Christmas card etiquette...

[Steelmaker]

With the holidays rapidly approaching I wanted to create this thread. First of all, I admit it. I LOVE sending and receiving Christmas cards! I take great pleasure in receiving Christmas cards in the mail from people and I proudly display them in my home during the holiday season. However!! I have to get my frustrations out regarding Christmas card etiquette!

1.) Don't send cards with pictures of you or your family on them. Trust me when I say, nobody wants to see that. Put your narcissism aside for the holidays and take the time to pick out cards with nice artwork on them. Most people like to display their cards and nothing ruins that more than a picture of a group of people wearing matching reindeer sweaters! If you want to include a nice picture of your family inside the card, that's fine but don't make the picture as the front of the card.

2.) Don't send "post card" type Christmas cards. Make sure your card actually opens. Nothing is more annoying than trying to prop one of these cards up with your other Christmas cards. They constantly fall over and you have to keep propping them back up.

3.) Take the time to write something in addition to what the card already says. Even if it's something as simple as "Hope you and the family have a great holiday." Do something to personalize it just a little so it doesn't seem like the card was part of some mass-production process with a signature just to get them in the mail.

4.) No digital e-cards! Come on folks! I know we live in the digital age but this is as lame and lazy as having your kids write an email to Santa! Take the time to pick out a nice set of cards, get a pack of stamps, and mail them out the old fashioned way. It shows that you were thoughtful enough to take the time to do it.

5.) Get them out on time. Many people travel for the holidays. Sometimes several days before Christmas day. It would be a shame if they didn't receive your card because they weren't home when it was delivered. Plus it gives them enough time to send one to you in response if they choose to do so. My rule of thumb, get them in the mail no later than the 2nd Monday in December.

6.) Always "quid pro quo" Christmas cards to those whom you receive one from that you weren't expecting. Yes, it's a bit of a lame move but what's worse? Returning the kindness or ignoring it completely? Now I realize that can potentially violate rule #5. However in some instances, better late than never applies and this is one of them. Plus you can save the address for the next year and be proactive in sending them a card instead of simply responding to their thoughtfulness.

Anyone else have any pet peeves when it comes to Christmas cards? Feel free to share.

[Jett Rink]

Not a fan of the cards with glitter.

[Steelmaker]

Originally Posted by Jett Rink

Not a fan of the cards with glitter.

Agreed, it can be annoying. That stuff gets on your hands, your clothes, the furniture, etc. Avoid glittery Christmas cards!

[sk33tr]

[Show spoiler]

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

With the holidays rapidly approaching I wanted to create this thread. First of all, I admit it. I LOVE sending and receiving Christmas cards! I take great pleasure in receiving Christmas cards in the mail from people and I proudly display them in my home during the holiday season. However!! I have to get my frustrations out regarding Christmas card etiquette!

1.) Don't send cards with pictures of you or your family on them. Trust me when I say, nobody wants to see that. Put your narcissism aside for the holidays and take the time to pick out cards with nice artwork on them. Most people like to display their cards and nothing ruins that more than a picture of a group of people wearing matching reindeer sweaters! If you want to include a nice picture of your family inside the card, that's fine but don't make the picture as the front of the card.

2.) Don't send "post card" type Christmas cards. Make sure your card actually opens. Nothing is more annoying than trying to prop one of these cards up with your other Christmas cards. They constantly fall over and you have to keep propping them back up.

3.) Take the time to write something in addition to what the card already says. Even if it's something as simple as "Hope you and the family have a great holiday." Do something to personalize it just a little so it doesn't seem like the card was part of some mass-production process with a signature just to get them in the mail.

4.) No digital e-cards! Come on folks! I know we live in the digital age but this is as lame and lazy as having your kids write an email to Santa! Take the time to pick out a nice set of cards, get a pack of stamps, and mail them out the old fashioned way. It shows that you were thoughtful enough to take the time to do it.

5.) Get them out on time. Many people travel for the holidays. Sometimes several days before Christmas day. It would be a shame if they didn't receive your card because they weren't home when it was delivered. Plus it gives them enough time to send one to you in response if they choose to do so. My rule of thumb, get them in the mail no later than the 2nd Monday in December.

6.) Always "quid pro quo" Christmas cards to those whom you receive one from that you weren't expecting. Yes, it's a bit of a lame move but what's worse? Returning the kindness or ignoring it completely? Now I realize that can potentially violate rule #5. However in some instances, better late than never applies and this is one of them. Plus you can save the address for the next year and be proactive in sending them a card instead of simply responding to their thoughtfulness.

Anyone else have any pet peeves when it comes to Christmas cards? Feel free to share.

very well said!

any time i send christmas cards, i always try to send them out the first week of december. it doesn't always work that way, as there have been times i forgot, but i do at least try to do it then.

[fatediesel]

I 100% disagree with your #1. I don't want generic Christmas cards, I like displaying pictures of my friends and their families. Sure, some of the pictures are lame, but some can be funny or just good pictures. When I receive a card without pictures it ends up in the garbage because I have no desire to display a store-bought card.

[Steelmaker]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

I 100% disagree with your #1. I don't want generic Christmas cards, I like displaying pictures of my friends and their families. Sure, some of the pictures are lame, but some can be funny or just good pictures. When I receive a card without pictures it ends up in the garbage because I have no desire to display a store-bought card.

Yeah I understand #1 is kind of relative. It's my personal preference so that's why I listed it. It's not that I don't like getting pictures of family and friends, that's why I said if you want to send people a picture, do so by including it IN the card. Don't make it the card itself. Plus an included picture can be displayed year 'round. Making your picture the card itself makes it a bit more disposable (most aren't going to want to display a Christmas card year 'round). But again, just my preference.

[ThatOneGuy]

Originally Posted by Jett Rink

Not a fan of the cards with glitter.

I'm not a card fan in general but the glitter ones are the worse!

Also I disagree with number one in a way. I prefer a card that isnt generic. A card with their family on it is way better then the boring crap you buy at the store.

[WhySoBlu?]

I think that Christmas cards in general are enough of a chore already without adding a bunch of stuffy, uptight rules into the mix.

Nothing sucks the joy out of something quicker than people turning an activity that's supposed to be festive and fun into an obligation...

[Groot]

I send whatever card I want and think is appropriate for that person. If they don't like it, fine, but the point is the gesture.

[Jennifer Lawrence Fan]

Originally Posted by Groot

I send whatever card I want and think is appropriate for that person. If they don't like it, fine, but the point is the gesture.

Can I be expecting one this year?

[Groot]

Originally Posted by Jennifer Lawrence Fan

Can I be expecting one this year?

You want one? I'll send you one.

[Lt. Brannigan]

Originally Posted by Groot

I send whatever card I want and think is appropriate for that person. If they don't like it, fine, but the point is the gesture.

Ditto.

[Jennifer Lawrence Fan]

Originally Posted by Groot

You want one? I'll send you one.

Yeah, if you want.

[Michael24]

Agreed that I hate glitter cards. Ugh. They're the worst. I don't mind family photos as Christmas cards, though.

[Groot]

Originally Posted by Jennifer Lawrence Fan

Yeah, if you want.

PM your address and I'll send you something cool.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

1.) Don't send cards with pictures of you or your family on them.

I can understand this for friends, coworkers, acquaintances, people who wouldn't give a flip.

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

2.) Don't send "post card" type Christmas cards.

Is it wrong if I find this a little nitpicky? Especially if the postcard in question is something special, like a quilted postcard?

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

3.) Take the time to write something in addition to what the card already says.

Agreed, at least for the people you care about.

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

4.) No digital e-cards!

Disagree completely. Not all of us have the time, money, know-how, or even the nuance or taste to do a full-blown snail mail card. Yes, there is solidarity in it, but e-cards are instantaneous (which nullifies the next point), they save money on postage (you could argue that you're spending on a digital service, but then I guess it depends on how much you use either method per year), you're using less paper and ink and stuff, and you get some interaction you may not get with a regular paper card.

Better to have an e-card than none at all.

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

5.) Get them out on time.

We'll try.

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

6.) Always "quid pro quo" Christmas cards to those whom you receive one from that you weren't expecting.

Fair enough.

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

Anyone else have any pet peeves when it comes to Christmas cards? Feel free to share.

Just nothing tacky, please.

My parents sometimes shoot me these talking Hoops and Yoyo type of cards (digital and physical). They're cute and funny for all of five minutes, but their comedy is so obnoxious I don't think they always hold up on repeat enjoyments. And then I start to wonder if they're under the delusion I'm still five years old.

[Jennifer Lawrence Fan]

Originally Posted by Groot

PM your address and I'll send you something cool.

Nice!

[Jett Rink]

Originally Posted by Groot

You want one? I'll send you one.

What if I want one?

[Groot]

Originally Posted by Jett Rink

What if I want one?

Send me your address and you'd get one. I love sending out cards. I'm so nerdy that I even go through card aisles when I have no one to buy for cause I like the art of them and sometimes get ideas for funny prints.

[Lt. Brannigan]

Originally Posted by Groot

Send me your address and you'd get one. I love sending out cards. I'm so nerdy that I even go through card aisles when I have no one to buy for cause I like the art of them and sometimes get ideas for funny prints.

Now you're tempting me...

But what if I want to send you a card instead?