2025 Holiday Card Round-Up

[Anonymous]

Not sending out Christmas cards is the gift I give myself. Stopped maybe 6 or 7 years ago. The number I get now is dwindling, but it's OK. Have received 4 so far this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve received about 10, all photo cards with absolutely no personalization or genuine greetings. I only send a very few fully handwritten, non-photo cards to people.

To me a photo card is sufficiently personal. I like getting pics of friends and kids. Realtors and insurance agents don't send vacation pics.

I love the Tik Toks and Instagram posts this year that prove just how impersonal they are; multiple people admitted to goofing and forgetting to change the name of the pre-written message from the generic last name to their family’s actual last name. That is how impersonal and careless the whole process is. Vacation photos are for social media.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I send out about 100 but am cutting back this year. If I haven't received a card from you or haven't heard from you all year, then I'm dropping you. This includes a lot of DH's relatives.

Ah, “I’m dropping you.” The true spirit of this season. ‘Tis the season for reciprocation or no greetings at all. What a lovely holiday sentiment that reveals a lot about modern-day card senders.

[Anonymous]

I stopped sending them out years ago.

Usually when I get them these days I throw them straight into the fireplace without opening them. They’re just holiday “we’re great!” brags, no one who sends me one has seen me in over a decade. I don’t feel the need to keep in touch on that basis alone.

I’ve so far only seen one this year, it was from a professional real estate firm. Toss.

My goal is to eventually just get off everyone else’s list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I stopped sending them out years ago.

Usually when I get them these days I throw them straight into the fireplace without opening them. They’re just holiday “we’re great!” brags, no one who sends me one has seen me in over a decade. I don’t feel the need to keep in touch on that basis alone.

I’ve so far only seen one this year, it was from a professional real estate firm. Toss.

My goal is to eventually just get off everyone else’s list.

How are we to know you don't enjoy them? You could write "card refused" and have it sent back by the PO? Then we'd know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With all the people dumping photos all over social media, I truly don't need a card. Save a tree and all. I feel bad tossing all those smiling faces into trash, but what am I to do with them?

Plenty of people not on SM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I send virtual cards.

I hated those the most. I’d have to click on some animation and watch it or my elderly aunt would get a notice saying I hadn’t opened mine yet and ask me why. Like the old days when Grandma would notice you didn’t cash your $10 birthday check and ask you why. (Why? Because you’re on social security, Grandma. I’m good.)

That function alone is way more annoying than even regular cards with stuff like “100 people in our backyard for Tom’s 50th and a great time was had by all !!” LOL why do I care about this, I knew you in college 40 years ago, you live in North Dakota, I’ve never met your kids or Tom and I’ll never see you again in this lifetime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I send virtual cards.

I hated those the most. I’d have to click on some animation and watch it or my elderly aunt would get a notice saying I hadn’t opened mine yet and ask me why. Like the old days when Grandma would notice you didn’t cash your $10 birthday check and ask you why. (Why? Because you’re on social security, Grandma. I’m good.)

That function alone is way more annoying than even regular cards with stuff like “100 people in our backyard for Tom’s 50th and a great time was had by all !!” LOL why do I care about this, I knew you in college 40 years ago, you live in North Dakota, I’ve never met your kids or Tom and I’ll never see you again in this lifetime.

You sound miserable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you still sending?

Receiving?

How many?

I know it’s early and many people haven’t sent their cards yet, but I feel like last year I noticed a dramatic drop in numbers. I’m curious if those of us who typically send/receive can weigh in with an update on what they are seeing.

Fwiw, I’ve noticed multiple people posting comments on social media this week along the lines of, “Hats off to all the moms still sending holiday photo cards” and “Please don’t cut me from your list just because I haven’t mailed a holiday card in a decade.” That’s what prompted me to post tonight.

Send 160 (both sides of the family are large), receive about 60. One entire side of the family does not send holiday cards at all

[Anonymous]

I'm surprised so many people don't send them anymore. I am in my early 40s and many (most?) people in my cohort do not use social media. DH and I don't. We have lived in 4 states together and have friends all around the country- I think that's common for people with graduate degrees (like I imagine many on this board have). It doesn't mean the friendship is superficial if we don't see each other throughout the year. I don't see my cousins often now that everyone has gotten married, but we keep things going on a group text thread, and I like seeing all their kids growing up. Hopefully once we are through the intensive child-rearing phase (we are all in different parts of the country) we will have more opportunities to reconnect in person. The kids' grandparents and great aunts/uncles all love getting cards to hang up. DH works remotely now, in a small and very close-knit organization, and everyone sends cards so we their colleagues can get a glimpse into their real lives.

[Anonymous]

I sent out 75 this year. I have the website mail them directly. It's worth the effort to me because I really enjoy to get them and it feels like a way to connect with friends and family (not on social media).

We've received about 15 so far. We usually get about 50-75.

[Anonymous]

I will send out 70 but have only received three this year. Much less than previous years.
Then I realized stamps are 78 cents! Can’t blame people for skipping. I do love the tradition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised so many people don't send them anymore. I am in my early 40s and many (most?) people in my cohort do not use social media. DH and I don't. We have lived in 4 states together and have friends all around the country- I think that's common for people with graduate degrees (like I imagine many on this board have). It doesn't mean the friendship is superficial if we don't see each other throughout the year. I don't see my cousins often now that everyone has gotten married, but we keep things going on a group text thread, and I like seeing all their kids growing up. Hopefully once we are through the intensive child-rearing phase (we are all in different parts of the country) we will have more opportunities to reconnect in person. The kids' grandparents and great aunts/uncles all love getting cards to hang up. DH works remotely now, in a small and very close-knit organization, and everyone sends cards so we their colleagues can get a glimpse into their real lives.

Younger people are sending these? I’m late forties and most people I know have stopped.

I’m sending less than ever. Maybe 10-15. Received 3.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will send out 70 but have only received three this year. Much less than previous years.
Then I realized stamps are 78 cents! Can’t blame people for skipping. I do love the tradition.

WHOA. That's nuts. Makes me grateful for the costco pack of forever stamps I bought a few years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will send out 70 but have only received three this year. Much less than previous years.
Then I realized stamps are 78 cents! Can’t blame people for skipping. I do love the tradition.

Wow! I'm still using my forever stamps from last year, but yes, stamps are a big outlay for this project.
I order from the post office because like hell will I go in person if I don't have to.
The website has more fun choices but I hate that they charge shipping and handling. Shipping? You are coming to my house every.day.anyway.