I was always big into sending Christmas cards. Every year I'd hand-write personal messages in each card for each friend/family member in my address book, including relatives in Honduras and Mexico.

In fact I usually took this time to write letters to my important relatives (grandmother, uncles & aunts) and send them pictures of the kids.

Last year with the craziness I was undergoing, I sent cards to only a very select few.

This year, this season snuck up on me and I started freaking out this weekend b/c it's a week from Christmas and I haven't mailed out a single card.

THEN I realized..."Hey! I haven't GOTTEN a single effin' card myself!"

So I think that I'm skipping it this year for the most part.

What about you?

I do. I just mailed off the last of my holiday cards this past Saturday. I sent out about 50 this year. The past few years I've also included a typed "year in review" type of letter which I'm sort of on the fence about. It seems impersonal, but it's also the most efficient way to let people I don't speak with regulary what I've been up to. I always hand write the addresses and try to include 1-2 personalized sentences on each card. When I was in grad school and on a tight budget, I didn't do it because buying all the cards and stamps was too expensive for me.

So far this year I've gotten 4 cards, I think.

I am sort of known amongst my friends for always remembering to send cards for their birthdays, anniversaries, etc. It's nice to get a real piece of mail, to know that someone took the time to pick out a card and send it to you.

I always send hand written thank-you notes for gifts, interviews, etc., too.

jone70 said:

I do. I just mailed off the last of my holiday cards this past Saturday. I sent out about 50 this year. The past few years I've also included a typed "year in review" type of letter which I'm sort of on the fence about. It seems impersonal, but it's also the most efficient way to let people I don't speak with regulary what I've been up to. I always hand write the addresses and try to include 1-2 personalized sentences on each card. When I was in grad school and on a tight budget, I didn't do it because buying all the cards and stamps was too expensive for me.

So far this year I've gotten 4 cards, I think.

I am sort of known amongst my friends for always remembering to send cards for their birthdays, anniversaries, etc. It's nice to get a real piece of mail, to know that someone took the time to pick out a card and send it to you.

I always send hand written thank-you notes for gifts, interviews, etc., too.

I used to spend too-much money on postage when I was tighter with money and had to include postage to Mexico and Honduras.

This is definitely a dying art. The ex used to tape all the Christmas cards that we used to get to the door of the hall closet, and the door would almost be fully covered.

My parents have received two cards this year.

Yes.

PurpleJedi said:

I was always big into sending Christmas cards. Every year I'd hand-write personal messages in each card for each friend/family member in my address book...

That used to be me as well. On top of that routine, I'd have to have the Christmas music playing while I was doing it. I used to go to great lengths to pick out specialty cards for each person. Then, like you, I began to notice that as each year went by, fewer and fewer cards were coming back in. I think the Internet has had a lot to do with why people in general have been slacking off with the Christmas cards. Though a lot of older friends and loved one's aren't all on the Internet, and these cards still mean a lot to them (...like my parents, for example).

Still, as each year comes and goes, I can't help but notice that Christmas is becoming more and more irrelevant for me. The neighbors in the building where I live are BLASTING those oldies Christmas songs right now from the radio, and I want to go next door and beat them down with a bat, lol. They play that crap so LOUD, that I feel like I'm in a damned shopping mall right here in my own home, lol. SOMEBODY MAKE IT STOP!

But back to the Christmas cards: I sent two out last week, and just sent a final four out today - and that's it for me.

One other thing I noticed this evening, when I was trying to figure out why I was sending so few cards in recent years; when I gave it some thought, I realized that many of the friends that I used to send cards to are no longer "here".

Life goes on. Happy Holidays!

This is the first year I did it. Trying to give myself some xmas spirit. Ain't working.

We haven't in about 5 years.

We still receive them though, but the numbers are dwindling. We are down to about 10 or so.

Sending holiday cards is definately Old School.

i still mail out cards and put x-mas stickers on the envelopes too.

We get a bunch, but we don't send any out by mail. We take a nice picture and send it via email, along with a Christmas message.

I send them from the office to certain professional contacts, but I've not sewnt personal cards in years.

Lammastide said:

I send them from the office to certain professional contacts, but I've not sewnt personal cards in years.

We sent 400 cards to clients. All envelopes personally licked.

PurpleJedi said:

I was always big into sending Christmas cards. Every year I'd hand-write personal messages in each card for each friend/family member in my address book, including relatives in Honduras and Mexico.

In fact I usually took this time to write letters to my important relatives (grandmother, uncles & aunts) and send them pictures of the kids.

Last year with the craziness I was undergoing, I sent cards to only a very select few.

This year, this season snuck up on me and I started freaking out this weekend b/c it's a week from Christmas and I haven't mailed out a single card.

THEN I realized..."Hey! I haven't GOTTEN a single effin' card myself!"

So I think that I'm skipping it this year for the most part.

What about you?

this did make me laugh! i was thinking the same myself this year...

i have cut down on the cards i write & actually made some special ones for a selected few.

i didn't bother with work collegues this year, i collected donations for charity instead.. all those cards! what a bloody waste when u see these people most days.

my husband doesn't send any cards at all, i don't think it's a bloke thing.. neither does my son.

i don't think people are worrying about it so much these days, but it kinda bothers me that traditional/cultral stuff like this seems unimportant

Stymie said:

Lammastide said:

I send them from the office to certain professional contacts, but I've not sewnt personal cards in years.

We sent 400 cards to clients. All envelopes personally licked.

Now THAT is one area where I will totally exploit those "below" me.

I HATE licking envelopes. That's what interns are for.

excited said:

PurpleJedi said:

I was always big into sending Christmas cards. Every year I'd hand-write personal messages in each card for each friend/family member in my address book, including relatives in Honduras and Mexico.

In fact I usually took this time to write letters to my important relatives (grandmother, uncles & aunts) and send them pictures of the kids.

Last year with the craziness I was undergoing, I sent cards to only a very select few.

This year, this season snuck up on me and I started freaking out this weekend b/c it's a week from Christmas and I haven't mailed out a single card.

THEN I realized..."Hey! I haven't GOTTEN a single effin' card myself!"

So I think that I'm skipping it this year for the most part.

What about you?

this did make me laugh! i was thinking the same myself this year...

i have cut down on the cards i write & actually made some special ones for a selected few.

i didn't bother with work collegues this year, i collected donations for charity instead.. all those cards! what a bloody waste when u see these people most days.

my husband doesn't send any cards at all, i don't think it's a bloke thing.. neither does my son.

i don't think people are worrying about it so much these days, but it kinda bothers me that traditional/cultral stuff like this seems unimportant

Actually, up until 2 Christmases ago...we'd take the kids to a local garden store/nursery that used to deck the place out with trees & decorations...I'd take a zillion pictures...then choose one to make photo cards through Snapfish.

$50 later we'd send out the cards to our circle of friends & family. (I even photowhored the pics here a few times)

It took a hellalot of time and money.

[Edited 12/17/12 18:35pm]

PurpleJedi said:

excited said:

this did make me laugh! i was thinking the same myself this year...

i have cut down on the cards i write & actually made some special ones for a selected few.

i didn't bother with work collegues this year, i collected donations for charity instead.. all those cards! what a bloody waste when u see these people most days.

my husband doesn't send any cards at all, i don't think it's a bloke thing.. neither does my son.

i don't think people are worrying about it so much these days, but it kinda bothers me that traditional/cultral stuff like this seems unimportant

Actually, up until 2 Christmases ago...we'd take the kids to a local garden store/nursery that used to deck the place out with trees & decorations...I'd take a zillion pictures...then choose one to make photo cards through Snapfish.

$50 later we'd send out the cards to our circle of friends & family. (I even photowhored the pics here a few times)

It took a hellalot of time and money.

[Edited 12/17/12 18:35pm]

ain't nobody got time for dat!.. but it felt like a good idea at the time. hope u didn't make them wear a nasty jumpers for xmassy authenticity?

i sewed mine, about a dozen small motifs. rudolph with a ginormous red nose, the craft cards i got ultra cheap in the sale. it saved me a few quid as well

I didn't care for years and would cite religion for not bothering, but this year I did give one to work

Yes and yes. Although my current list of people to send cards to, and receive cards from, is shrinking by the year. It's under ten right now.

They do over here...and if it's from someone in your same city it's usually accomapnied chocolate or a nice bottle of vino

I really enjoy Christmas cards and so do my family. We put them all up in the hallway and then put a selection in our Christmas scrap book. We send out lots over 100 and get back about the same. Maybe old school but nothing wrong with old school good wishes and joy.

Yep I send out Christmas cards and enjoy receiving them as well. To me, Christmas cards bring a sort of Christmas spirit and seeing them displayed on my bookcase puts me in a Christmas mood.

i have sent a couple this year

I send about 40 or so... and have gotten about 15 in the mail so far. I enjoy it.

PS to those of you licking large numbers of envelopes... a sponge or papertowel in some water works just as well!

I normally don't but last year I decided I wanted to start but never actually made it.

This year I made a list and bought 3 boxes of cards to send and I haven't started yet.

Which means it's basically too late this year. Unless I do them tonight. But I don't even have the addresses I need. hmmm...

We'll see.

Yes, I send some. Mostly to older relatives and those that I don't see often.

We get about a dozen. Not like the good old days when my parents home was filled with Christmas cards strung up everywhere and most had notes inside too.

i still do.....so far ive recieved 9 cards, some of them r from pals ive met on-line.

I like to get cards in the mail....who doesnt?

but if im seeing the person at x-mas time i will give it in person.

I gave out about 25 two weeks ago and have received 7

veronikka said:

I gave out about 25 two weeks ago and have received 7

I got one from you once! it was beautiful! Are you still making your own?

only to accompany gifts i sent to family members. in general, i don't do christmas mailings.

Yes and Yes.