for how many years do you send Christmas cards to people with whom you have no other communication?

[deaconblue]

have received cards again this year from about 4 sets of friends that we haven't seen or spoken to since last year's Christmas card or the year before. Am wondering what the point is and whether not to bother next year.

depends why, and whether you would like to keep in touch with them.
I have friends abroad whom I only have xmas card contact - one day I'd like to think we may meet up on a visit either there or here.
For those in the UK, I'd say that I see most of them occasionally, not every year, but I would envisage seeing them at some point in the future when it becomes easier for us all to travel again!

I haven't bothered this year!!!!!!!

Xmas cards are soooooooooooooo environmentally unfriendly and pointless, apart from a few elderly relatives who really appreciate receiving them, I've decided not to bother anymore. It's very liberating.

Well I don't send Xmas cards ,haven't done for two years now ......but we have lived here for 10 years now and we get a christmas card every year for the family who lived here before .

For the frst few I put them back in post box with "not at this address" but they still keep coming .

I like sending Christmas cards but can also see the pointlessness of it.

This year I will be cutting down my list by thinking "do I really care if I ever hear from this person again?". If the answer is no then they are history!

I am happy to send cards to those who send to me and DH, especially those who appreciate the gesture, but next year I am going to be ruthless about removing people from the list, for whom keeping in touch is obviously pointless.

If they write letters I keep going for years, you know what is going on in their lives so if you are in the area you can phone up and pop round. I have some friendships that have a lull and then we meet again and the years just melt away ,it is lovely. If they don't write a letter I cross them off. If I didn't like them I wouldn't have sent them a card in the first place!

I've been doing an annual cull for several years now. The rule is: if I haven't spoken to you for a year and don't think you'd bother to come to my funeral, you don't get a card.

Seems fair

I only sent 9 this year - just to family. Was thinking of asking all my friends not to bother sending us xmas cards as we've got nowhere to stand them that's safe from small hands.

I have moved around all my life, so have tended to make friends and then move on. I still send cards to people I last saw in 1985 - and love getting cards back letting me know how they are getting on.