Christmas Card - Alternatives

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Christmas Card - Alternatives
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Penny Outskirts

Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 23385
Location: Planet, not on the....

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 06 12:32 pm Post subject: Christmas Card - Alternatives
I just don't want to send them this year - it seems such a waste of paper and energy, I feel like I'm being sucked into worshiping at the alter of St Clintons (even if I make my own cards) and yet I still want to let our friends and family know we care. Can we think of alternatives that have less of an impact? It would be interesting to know what other Downsizers do.

hedgewitch

Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Posts: 5834
Location: Daft wench GHQ

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 06 12:54 pm Post subject:
I have a friend who sends emails out with festive/seasonal wishes in and also the names of the charities he is donating to instead of buying and posting cards. I did this last year for friends and family (well, those of my family who have email). Most people liked it, my mother thought it was dreadful. So win/win for me and I'll be doing it again this year.

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 06 1:05 pm Post subject:

I havent sent cards for donkeys years. What I do instead is fund at least one tree planting each year (or plant one myself if I have the chance) and tell everyone that they have a share in that tree. We send, probably, about 3 cards a year to cover just those people who really don't get it, (got a couple of neighbours who would consider it a mortal slight if they didnt get a card) but apart from that, its the annual tree in lieu of cards.

boisdevie1

Joined: 11 Aug 2006
Posts: 3897
Location: Lancaster

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 06 1:59 pm Post subject:
Here in France most people don't get into all that sort of rubbish. So I've adopted the methods here and don't bother sending any. Seems like such a waste of time, money and materials.

Tinks

Joined: 16 May 2005
Posts: 678
Location: Berkshire

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 06 2:06 pm Post subject:

sally_in_wales wrote:

That's a beautiful idea.

Mary-Jane

Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 18397
Location: The Fishing Strumpet is from Ceredigion in West Wales

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 06 2:13 pm Post subject: Re: Christmas Card - Alternatives

I have to say I'm with you on this one Penny. The sending of Christmas cards is an early Victorian concept and the idea was to send a card only to those people that you hadn't been in touch with since the previous Christmas, just to let them know that they were still in your thoughts.

However, it's now been turned into a modern day socially acceptable bad habit. I utterly resent sending cards to people I see every day - particularly those I work with every day. Why? I see them all the time. So my answer, at work at least, is to put a large box of sweets on a table, with a notice saying "Mary-Jane wishes you all a Merry Christmas - help yourselves"

But as for friends and family that 'expect' cards - I'm still puzzling over that one. We tend just not to bother at all - save for the few 'simply have to' folk.

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 06 2:17 pm Post subject:
As so often on downsizer there's an appropriate article.

jamsam

Joined: 21 Oct 2005
Posts: 2560
Location: erm....i dont know, its dark.

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 06 2:40 pm Post subject:

subject close to my heart..or wallet..
ive made 5 and sent them today (two international) and thats it..i refuse to let the kids take any to school, but how do i let the parents know that instead of me looking like a complete non- festive git??

i was going to send a big charity card into school for all the teachers syaing i dont want to send any this year..but im sure the boys will be nagging me..arrghh

Green Man

Joined: 23 Jul 2006
Posts: 5272
Location: Rural Scotland.

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 06 3:24 pm Post subject:
Our children's school has had the great idea to 'save the planet' and each child should only bring one card in for the whole class. My eldest is going to send an e-card.

Penny Outskirts

Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 23385
Location: Planet, not on the....

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 06 3:25 pm Post subject:

jamsam wrote:

That's the issue isn't it - letting people know you're not ignoring them

I will do the tree thing, the woodland trust do some sposor a sapling things, so I'll do that instead. But how do I tell my great neices and nephews that Great Aunty Penny is not ignoring them - she's planted a tree instead. I could send them a card of course

gil
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18415

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 06 3:41 pm Post subject:

I like the idea of e-cards / emails, but too often they take ages to download and the animations don't work (on dial-up). This really annoys me, and completely detracts from the sender's intention. I end up cursing folk I otherwise love dearly.

I make my own cards. There are a lot of people I don't see that often, and others who still enjoy receiving cards (mainly older people).

But I too would not send cards to people I see daily etc.

hedgewitch

Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Posts: 5834
Location: Daft wench GHQ

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 06 4:00 pm Post subject:

Penny wrote:

But how do I tell my great neices and nephews that Great Aunty Penny is not ignoring them - she's planted a tree instead. I could send them a card of course

Skype them?

Penny Outskirts

Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 23385
Location: Planet, not on the....

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 06 4:08 pm Post subject:

hedgewitch wrote:

Penny wrote:

But how do I tell my great neices and nephews that Great Aunty Penny is not ignoring them - she's planted a tree instead. I could send them a card of course

Skype them?

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 06 9:09 pm Post subject:
I only send cards to people I won't see, but would like to (reletives in far flung places) everyone who's remotely up to date will get an email, saying I have donated to charity instead. I resent sending cards to people I see all the time - why can't I just say merry christmas and mean it? I like the tree idea, and I might make a gingerbread house to take to work this year.

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 06 9:24 pm Post subject:
I do the tin of biscuits at work. Do you think it's acceptable to ask them all not to send me cards. I just find it ridiculous and pointless.

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