topic Re: CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY CARDS in Community Chat

CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY CARDS

Moonchilde — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 03:52:31 GMT

The other thread got me to wondering how many people still send out long lists of Christmas, Hanukkah or holiday cards, vs 25 years ago, for example.

I know that people who own a business or who have a lot of business connections probably still send out as always, for business reasons.

But in today's world vs the childhoods of many of us, husband and wife probably both work. Dealing with children's extracurricular activities takes more time than it used to. The cost of both postage stamps and cards has quadrupled.

From those long lists, maybe half to three-quarters of those cards are sent to don't send cards in return. Do you keep sending? Gradually drop people off your list? Just curious as to how people my age and younger are handling this these days. It's a bit sad, but I can foresee card-exchanging fading away in another 25 years.

I now have the time and the money, but only a very small circle who bother to send cards any more. I don't know - maybe I'll enjoy it more. Thoughts?

Re: CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY CARDS

Kitlynn — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 04:53:16 GMT

I send out Christmas cards and a hand written letter every year and have for thirty years. I will continue to do it even to the people I don't get one from. It is one of the things I really enjoy about the holidays is sitting in the evening with the Christmas lights on and all the decorations around me with a nice cup of tea or hot chocolate while I write. I still believe letter writing is an art form, good manners should be second nature and dinner should be an event! We do get quite a few cards I have to say and we also get a lot of calls and emails with people telling us how much they loved the card and letter. It is just a tradition for me so I will continue to do it.

Re: CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY CARDS

Moonchilde — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 05:03:57 GMT

@Kitlynn wrote:
I send out Christmas cards and a hand written letter every year and have for thirty years. I will continue to do it even to the people I don't get one from. It is one of the things I really enjoy about the holidays is sitting in the evening with the Christmas lights on and all the decorations around me with a nice cup of tea or hot chocolate while I write. I still believe letter writing is an art form, good manners should be second nature and dinner should be an event! We do get quite a few cards I have to say and we also get a lot of calls and emails with people telling us how much they loved the card and letter. It is just a tradition for me so I will continue to do it.

Your description sounds lovely! Getting so much pleasure from it, I would keep it up too 🙂

Re: CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY CARDS

chrystaltree — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 05:21:43 GMT

I don't send many cards out at all, I liked sending cards but after a while the number of cards I received in return dwindled and I saw no point in sending cards to people who didn't reciprocate.. Now I mail out about 15 cards a year to friends and family who live far away and who I rarely see. I usually include a short note and so do they. but NOT one of those awful Christmas Letter things! Brag letters my used to call them. I also attach a Christmas card to the presents I give. Life changes, customs change and with email and FB and social media stuff; Christmas cards are falling out of favor.

Re: CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY CARDS

Bellabutterfly — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 23:36:03 GMT

Hi Moonchilde!

I still send Christmas Card. I send out anywhere from 120 to 140 each year. I always write a personal little note in each individual hand written card.

I am 55 years old and I enjoy it. I DO NOT STOP sending Christmas Cards, if I (we) my husband and I should not get one.

Last Christmas, I was so so ill. Hospitalized twice in December alone. So, I did not and could not send Cards out last Christmas. It was the first time ever I didn't write Christmas Cards.

Friends far away, and family were all calling the house., asking if we were ok? For it was so out of character for me not to send a Christmas Greeting Card that they knew something was wrong.

It is a "Little Bit", of "Christmas Past" that I truly enjoy doing. And I hope to continue on doing it for many, many years.

Now, I you were to ask my 86 Year Old Mother...

Last year, was the first time since Mom was 17 yrs old that she did not write Christmas Cards.

Normally, she too would write out anyware from 120 to 130 Christmas Cards. She has very bad arthritis and she is just too crippled up to write them anymore. Plus, over the last 2 years so many of their friends (Hers and Dads) have passed. So last year they called the remainder and wished them a "Phone Call Christmas Greeting".

I truly hope people still continue writing...For it is truly becoming a "LOST ART". That I still treasure.

Re: CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY CARDS

PamelaSue72 — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 10:00:52 GMT

We send out a handful of cards, mostly to family and some to our closer friends. That's pretty much it. We don't send our religious cards at all; they are strictly a holiday-type card, often with cats on them. Or we will send out Santa cards as I'm a big Santa Claus fan. Easier that way and nobody is offended if I use the "wrong" religious card.

Re: CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY CARDS

qualitygal — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 10:33:18 GMT

Sad to say, our list has really gone down.So there's only a few we send out and get now.

Re: CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY CARDS

gidgetgh — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 10:40:57 GMT

I still send Christmas cards, just under 60 cards each year. I do drop people off my list and add others. I plan to keep sending cards as long as I'm able. I hate to see traditions die and, for me, this is one of them.

I ordered my cards a few weeks ago. I really like the cards made by Odd Balls, out of Arkansas. A local card/paper store is ordering them for me.

Re: CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY CARDS

queendiva — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 11:32:22 GMT

Ditching Christmas cards was the the first I did after becoming a single mom. Now I only send them out when there has been a major change in our family: moving, graduation, engagement- so I will be sending a photo card this year. College graduation and military service for one child, engagement and marriage next spring for the other. I will probably send a couple dozen cards to friends and family.

Re: CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY CARDS

Nataliesgramma — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 11:37:54 GMT

I still send them out to close friends and family...

Re: CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY CARDS

SunValley — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 12:32:59 GMT

Now that it's so easy and inexpensive to make photo cards I made one up last year and sent it to about 20 people tucked inside a Christmas card (i just love pretty cards). I added a printed note letting everyone know I was fine with room for a few handwritten lines. I also sent about 10 cards without the picture card. I can't handwrite everything anymore: after years of typing, my fingers get too sore, but I never just sign my name--always a note.

The printed "letter" is not a diary of my life or bragging about the family, just a half page at most to let folks I am happy to celebrate another holiday with them in my life. My folks always sent out those long letters with a paragraph on everyone. Ugh...I would read them and wonder what family they were talking about; it certainly wasn't mine. When I got to middle school age I demanded editing rights on my paragraph! It went from my parent's portrait of my talent as a featured clarinet player in orchestra to the realistic year of musical torture that couldn't end soon enough.

Re: CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY CARDS

RedTop — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 13:19:10 GMT

I love Christmas cards, and they are a big deal to me. I am a very conservative spender on almost everything except groceries and Christmas cards. Right now, I have at least 1,000 Christmas cards on hand, because I cannot resist buying the designs I like. I too insist on handwritten cards and notes; no printed newsletters for me.

I receive almost as many cards as I send; many cards are sent to older friends in nursing homes, or friends with health issues who are unable to send cards, but love to receive mail. My list shrinks as people die off, and this year I will take a family member off the list due to no contact with anyone in my family for 5 years.

I have already started addressing my cards for this year!

Re: CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY CARDS

just bee — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 13:56:44 GMT

@RedTop wrote:
I love Christmas cards, and they are a big deal to me. I am a very conservative spender on almost everything except groceries and Christmas cards. Right now, I have at least 1,000 Christmas cards on hand, because I cannot resist buying the designs I like. I too insist on handwritten cards and notes; no printed newsletters for me.

I receive almost as many cards as I send; many cards are sent to older friends in nursing homes, or friends with health issues who are unable to send cards, but love to receive mail. My list shrinks as people die off, and this year I will take a family member off the list due to no contact with anyone in my family for 5 years.

I have already started addressing my cards for this year!

This is wonderful! Why? Because I started collecting cards in the 70s and, after college, I spent a few years working for a stationery chain. Every Christmas I stocked boxes of marked-down cards. I still have quite a few "vintage" cards and I like to send a different design to each person on my list. Some may think it odd to send a thirty-year-old card, but I think it's odd that anyone would be offended by being remembered with a card during the holidays.

Re: CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY CARDS

Daisy Sunflower — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 14:45:26 GMT

As I get older, the list dwindles...for various reasons.

I'll probably send out a handful from the leftover cards from last year...just to use them up.

I also send out free e-cards...quick and easy.

Re: CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY CARDS

Jacie — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 14:53:04 GMT

I send cards in part to celebrate the season, but I love getting them too! I would like to say that I do not, however, enjoy those braggish Christmas letters!

My list varies from year to year, sometimes I go all out and sometimes the list is shorter, but I love lighting a fire, writing fun wishes and making it part of my Christmas tradition.

Re: CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY CARDS

maestra — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 14:55:42 GMT

A big trend is to send cards out w/family photos, kid and pets.

We send only to close friends and immediate family.

Re: CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY CARDS

Puzzle Piece — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 14:59:50 GMT

Seems like it's just not done at all today. We get very few as many folks don't do tradition like the past.

Businesses still send out their cards. I'm afraid that it's a thing of the past. I hear things like the cost of the stamps, the time to pen, the cost of a pretty card, etc. being reasons to just let that tradition go to the wayside.

Re: CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY CARDS

sunshine45 — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 15:58:12 GMT

i have stopped sending out christmas cards (personal and business). we do receive about 30 something cards each year. i prefer to now phone people during the holidays.....i find it to be even more personable when you can hear the persons voice on the other end of the phone. i try to make most of my phone calls between christmas and the first week of the new year.

i do use christmas cards to attach to gifts and/or use them for gift cards. i have already received so many holiday cards from charitable organizations, so i really dont need to buy any.

Re: CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY CARDS

chickenbutt — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 16:16:51 GMT

I'm not much of a holiday person. I purchase TWO cards - one to send to my father and one to give to my husband. This, mostly out of a sense of duty.

There was a time when I sent out cards, but not in some sense of 'have to send them to everybody I've known since the beginning of time'. I sent them to people with whom I was otherwise in contact.

Re: CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY CARDS

Moonchilde — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 17:28:07 GMT

@Daisy wrote:
As I get older, the list dwindles...for various reasons.

I'll probably send out a handful from the leftover cards from last year...just to use them up.

I also send out free e-cards...quick and easy.

@Daisy Sunflower, when e-cards became very popular, all of my friends and some family jumped on that bandwagon and mostly stopped sending physical cards, and from that point on, when they stopped those they just mostly stopped altogether. It's disheartening 😟