Non American here - I do not understand the family photo Christmas cards

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everyone does this all over the world

Yeah, I've also lived in France and the UK, and it is not uncommon in those places. It might still be more common to get an ordinary purchased, non-personalized card (I get cards from my European friends that are nothing but a winter scene and a signature-- what's the point of that?) but family photos are not unheard of. OP seems to be a lil out of touch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the US we move from little towns to cities to get jobs. We rarely see our Aunts, clubs is, grandparents, best friends from HS, etc.

We sent cards at Xmas to say hey this is what our family looks like now.

Good point. People in other parts of the world never move from "little towns" to cities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in uk and France and this is one American thing that just baffles me.. people sending photos of their family as a Christmas card. Am I the only one who finds this weird? Like - why do you think i want to display a photo of YOUR family? It feels like people have wildly misjudged how much other people care about their stuff. If a French or British person did this I think everyone would find it so awkward. Enlighten me Americans - what am I missing here?

I’m an American. I don’t understand having a royal family or rioting when the govt suggests a full-time work week be longer than 30 hours or lunches be shorter than 2 hours.

So there’s things we both don’t understand about each other’s respective cultures, huh?

[Anonymous]

But everybody texting each other and sending pictures of their family. I find no need to put my face in my family on a card at a holiday time..
My brother did request a picture of me as he was aging, and he wanted to have it for his table side because I’m his last remaining relative I get that.

I think it’s freaky that you know what if you get lost in the mail who’s going to have your picture?

[Anonymous]

So throw them in the trash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in uk and France and this is one American thing that just baffles me.. people sending photos of their family as a Christmas card. Am I the only one who finds this weird? Like - why do you think i want to display a photo of YOUR family? It feels like people have wildly misjudged how much other people care about their stuff. If a French or British person did this I think everyone would find it so awkward. Enlighten me Americans - what am I missing here?

I’m an American. I don’t understand having a royal family or rioting when the govt suggests a full-time work week be longer than 30 hours or lunches be shorter than 2 hours.

So there’s things we both don’t understand about each other’s respective cultures, huh?

+10000

[Anonymous]

I call troll. We get family photo cards from our European friends. This is someone who hates them and wants to start another thread complaining about it instead of just telling her/his friends to take her/him off the list. Why are these cards so triggering to you? Just let it go. Throw it out and ask to be taken off the list.

[Anonymous]

I love receiving these cards.
It makes me happy to see photos of friends near and far.

I display them on the fireplace mantle until New Year’s Day, and then put them away.

Having them around makes the holidays feel more festive, with smiling faces of friends who cared enough for us to send a card.

[Anonymous]

How about the family photo via text? With an entire typed update on the parents' careers and kids' college status? They couldn't bother to send a card but definitely wanted to brag about accomplishments via text.

[Anonymous]

I am an immigrant from former Yugoslavia, and I find it lovely and a wonderful tradition.
I do a nice photo but no Christmas letter. I, quelle horreur!!!!! mail it to my family and friends back there.
But then again, I am just a Balkan hick to your refined, unaccepting French colonizers that bombed the hell out of Damascus, were horrific Nazi collaborators, murdered left and right masses in their colonies, used guillotine nonstop, and dared to call Balkan people savages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How about the family photo via text? With an entire typed update on the parents' careers and kids' college status? They couldn't bother to send a card but definitely wanted to brag about accomplishments via text.

I get letters and photos via text and enjoy them, but I have good friends. It sounds like you don't like these people so why do you keep in touch?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am an immigrant from former Yugoslavia, and I find it lovely and a wonderful tradition.
I do a nice photo but no Christmas letter. I, quelle horreur!!!!! mail it to my family and friends back there.
But then again, I am just a Balkan hick to your refined, unaccepting French colonizers that bombed the hell out of Damascus, were horrific Nazi collaborators, murdered left and right masses in their colonies, used guillotine nonstop, and dared to call Balkan people savages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about the family photo via text? With an entire typed update on the parents' careers and kids' college status? They couldn't bother to send a card but definitely wanted to brag about accomplishments via text.

I get letters and photos via text and enjoy them, but I have good friends. It sounds like you don't like these people so why do you keep in touch?

It seems like only families with younger children do this but not older ones like empty nesters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These photo cards make the best kindling for starting a fire (literally and metaphorically)!

\

Hope you don't get any more then

[Anonymous]

I’m American (have lived internationally though) and I find these cards tacky as hell. An advert for your family instead of actual Christmas wishes.