Christmas Cards

[scarlett09]

So now I'm a little concerned about my Christmas cards. Every year, I buy a whole bunch of Lang cards, make them out to particular people, and sign it for myself and DF. I print out address labels because I secretly like making them (I spent way too much time doing them at my last job).

This year, we thought that we would create a photo Christmas card with our engagement picture on it. They will be pre-printed, so the greeting and signatures will be the same on all of them. I wanted to use the picture because it's not going on our save-the-dates, which 90% of our Christmas card recipients will be receiving at about the same time (but mailed separately). I feel like this is kind of personalized, since really no one has seen our pictures yet. Any thoughts on this? Will it be Scarlett-and-her-DF overload for these people to receive our save-the-date and Christmas card at the same time?

Honestly, I like picture cards, personally signed cards and the letters. I feel as though that I'm getting to see someone's kids get older or hear how they are doing even though it may have been awhile since we last spoke or saw each other. The pre-printed cards (which my stepmom's parents like to send) drive me nuts.

[Vanquisher]

Sounds to me like nobody can win. There apparently is no one right way to send Christmas cards. You're going to piss off somebody. I have done the form letter thing, I've done the sign a card thing, I have done the picture card thing, and this year I may not do a damn thing! I'm still undecided. If I do get out cards this year, they might be Happy Spring cards.

[Chrisada]

Well I'm the one who started the whole complaint about mass thank you cards, and even I don't write personal Christmas cards! I think it's completely different than a thank you card. We send printed cards with a family picture to about 40 people every year. I've actually never even received a personalized Christmas card.

Sounds to me like nobody can win. There apparently is no one right way to send Christmas cards. You're going to piss off somebody.

Ha, yeah, I think it can be risky. But as opposed to the printed/signed/typed update/personalized message issues, my response seems to turn on whether or not I actually like the person sending the card. I'm delighted to get any kind of card from friends who have been good friends and of whom I think fondly. On the other hand, if I get a mass-produced card from a flake who has totally skipped town on friendship, it's going in the trash with an eyeroll. And we might even first laugh about how dorky the picture looks if it's a really lousy friend and we're feeling especially mean-spirited.

I send out cards with a little extra one-sentence greeting or sentiment, but I try to limit my list to people who I think actually care about us enough to be happy to see our names in typeface/print/cursive as the case may be that year.

[DCJenn]

You know, I'm just happy to get them. It's BETTER when there's a note but you know- I'm still pretty happy that I'm on the list for my parents former next door neighbors because I love them. I don't really care that they just signed it "MaryAnn and Ed". (they used to be Mr. and Mrs. Henry but apparently turned in to MaryAnn and Ed when I turned 30)

Jenn

You know, I'm just happy to get them. It's BETTER when there's a note but you know- I'm still pretty happy that I'm on the list for my parents former next door neighbors because I love them. I don't really care that they just signed it "MaryAnn and Ed". (they used to be Mr. and Mrs. Henry but apparently turned in to MaryAnn and Ed when I turned 30)

Jenn

Exactly. If someone on my list has an issue with "just" receiving whatever I choose to and/or have time to send, then I'm happy to take them off my list & save myself the postage and spit.

[Sheherezade]

I agree with you both. As a non-Christmas card sender, I find that I am off most people's lists after a year or so. I think if you don't send them out, you don't get them.

It's not that I mind the cards. I think that it is sweet that someone thought of me. I just don't think it is personally worth the stress for ME to send them when I know that the amount of pleasure they will bring to many is mild. Also, I think I've been shaped by watching my mom stress and sweat over those Christmas letters each year -- and then listening to people she thought of as friends and family back stab her for bothering. Who needs that? You really can't win. (Wise words, Heidi.) So, I have never been a card person.

If you are lucky enough to be in a family and friends circle that does card or letters and appreciates them, go for it! I think it is a great custom for some and that the culture of Christmas cards really depends on your family groups and the friends you exchange cards with each year. Who cares what a radio show (or the members of this board!) say? If your list enjoys sending a certain type of card or a Christmas letter, keep it up.

[Chrisada]

Funny this thread just popped up. I have been stressing about getting cards out the past few days. Trying to find the right picture that doesn't make me look too too fat, then trying to find a picture where DS, who refused to smile for the freakin camera, doesn't look too too mean. Then trying to get them out before Christmas. Good grief, I just might not do it this year.

[houseelf]

I really loathe Christmas (as it is celebrated today) but tend to enjoy receiving Christmas cards, all types. I adore seeing kids grow from year to year, am interested in the sender's memorialization of their year, and appreciate the simply signed cards. I always vow to not do send them and slowly change my mind every day when I open the mail to see the little gifts instead of bills and notices. It is funny that something so small evokes a debate.

I should mention again that my opinion is probably skewed. As I've mentioned before, my "love language" is words of affirmation for those of you who have read the book.

Kelly

[Vishenka69]

This is something I never had to worry about until we moved to the boonies. I'm so glad that others aren't Christmas card people either. I just really had no idea what the etiquette was in regard to them. We've been getting lots from DH's co-workers and I just felt too guilty ignoring them. I would love to just stop replying and have them take us off the list. It's such a chore to do them for people I see once a year at best. They are also all aware that we're Jewish (as DH works every Christmas), so I really don't see a point of them sending these out. Next year I'm saving $30 and going out to lunch instead.

[Lynn]

I just got our cards sent today. I used to send "the letter" with all of them. This year, I just put the letter into the cards to the people who send us a letter. The ones who just sign their name, just get the photocard. I figure, if they really like and value Christmas letters, they would write one to us.

My DH's cousin sends us a card with a picture of their 2 children every year. We have never even met these children. We haven't seen a picture of the cousin and wife for years. So we get a picture of strangers every year, and no note whatsoever. ?? Oh, well.

[Phoebe]

I enjoy getting all kinds of cards, especially the ones with pictures to see how people have changed over the year. I enjoy receiving letters (not the two-paged kind) that give a general update. This year our camera was broken and it was very stressful to make a picture and I almost didn't even send cards. I ended up using pictures from our summer vacation and only sent them to people who sent us cards and whose addresses were in our address book. In the end, It saved me some money and bother of looking for my Christmas card list.

My mom must be like Kelly in the love languages dept. She is definitely words of affirmation. She feels bad every year if she doesn't get many Christmas cards.

Every year I say I am going to send out a Christmas card, but every year I don't. So maybe if I start them know, they will be done for this Christmas.
I also enjoying getting the cards, so maybe I should stop being lazy and cheep and send them.

Wow, 100 cards? My goal was to send out 10 this year. Now... which family members should get one of those cards