perfect condition for £1.
Mre than half of my cards are hand delivered so costing pretty much nothing exept christmas cheer.
I love having cards fluttering through the door- I give and receive around 50 cards.

Moxiegirl · 12/12/2013 07:24

Cards are a pain, I only give to immediate family.

msmiggins · 12/12/2013 07:28

Moxie in what way are they a pain?

DziezkoDisco · 12/12/2013 07:34

I love christmas cards because they let you know someone had remembered you, if there is a message in side and you haven t seen them for ages.

I hate christmas cards and think they are a total waste of paper, effort amd money when you give them to people you see most days anyway. I used to work in an pffice where everyone would dutifully write their cards at their desk then hand them out. Why? Whats the point?

Also think if they are given (as I have heard about) to some random soul that you met on holiday in 2006, or some you worked with, or spme second cousin you will never see again, and just sign your name, what is the point?

AChickenCalledKorma · 12/12/2013 07:46

I am guilty of using facebook as a replacement for Christmas cards last year. Ran out of time. And you know what? I think I felt much more in touch with my distant friends as a result of the two-way conversation we had about the video I posted, than I ever have as a result of scrawling a note in a card and shoving it in the post.

Am now firmly in the "cutting down on cards" camp. Aged relatives only.

They were only invented about 100 years ago - people did manage to celebrate Christmas for centuries without them.

tumbletumble · 12/12/2013 07:51

I still send cards - not to local people I see all the time though.

msmiggins · 12/12/2013 07:52

Chicken- not all of us want to be on facebook.

Vatta · 12/12/2013 07:57

I think they're pointless really - waste of money and paper. I only send them to people who've sent them to us.

Rosa · 12/12/2013 08:00

This year I decided only cards to people who bothered to send me one or get in touch last Christmas. I have made the effort for years to friends ( and relations) far and wide , letters, messages etc and I just decided stop. I have eliminated about 15 and they will get a generic e mail or text. Mine I am sorry to say are not Charity as I purchased them overseas however we got a 'pennies for the poor ' box from the church at the start of December - that is full and is being taken back this week .
I love getting cards and hearing peoples news and just being 'remembered' I live overseas so don't have a huge circle of Friends and I miss it!

msmiggins · 12/12/2013 08:00

vatta you could say the same thing about the whole of christmas, it's all a waste of money- the tree, the decorations, wrapping paper, pointless and wasteful.

DoItTooBabyJesus · 12/12/2013 08:10

I'm not doing Christmas cards.

They are old fashioned, a waste of paper, generic shite.

I stopped because all of the cards are shit and I just don't feel inclined. I may send the odd one to elderly relatives.

I also prefer not to receive them.

Vatta · 12/12/2013 08:32

Cards with letters in are good, so you get news from people you may not see much.

What riles me are the cards that say "Dear Vatta, (Pre-printed merry Christmas) love so-and-so".

What's the point? They're just going to clutter up my house then be recycled.

Bah humbug.

notsomuchroomattheinn · 12/12/2013 08:32

I never go on Facebook, it's crap.

I will still send cards and I still write letters. I encourage my children to do the same.

msmiggins · 12/12/2013 08:41

notsomuchroomattheinn I agree- cards may be "old fashioned" to some but to me they are traditional and part of christ,as. We could equally say christmas trees are old fashioned, or eating turkey- or making Yule logs- all part of the rich tapestry and layers that make christmas such a wonderful time.

brainwashed · 12/12/2013 08:58

I love receiving cards but don't seem to have as many so far this year. I also recycle them to use as gift tags the following year Smile

Ragwort · 12/12/2013 09:02

I love sending and receiving cards and haven't noticed that we are getting any fewer this year; I am very happy to spend money on (Charity) Christmas cards and stamps rather than some awful PS3 game for my 12 year old Grin or a trip to the hairdresser which many people seem to think is 'essential' at Christmas.

I don't use Facebook so wouldn't know who exchanges greetings on FB Confused.

I mentioned this on a similar thread last week, I used to deliver meals on wheels for an elderly man and he used to recycle his same five cards every single year - because he never received any new ones. Sad.

I think if you are relatively young, with a lively and busy social life, lots of friends and use FB regularly it is easy to ignore the fact that for many, many people a simple Christmas card is a sign that someone is thinking about you.

Bonsoir · 12/12/2013 09:03

I loathe Christmas cards and am so glad the tradition is dying out.

msmiggins · 12/12/2013 09:13

Bonsoir- I find it interesting that you shoul "loathe" something as innocuous and trivial as a christmas card. Have you had a bad experience or something? If you receive one by accident ( and I am sure you don't as everyone must know of your repulsion) do you throw it away unopened? Do you also loathe birthday cards? Mother's day cards? What if your child made you a christmas card at school - would that also make your hackles rise?

Curious that someone should get themselves into such as state as to loathe a greetings card.

nosoupforyou · 12/12/2013 09:14

christmas cards are a massive pain - It just feels so old fashioned when i would far rather call, text or email people.

Other Christmas traditions don't feel so out of date and are fun so we carry on with them.

I'll be sending cards to elderly relatives as I know it means a lot to them, but really - are we not allowed to update those christmas traditions that just feel old and wrong? christmas should be a time to enjoy contacting friends however we and they want, not to do old fashioned admin.

AnnBryce · 12/12/2013 09:23

Look, if you like writing them, fill your boots. If, however, it's just another chore to fit in then stop, especially if you don't care if you never receive another in return. I only send to rellies now, it's liberating!

msmiggins · 12/12/2013 09:28

I'm just surprised they arouse so much emotion and ill feeling.

nosoupforyou- you may find them "old fashioned admin" but to many it is fun.
When my kids were younger we made our cards, the kids loved the craft activities, potato printing, glue and glitter- we recieved many home made cards too.
The children loved licking the envelopes for me, sticking on the stamps, taking them to the post box ( they would post one for Santa too- Royal Mail do a free Santa return service.

We take local ones on foot, often in the evening so we can admire everyone's christmas lights, popping cards through friends and neighbours letter boxes.
We still have strings with little pegs to hang up the cards, my kids would play with them, sort them into themes, we would play memory games.
After christmas was over the kids would cut out the pictures, punch a hole, thread through the ribbon and we would store them away to be used as gift tags the following year.

Loathsome? A pain? Out of date? A waste of paper? Generic shite?

There is more to christmas than buying the lastest mobile phone.

AnnBryce · 12/12/2013 09:30

I think you're taking the opinions on here as a personal slight, msmiggins - folk will do as they please, as will you. That's life!