Your Christmas Card List: How to Decide Who to Include on It
On Christmas Day, I loved going through my grandmother's Christmas cards when we went to her house. She seemed to have hundreds of them--all beautifully emblazoned with holiday wishes and personal messages from friends and family.
But as time went on and I grew up and accumulated my own Christmas card list, I began to wonder just who I should and shouldn't include on my list. After all, cards cost money and so do stamps, so shouldn't there be some sort of guiding principle in deciding who gets a card?
Here I have compiled a list to help you decide who gets a Christmas card and who doesn't:
Family
If you have an immediate family member that doesn't live near you, you must send them a card. Even if you speak to them on the phone everyday, a card is special and shows that you care. This is especially true when it comes to grandparents. I know that my grandparents love to get a Christmas card from me.
As for aunts, uncles, and cousins--use your best judgment. If you haven't seen or heard from a cousin in ten years, then I wouldn't bother, but if you see them here and there, then I think a card would be a nice gesture.
Friends
Some of my friends--even those that live close to me--send me Christmas cards. My rule of thumb is to send a card if I usually receive one from a friend even if I haven't seen the person in a while. If I decide to send a friend a Christmas card who has never sent me one and he or she doesn't respond, then they won't receive another. Sometimes people I barely know will send me a Christmas card, and this can be annoying because it puts me on the spot. Generally, I will send one back, but if I really don't know (or like) the person, I won't acknowledge it.
Although nothing makes me happier than displaying my Christmas cards around the living room, some people just don't like Christmas cards. My husband and his family are those people. They don't send out cards and when they receive them they seem to get annoyed. Strange as it seems to me, if someone doesn't like Christmas cards, then respect their ways and don't force your traditions on them.
Published by Dana Barnett
Dana is currently attending graduate school but enjoys writing in her very limited spare time. She also has two dogs who are the loves of her life. View profile
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8 Comments
Post a CommentGood common sense ideas. I reevaluate my ever-growing Christmas card list every year. One of the joys of the season, at least for me, is hearing from folks I love. Of course, with the ADVENT of e-mail (hee-hee), we stay much more current with one another throughout the year. ;-)
I'm like jcorn - I only send cards to people I feel a connection. It doesn't matter if they send a card to me or not.
Great idea for an article. Well done!!!
Interesting info. I send cards to those I feel a connection. You have some very nice and practical suggestions that should make this choice easier for readers. Good job!
good article!!!! sending out cards is not as easy as it used to be!!!!
Great article! This is really tricky, especially with the price of stamps.
I love to send them and receive them...:)
Good food for thought. With the rising cost of postage I am sending more e-cards this year ... at least to the younger folks who are computer-internet friendly.