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Christmas

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Original poster

Are Christmas Cards on the way out

26 replies

Redglitter · 28/12/2014 10:01

I've noticed a steady decline in the number of cards I'm getting now. It almost seems to be a generation thing I got cards from my aunts etc but almost non of my friends sent any and absolutely none at work.

I can see the tradition dying out. A bit like sending postcards

OP posts:

Mostlyjustaluker · 28/12/2014 10:04

I hope so.

Lucylouby · 28/12/2014 10:13

I do like getting them and displaying them, but I find it a real effort to write and post them so I don't blame people for not doing them.
I think the majority of ours are from the children's friends. The tradition doesn't seem to be dying out at primary school.

LIZS · 28/12/2014 10:16

Like getting them and sent about 20 but only received from older generation and close friends this year, fewer than sent.

snowaccidentprone · 28/12/2014 10:24

Was a memo sent out saying not to bother with Christmas cards anymore?

I sent out loads (as usual), and didn't receive as many as usual (only from 1 of my cousins - out of 6, and same with dh's cousins).

Now admittedly people have died, and it would be unreasonable to expect cards from them!

Won't anyone think of the card shops and charities

threepiecesuite · 28/12/2014 10:30

We only got about 15 this year.
DD got 35

I wouldn't be too bothered if they went but hope charities don't suffer.

zippyandbungle · 28/12/2014 10:31

I bloody hope so.

Bartlebee · 28/12/2014 10:33

Definitely. We stopped 3 years ago and most of our friends have now too.

We got a lot fewer this year (all shoved in a drawer )

Davros · 28/12/2014 10:34

Sadly it does seem to be dying out. I have considered not sending them but have decided to continue. As well as making contact with people, I see it as an opportunity to support the charities I like. I know I could make a donation instead but then the people I send cards to wouldn't see the info about the charity so it can raise awareness. Also, as an example, at the special school DS goes to, making and selling Xmas cards is a big activity that directly involves the kids.

stillenacht1 · 28/12/2014 10:35

I hope so.

I donated to a local charity instead.

stillenacht1 · 28/12/2014 10:36

Totally get your point though Davros- DS is also at a special school although they don't produce cards for sale.

Davros · 28/12/2014 10:39

Beats me how some people would do Elf on the Shelf but not send Xmas cards

Baddz · 28/12/2014 10:42

I think so, yes.
I got far fewer this year.
I will only send to a very few next year, and I will try and hand deliver most of them.

MERLYPUSSEDOFF · 28/12/2014 12:59

I don't do cards. I FB message everyone and put a sizeable donation to a charity that has been important in the past year to us. I have done this for the past 10 years or so.
We have never done cards to Dad and Sister and such. They aren't fussed. People who know me in RL were in awe of me that I was first to break the tradition of cards.

JingleSpud · 28/12/2014 13:01

I didnt send more than about 5 this year

I don't like them though as its such a waste of paper

BakewellSlice · 28/12/2014 13:15

Yes there has been a drop off.

It's e-mails and FriendFace and the cost of stamps.

It will be just my aged aunties left to send to soon.

mrsnec · 28/12/2014 13:22

I wanted to stop last year but my Dm had a go at me for it. Standing behind me as I wrote them and dictating what I wrote in each one. She tries to keep a family together of people that really don't like each other very much.

This year I wrote them all in November and sent them to her to distribute so she could see I'd done it. I've not received cards from anyone I sent them to and won't be sending any next year!

lecherslady · 28/12/2014 13:30

I think so. I didn't send any this year (not intentional, just ran out of time) and most of ours were for the children. These days, I keep in touch with most people via facebook so I don't need to send cards to people I haven't spoken to all year. They're nice to receive, but I'm not bothered if I don't and they are a pain to write .

FlorenceMattell · 28/12/2014 13:40

Lots of friends have said they have donated to charity. To be honest I doubt they have. If they don't want to send cards fair enough. I plan to donate to charity rather than waste petrol and coffee money visiting them in 2015 [grins]
People you see you can say happy Christmas to anyway. I personally think cards should be for people you don't see as they live far away. I think a card shows you care about them. A message on Facebook especially if they are elderly and won't see is meaningless.

Paperblank · 28/12/2014 13:41

I hope not! I've just bought some in the sales to send next Christmas!

RojaGato · 28/12/2014 16:29

Yes and no. Lots of people under 40 have just stopped. Older people, especially ladies, will continue to do it religiously, partly out of sheer horror at what they see as the rapid declines of standards of behaviour in modern life. Those in between have the choice wither to stop, scale back to just older friends and relatives or carrying on. Eventually it will just die out.

There's so much digital communication that I see why it's happening, but I think it's a shame in a way, it's always sad to see a tradition that brings happens die out.

ChocolateWombat · 28/12/2014 16:38

I think we got a few less this year, but probably sent a few less too.
I tend to send to people we don't see - it is our only yearly contact with some of those people, fom Uni/school days and although we clearly are no longer close friends if that's the extent of our contact, I'd be sad to lose all contact.
Really don't feel the need to send them to those I see regularly though.

AngieBolen · 28/12/2014 16:44

I send more post cards than Christmas cards.

clary · 28/12/2014 16:49

Yes deffo. None of my 3 DC (15, 13, 11) sent any, even DD, apart from the older two sending them to people on their paper rounds

I sent about 8 to various aged aunts and one uni friend who is not on FB. I refuse to give them to people I see at work or my mum (whom I saw on Chr Day). Ditto mates in the area, I will either see them just before Christmas or text them or FB message them.

Amazingly we got 90, I counted them last night, but that is well down on previous years. It has been a big step for me actually, I refused to send any to DH's relatives whom I wouldn't know if they walked in the room. He said, well, you won't get one from them then! Hmmm, that's actually fine by me

Having said all that we do a round for the local Scout post service and we were very busy with that for three weekends. Maybe people are taking advantage of it as it's 25p a stamp as opposed to the eye-watering 50+ from Royal Mail. It's that as much as the time to do them that puts me off.

Gooseysgirl · 28/12/2014 18:15

Well we're bucking the trend here... I've only two that contacted us to say they weren't sending them... one made a donation to charity, another said she wanted to reduce her carbon footprint (am a bit sceptical about that one as she's known for being tight) I love sending and receiving them

Davros · 28/12/2014 18:23

A friend of mine decided to donate to charity this year but then she had to send emails to everyone to tell them! I suppose lots are on FB but not all (inc me!).

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