The lost art of Sending Christmas Cards

My circles of friends, and my relatives, still exchange cards; but I know many have cut down because the total for the cards and stamps can be steep.

Actually the cost of an individual letter stamp for posting within the UK is very low considering it can cover any distance from the next street to the furthest of the Shetland Isles, but the total for a sizeable batch seems high, especially to those who want owt for nowt!

I still counted about 30 exchanged cards last year though, so few of my contacts have reduced the number.

I used to pick out humorous ones particularly relevant to their intended recipients, but those are the more expensive so I now go mainly for the lower-cost boxed sets.

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Last year I had one "card" from a couple I've known for many years, but in an odd digital form I found really rather hurtful.

I first thought it an unsolicited advertisement but I don't normally receive them. So then thought fraud attempt. Then I spotted their names and twigged the truth. The couple had used some tacky web-site that creates an e-post "card" by tacking a picture and generic greeting to a simple form in which the sender enters the names.

It looked cheap and worse, felt cheap - "Happy Christmas by 'Access' ".

Previously, they'd always bought cards that supported the RNLI charity, which I also support, so were doing that no longer.

I was tempted to send a terse "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, xxxx and vvvvv, from [Arish]" e-post with an attached Winter-scene photo I'd taken; but decided I am above that - and pointedly sent a proper card from the RNLI shop.

Today, I tried to send a card to my friend in Australia. I promised her I'd send one. I got told Australia isn't allowing them, unless I wish to send it express... at about $50-$60. I am told it's because of covid, but wouldn't that mean price is not the issue?
I am going to see if there is some other way to make her Christmas a little better.
It's been a good day, but this really makes me sad.

As a postman I have noticed a steady decline in cards sent every christmas

I have sent them for so long now without receiving very many in return. 😐 It's gotten expensive, so I didn't send any for the first time this year. I used to love taping them on the door. On the old EP we used to be able to send greeting cards to each other. 💓🤗💌It would be nice to see that here.

Agree. Seems to have started with the internet. In my case, I would receive e-cards from friends instead of real cards. That’s ok, even though they are kind of meaningless to me. I still send real cards.

I remember that, too! And I remember them getting a card that they didn't have a clue who it was from! Lol? Every year! Remember them sitting trying to work it out eg "who ARE Tom and Margaret???" 😆😆😆

I still send cards...not nearly as many as I once did. People think sending an e-card is good enough. I prefer the real thing!

True. I fact I was thinking about it few days back. There used to be a time when we spent lot of time selecting the Christmas cards. Now it's all online. Less effort and less fun 🙁

I got my first Christmas card today! YES! :)
On my way to get cards and things out and going today as well.

I love Christmas for so many reasons!

I’m a total card sender.

I can remember my grandmother sending out about FIFTY Christmas cards every year. My parents didn't send any. This year, I sent out FOUR cards.

We still send them. We include grandchildren pics for family and some friends. We handwrite notes inside. Neither of our families ever sent newsletters with cards, so we don't do it.

These days, a lot of people send electronic Christmas cards by email. You still have to buy them (they only cost a few pence) but when you receive one it looks like you’ve got a personalised animation from Pixar, just for you.

https://www.jacquielawson.com/cards/christmas

Jacqui Lawson is a fine example of this art.
Follow the above link and then “Preview this card” on the right…

My wife still sends cards but it seems the mailing list becomes smaller every year. From over 100 when we first married to about 50 now.

just another thing facebook ruined for everyone.

Good for you. :-) It's a great thing to do. Sadly, life has been crazy and by the time I remember, it's too late to send them. :-(

I stopped. It took a lot of time because I had a lot and people don’t send them so I figured I’ll save the money.

Wanna get married?