Not a competition
We had our first Christmas card on November 29th, a record for the sender. His is usually the first to arrive, but it has always at least been December before his card drops through the letter box. He is now a widower, in his second Christmas as such, but always wrote the cards every year, much as my brother-in-law did.
I haven’t even written our cards, though I have bought the Christmas stamps. I suppose there are several approaches to card posting. Some send early, to ensure they have completed the task, and maybe to try and guarantee a card in return. Some send as and when they think about it, perhaps adding recipients as they go. Some wait to see who will send them cards and respond accordingly. Some choose never to send cards.
Increasingly, with the cost of postage rising, some opt to publish a general Christmas greeting on social media. They usually claim to be spending the cost of cards and postage on charity donations instead, which is entirely commendable.
I love receiving cards, and know from the envelopes who has sent them. Handwriting is so distinctive, but even with those bearing efficiently printed address labels, it’s possible to discern from post marks where they’ve come from.
However, it is with some trepidation that we open the cards. Some enclose those oft-mocked ‘round robins.’ It’s true that they can be missives of self-congratulation on personal achievements or offsprings’ accomplishments, but mostly they’re amusing, chatty summaries of life. They do relieve the task of writing the same things over and over again to different people.
Other cards bring news of death or disability, which cause a pause for reflection and memory.
Our list has dwindled a little across the
years.
It’s inevitable. It’s sad. It’s life.
But life goes on (never start a sentence with ‘but!’) and I will have to set aside some time soon to write Christmas greetings. December gathers speed hour by hour and I already have a sense of time running out when there’s still so much to do and learn.
Running
to catch up, as usual.
We send out very few cards, and by the small stack we receive it looks like most of our friends feel the same way about the task.
ReplyDeleteI just send a fairly brief email greeting with an image that works as a card or in place of a card.
ReplyDeleteI've been sending aminated electronic cards, because they get there and I know they're received. I think people enjoy them. I know I do.
ReplyDeleteI send a lot. I sigh and procrastinte over the list, but I love receiving cards so it's only fair that I send them out. There's a little Albert Campion short detective story which depends up (spoiler alert) a lonely widow putting up the same half dozen Christmas cards every year because she is totally on her own, so poignant.
ReplyDeleteI do ecards mostly, using the wonderful Jacquie Lawson site, and make a charitable donation. For me it works on several levels. xx
ReplyDeleteMy scribbled messages over the cards always look messy and I vow each year to have better writing. We have reached a point when we can either send a card physically by very expensive postage, or an internet 'Moon Pig' card or email with a Christmassy thing.
ReplyDeleteI hope to post cards today, if it ever stops raining, we send out less each year, like you I love to receive cards, sadly we get loads through companies who send for you, so no lovely handwritten notes inside. Our world has changed.
ReplyDeleteI was told to not begin a sentence with but, but at times it is so obvious to do so. We used to receive around forty Christmas cards, now down to me receiving a few. I too received a Christmas card on the 29th. A Christmas tree has been erected in my lounge room. I don't like this early start to Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI sent out all my downunder cards mid November. There's a slight chance they'll get there by Xmas. Now I'll have to send the UK cards. Not many. Postage is just too much.
ReplyDeleteI have my first Xmas card. Hand delivered by overseas visitors in October. They were very well organised
Not as many people send them any more. I still love sending and getting them. I wanted to make them again this year but i've run out of time so looks like store bought cards this year.
ReplyDeleteI did not have a great number to send. However I am sending them out earlier than I normally do. Our Postal Service over here is getting worse by the minute. I mailed a box guaranteed by the price of the postage, to be delivered in 3 days. They finally delivered it in 10. I mailed a first class birthday card to a friend only 200 miles away, and that took 7 days.
ReplyDelete