Will you be sending Christmas cards this year?

Rachel_Scope

Today is Christmas Card Day! Do you still send cards or do you find it a bit of a chore?

The first commercial Christmas card was created by Sir Henry Cole and John Horsley in 1843. Cole decided to make one after being overwhelmed by the amount of letters he was receiving and didn't want to seem rude by not replying. And so, the Christmas card was born! A quick and easy way to spread festive cheer.

Traditional vs modern cards

Do you prefer the more traditional cards with their cosy winter scenes? They give me a warm and fuzzy feeling as I remember seeing lots of them at my grandparent's house. Or do you prefer the more modern ones? I appreciate the designs but they don't feel very festive to me. Think I'm more about nostalgia!

At Scope, we sell Christmas cards with all proceeds going towards our work. There's a mixture of traditional and modern to suit whatever you fancy 😊

How do you display your Christmas cards? My mother-in-law sticks hers on the living room door! Is this a thing, or just something unusual she does!?

What I'd love to see is if anyone makes their own Christmas cards, pictures please! I've made some in the past and would love to try and make them every year but I struggle with motivation sometimes 😂

michael57

i buy one card for dawnie the rest of the family get the same money card with the same amount each couple of hours and christmas is all sorted for me dont know what all the fuss is

Morgan_Scope

I used to stick mine to the living room door as well @Rachel_Scope, but I can't remember the last time I sent or received a physical Christmas card. My family do virtual e-cards instead. ☺️

Amaya_Ringo

I have a few people I send/give cards to but mostly I don't like doing them. I think it goes back to the whole awkwardness of knowing who to send to/give one to and who not to, and the worry that someone I don't expect might give me a card. It's also yet another logistical worry on my mind at the darkest time of year, when my brain functions least well. So as pretty as they are - and I do like them visually - I could probably live without them in my life.

These days it's mostly just a handful of friends, one old colleague and family.

My uncle always sends e cards for birthdays now, but I don't really like ecards as a thing. If cards must exist, I'd rather they were tangible. That sounds contrary doesn't it? Oh well.

poppy123456

I must admit that I'm not the best at sending Christmas cards other than to my immediate family. Even then I'm always rushing out to buy them, I haven't bought a single one yet. 😂

I'm always on the ball with presents and all of that is done, including all the wrapping.

vikingqueen

I never buy them, just money wallets for the grandchildren. Instead I give the money I could have spent on cards to charity. I've done this for years.

JessieJ

I used to really be in to card making & do all, but I can't do it anymore, sadly. So buy traditional style as I still send them, not as many as years gone buy, which is just as well with the cost of postage. I do like receiving them too.

durhamjaide2001

I'm using Christmas cards as name tags this year

MW123

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/952540#Comment_952540

My late husband used to say the same thing, he never understood what all the fuss was about. Well, he wouldn’t, would he? Christmas, in his eyes, was strictly my domain. I decorated the house no help! The presents just magically appeared, already wrapped, and the gas cooker in our house only worked if I was cooking. He never quite understood why I was always so tired after all the shopping, wrapping, and running around being chef, waitress, cleaner, therapist, and official drink distributor, all while ensuring everyone had the perfect Christmas, because, everyone’s enjoyment was in my hands.

This whirlwind of festive chaos kicked off on Christmas Eve with the arrival of the first guests and didn’t end until the day after Boxing Day! And if any guest offered to help, my husband used to say, “Oh no, leave her, she enjoys doing it!” By the time it was all over, I was completely exhausted, but of course, he like you never did understand what all the fuss was about!

Sandy_123

I don't bother with cards, I only send them if neighbours post them.

michael57

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/952680#Comment_952680

i think you misunderstood my post its about cards not the whole of christmas

Bluebell21

I send Christmas cards and like to receive them. Getting an email does not feel quite the same to me.

Rosie_Scope

I make Christmas cards for my mum and grandma who always appreciate it, but I don't have a list of people to send them out to otherwise. Although if somebody does make the effort to send me one, I'll try to have some on hand to send one back if I can 😊

Annie_Scope

I think everyone is going Green these days and not sending as many cards, well that's what my friends and family tell me. Personally I like to send cards, good old traditional cards, but must admit the list gets smaller every year. My children get the most cards in our house form all the class, and they are stuck on the door of the conservatory.

OverlyAnxious

I'm obliged to send just a few cards to relatives, but I don't particularly like them and wouldn't bother if I was given the choice.

Zipz

I send fewer cards than I did. At one time, I would begung writing them in July because my manual skills are so poor. Now, I send to neighbours and people far away. It's mainly meaninless but sometimes Ive been grateful for somebody's help in the year and there might be other lonely people who might miss a card from me. The last were sent this afternoon.

mart7

Just around the same time as postage stamps by sir Roland hill in 1840.

Used to buy boxes and single ones to send to loved ones.

I loved your post and knowledge of Christmas cards through history.