A comment on snail mail by Phil on another topic made me wonder about how many people still carry out the laborious tradition of sending hard copy Christmas cards.

I sent four this year and got four back. One that I received, of course, was from people I've sent one to for years and never got one back so I never freaking sent them one this year. I'll say it was lost in the post.

So who still sends the wretched cluttery things?

When you analyse it we spend a fair bit of money (relative to their actual value) and a lot of time signing them off and sending them to people we never see or hear from from one year to the next. Most of the time we barely sign up under the usually cheesy message which we would never articulate either verbally nor in writing and often are sending them to people we don't particularly like.

The recipients, including ourselves, open these things and think a whole range of things ranging from "that's nice they remember us" to "silly old fart, only sends us one because we send him one" via "who?". They then get stuck on a shelf, mantlepiece or some length of fancy string for a couple of weeks before getting trashed.

The only people I sent cards to back in 2006 was my sister, mother and ex-wife (we're still friends) and that was from KL and they didn't get delivered. Mum died that Christmas so I've not bothered since preferring a brief phone call on the day. Usually, due to time difference, Im half p1ssed but nobody gives a funk.

Of course there is the nice traditional side where kids spend their time making cards out of all manner of scraps and dutifully write "Merry Christmas <insert name> from Timmy <or similar>".

Christmas cards are being fast supplanted by electronic communications and like so much of the "season of goodwill^TM" is just a commercial business hanging on to the roots of tradition. Let's face it the whole business of Christmas has been down as the most stressful time of year for most families and the cause of more bust ups than even the FA cup final.

Won't be long before the shops are pressuring to be allowed to open on the 25th as they do every other day of the year. That will be the death of Christmas.

Bah Humbug!

BUT despite being a bit of an athiest, lapsed Catholic actually, sometimes I think it would be really nice to go back to the more traditional times and celebrate Christmas more in the style it was intended.

Off topic rant over, to answer the question : No I don't but then I can't rcall the last time I send snail mail period.

I think It's a kids thing. The cards around the lounge bring on the excitement for the nippers and makes the period a bit special. Without them, I would't bother

I don't do christmas, so don't send christmas cards. Get 12-20 I suppose from people who mostly know we don't do christmas but want to send them regardless - no harm done!