When I was a kid, my mom would hand write dozens of Christmas cards, and holiday cards to those friends who celebrated another holiday. And as the season progressed, the doorway between our kitchen and dining room quickly filled with tacked-on cards from friends and relatives across the country. Checking the mail was exciting, almost as exciting as finding a smidge of blank space on the wall to stick up yet another warm wish for a happy holiday season.
This year, I have two cards sitting on my China cabinet. Now, I know it is still early in the season (and I don’t even have my own cards sent out) so I am sure that a few more will trickle in. But what is more surprising to me is how many of my family and friends have flat out said that they weren’t sending them this year. Granted, I am a traditionalist, down to making my own cards and having my “to send to” list hand written in my Filofax, but still. I can’t help but wonder what is ending a long standing holiday tradition. Is it lack of time? No extra money for cards and postage? Apathy?
Regardless of my lack of time and money, I will definitely be dropping my cards in the mail the next few days. I’m only sending about 30, but it is still a tradition that gets me into the holiday spirit and makes me feel good, even if I’m writing them at midnight. To me, Christmas cards are an essential part of the holidays, and a big part of me still feels like my five year old self every time I open the mailbox and see a non-bill shaped, handwritten envelope. Hopefully I can instill the same feeling in a few others this year.
Do you still write Christmas (or holiday) cards? Did you use to, but don’t anymore? I’m definitely not judging since I completely understand there are greater demands in life, but I’m curious- feel free to share in the comments!
A comment from Steve, which somehow got deleted…
Yes we send out Christmas cards, although it is quite expensive to do from France to UK, we also include a newsletter of what we have been doing during the year with pictures, because our card might be the only contact we have with some people each year. We include a small number of pictures of us in the newsletter. We have been doing these since about 1989!!
Steve
We have only gotten one Christmas card so far! It looks so sad all by itself. (I also have not sent out our Christmas cards yet…actually I haven't even made them yet…) But don't worry, you'll get one from me! I have also been scouting out the mailbox everyday looking for anything that doesn't look like another bill! 🙂
I´ve posted all but 2 of my Christmas cards (well, I gave them with my Mum to take to the UK to post for me), but we´ve only received 2 so far this year. To be honest I´m not expecting many, since we´ve moved to Switzerland it´s clearly harder for people to remember us 🙂 The last couple of years I have included a note with the news from the year, but this year I just didn´t have time. Sometimes I wonder if it´s worth sending them as there is never enough time to send them and write anything personal in them, so they almost all end up with the same generic message which makes me feel like I haven´t made an effort. Although, saying that, I love to receive Christmas cards, regardless of how short the message is. It shows that the person has thought about us, and looks pretty on the side in the lounge 🙂
In all honestly, we never sent very many, if any, Christmas cards. Our budget was really tight and December was one of our worst months (self-employed) and we just couldn't afford it. When things improved and we could, I just didn't want to.
We used to get cards but we don't anymore – just a few. I don't think it's because we don't send them – I think it's because people don't send too many anymore. It's kind of sad. Now that people don't do it I'd kind of like to.
I haven't sent mine out yet, but that's only because I'm waiting for them to arrive. I've always sent out cards, mainly because growing up, that's what was done. But I enjoy it (as daunting as it sometimes feels). I have noticed though that our collection has dwindled quite a bit in the past couple of years. I think people just don't have the time, and now with Facebook, maybe they feel there is no need. I still love receiving cards in the mail, even if its short and sweet. I think too, that more people have generic cards on hand and only mail them out to people they receive from, though if everyone did that, no one would get cards. It's sad that no one sends hand written notes and letters anymore, though I have to confess that I'm one of them. Email just makes it too easy not to. But Christmas is the one time of year that I make a point to.
Yep, that's what I always remember! But I definitely hear you on the cost issue- between the cards and postage it is pretty pricey!
Yay! You'll have one coming from us too- it is addressed but I haven't made the cards yet. Hopefully those will get checked off the to-do list tonight!
I agree! I haven't written mine out yet, but they will certainly be short this year. But it's the thought that counts, right?
Yep, it seems as if the trend is withering away. But even though money and time are tight and I'm only doing a few dozen, it still gets me in the holiday mood. Gotta do what makes you happy!
I completely agree! When I was a kid, that's just what was done. I'm still a bit of a traditionalist- I still send "real" birthday, anniversary and thank you cards in addition to Christmas cards. Glad I'm not alone! Now I just have to get the darn things done and out!
A late comment… I have sent out Christmas cards for years but recently really expanded my list and send out quite a lot of them. Every one has a brief (or longer) personal message and is signed, and all envelopes are addressed by hand. I think it's important and thoughtful. I was seriously disappointed this year over how few we received. And those we did receive tended to be non-personalized and unsigned with computer printed addresses; this seems to miss the point.
I blame this on FaceBook and add it to my "reasons why I hate FaceBook" list. It's becoming really difficult to maintain relationships with people now because no one uses the telephone or writes directly. It's becoming impossible to even get a reply to an email message.
I know that I'm a traditionalist but I think that relationships by facebook are extremely odd and the way that you broadcast your news to your 900 "friends" just seems totally wrong to me. I much prefer the private conversation, either in person or on the phone. Sadly, no one answers their phones anymore.
Sorry for the long comment but this post really hit a nerve. So sad that so many of my friends just don't care about keeping in touch anymore.
I am completely with you on all of this!!! While I am on Facebook, I really only use it to stay in touch with out of state family and friends- I think I have about 150 people on my list (and even then, I'm thinking about removing quite a few)…
We did end up getting more cards than I expected, but as you said, many were simply printed and stuck in a pre-addressed envelope. Oh well, I guess those are the times we're in, huh?
Well, I hope it’s ok that I’m writing this in August? Ahaha
When I was about 7y.o. I remember having one of those cards you’re talking about. And throughout the years I got only one from my grandmother. Since then I have never sent and I have never got any. I know that we used to have such a tradition too. (I mean, here in Russia). As you know, Christmas cards used to be how you stayed in touch with people you didn’t see as often as you’d like to. But , nowadays we communicate with people in the internet. I, personally, do not know anyone who does such a thing.
I’ll try to send a few this year. It’s never late to start, right? Ahaha.
It's never too late to comment on a post, and it's definitely never too late to start sending Christmas cards 🙂