What style is your familiy's christmas cards?

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A few years ago I posted about how we rarely get any traditional cards anyomore-the kind that depict Christmas with the Holy Family, or wise men and so on.

This year so far we received all picture cards of children, some even without a Christmas theme or symbol. Some ‘children’ are college age or older-and are clearly uncomfortable that they are posed for a Christmas card. These are not inserts-these are the card. We also get the family dog or cat or cow or car if there are no children.

I prefer regular christmas cards-with Jesus. Not the newest baby’s picture superimposed in the star of bethlehem-or a picture that was taken on summer vacation with the dad holding an iguana in disney world.

Of course I love seeing the pictures of family and friends children, but not to the degree that it takes away from the meaning of christmas from the card.

We send regular cards.
What do you do?
 
We send cards with a family photo, but also a clear Christmas theme and message. Sometimes the photo is posed, sometimes it’s from something we did during the year. Looking through my mother’s and grandmother’s old family photo albums, cards like that have been around since at least the 70s, though people had to attach the photo themselves, rather than it being one printed piece.
 
Boxed sets of cards, some religious, some not (or not explicitly–star, dove, etc). This year was “use up the leftovers” year, so very eclectic. Next year’s cards will be a “whatever’s on sale after Christmas” theme. I always include a newsletter with some religious thoughts, though, and handwrite a short personal message on each card.

For me, Christmas cards are something more blessed to receive than to give. I love checking the mail for new cards during the Christmas season, and I love hanging up the cards and rearranging them when they inevitably fall down or are torn down by a child or animal. I love the photo cards, the Holy Family cards, the Santa cards. I hate addressing dozens of envelopes and mustering up enough thought to send someone a brief message that isn’t as boilerplate as what’s preprinted on the card.

Ultimately, though, I think cards are a Good Thing, even when not religious. The exchange of greetings during the season celebrating the Christ child is a blessed thing. My atheist friends are still commemorating a Christian season, and their thoughtfulness in sending a message of goodwill and friendship is still a celebration of love. If only they could find their way back to recognizing the source of all love, our holy God! But at least there are cards, and happiness, and warmth and gifts, all indirect reminders of our Father’s goodness in sending His Son to die for our sins.
 
I was never really one to spend time sending Christmas cards. Basically if I have not talked to you all year, I have little to say just because it is Christmas.

I have had friends send cards with pictures of their new baby. When the friend is not a close friend, I kind of feel sorry for them that I was on their list of ‘this person needs to see my kid’. It makes me suspect they really have any close friends

Angie
 
We send a photo card but we always put some reference to religion in it (this year we quote the 23rd Psalm). We send cards to everyone, including people we rarely see: Christmas is a time to renew friendships.
 
To me any card is fine and welcome. 🙂 These days many just send an email card. They mean well, I’m sure, but you can’t put it on a mantle or hang it up–not unless you print it. 🤷 What I don’t like getting is long letters about all their kids little doings, grades, accomplishments, etc., especially from those we never see and who know nothing about our lives or seem to care. :rolleyes: I simply toss those letters. Otherwise, I send whatever card design strikes me as appropriate, funny, delightful…or whatever I have on hand. 😛
 
Do e-cards count or Facebook posts? That’s how my family greets each other on Christmas.
 
Sarcelle said:
Do e-cards count or Facebook posts? That’s how my family greets each other on Christmas.
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Sure, if that’s what everyone likes to do. Still, I’m old-fashioned. I like a card I can look at all through the Christmas Season. 😉
 
I don’t have time to send cards myself. As such, I’m not in a position to complain about the kind of cards someone sends to me. The mere fact that someone thought enough of me to send a card to my family is sufficient “spirit of Christmas” for me. I also don’t whine if they say “Happy Holidays” or “Season’s Greetings”.
 
Yes -I am happy and grateful for all the cards we get. I noticed too, that a lot of them have printed address labels for delivery, not just the label of who it’s from, and the cards signature is printed–with no sentiment to the family-just generic.

I used to just get cards like this from businesses–is this the new trend? No handwritten anything? Are selfie picture cards weird to you? Sorry-but I think that’s a little vain.

How do you address a card to a relative with a live in girlfriend or boyfriend?

Just trying to keep up with things here–perhaps I am too sheltered.:o
 
PaulfromIowa said:
How many people still send snail mail Christmas cards?
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I do, I post about 40 cards these days and give out about half that many again - used to be double that. I still send cards to people I haven’t spoken to for over 30 years.

It’s still quite traditional in the UK to send a card and the greetings card industry does very well at this time of year. I always buy thick, good-quality cards (Medici, usually) and I always choose religious ones.
 
I have always sent out Religious Christmas cards with Religious Christmas stamps & will continue to do so.
 
I plan to send cards this year, I’d better get going. I’ll send something with a painting of the Holy Family, to remind friends and acquaintances of the meaning of Christmas.
I rarely get cards, but love the few I get. Most of them are from real estate agents or my dentist. Sad.
I used to get a card from Billy Graham and family, those were nice.

.
 
mommy_k said:
A few years ago I posted about how we rarely get any traditional cards anyomore-the kind that depict Christmas with the Holy Family, or wise men and so on.

This year so far we received all picture cards of children, some even without a Christmas theme or symbol. Some ‘children’ are college age or older-and are clearly uncomfortable that they are posed for a Christmas card. These are not inserts-these are the card. We also get the family dog or cat or cow or car if there are no children.

I prefer regular christmas cards-with Jesus. Not the newest baby’s picture superimposed in the star of bethlehem-or a picture that was taken on summer vacation with the dad holding an iguana in disney world.

Of course I love seeing the pictures of family and friends children, but not to the degree that it takes away from the meaning of christmas from the card.

We send regular cards.
What do you do?
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Religious themed. If I want to send someone a photo, I enclose it in the card. I don’t like photo cards, either, but I appreciate receiving a photo either in a card or, preferably, by email, though I dislike e-cards (they do cut down on “house clutter,” though).
 
I create my own cards, always with Catholic/religious artwork.

The inside generally features a Scripture passage or lyrics to a favorite carol.
 
pianistclare said:
I create my own cards, always with Catholic/religious artwork.

The inside generally features a Scripture passage or lyrics to a favorite carol.
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It’s always lovely to receive a card the sender has created. I wish I were more artistic in that way.
 
Religious one of Mary and Jesus since returning to church, good chance to evangelise the meaning of Christmas. Most incoming are non religious apart from those form church which are usually religious that I prefer to receive, but any card is nice to receive.
 
I send religious Christmas cards to religious folks and relatives and send cards with winter scenes to people who aren’t religious.
 
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