Gransnet forums

Christmas

Marks & Sparks Christmas Cards

(87 Posts)
Luckygirl Mon 17-Dec-18 08:57:59

But if you're not a Christian, why send a card at all?

- because it is a midwinter festival before it was taken over by Christianity.
- because we want to spread a bit of joy in the midwinter gloom and welcome and opportunity to send a happy message to our loved ones.
- because the Christmas myth resonates with atheists and agnostics too with its message of peace and emphasis on the power of the weak.
- because it is a free country.

oldbatty Mon 17-Dec-18 08:57:20

Don't think I have the energy to be upset about cards.Where is mabon when we need her

Teetime Mon 17-Dec-18 08:49:32

I bought my cards and wrapping from Pancreatic Cancer UK this year (and will every year in remembrance of my son in law) the messages were traditional and lovely.

Pittcity Mon 17-Dec-18 08:42:01

Glittery cards could soon be a thing of the past as they can't be recycled. sad

Pittcity Mon 17-Dec-18 08:38:08

I've received one of those "Winter Wishes" cards and was probably hypnotised by the glittery cover as I didn't notice the lack of the mention of Christmas. I've also got a couple of "Season's Greetings" which is probably the same message in a more traditional phrase.

TerriBull Mon 17-Dec-18 08:33:39

We buy ours from a church in our local town, the money goes direct to the respective charities, without retailers taking their cut. We always try and get ones that say "Happy Christmas" I've never looked inside a card for other religions, but can't help feeling that a "Yom Kippur" card if there is such a thing, wouldn't say "enjoy the Autumn" or similarly an Eid card "enjoy the rest of the summer" Religious festivals are specific to an event, even though many people today would describe themselves as secular or are indeed of another religious persuasion, I've never heard anyone ever complain about getting a Christmas card instead of say a "Winterval" one complete with a mealy mouthed platitude. It's a strange perception really, some Canadian relatives send us cards with that sort of claptrap in it sad

Jane10 Mon 17-Dec-18 07:54:16

We bought lovely boxes of cards last year but they had 'Happy Holidays' inside! Americanised I assume.
For us 'holidays' are summer things. We send Christmas cards because its Christmas!

Anja Mon 17-Dec-18 06:54:33

I don’t see your problem, just write your own Happy Christmas.

craftergran Mon 17-Dec-18 06:44:28

You can always return them and write to M&S that you returned them because they had taken Christmas out, they won't know people object unless people put it in writing.

Dontaskme Mon 17-Dec-18 06:36:16

Lyndiloo here's an explanation from google!....The "X" comes from the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of the Greek word Χριστός, which in English is "Christ". The "-mas" part is from the Latin-derived Old English word for Mass.

MawBroon Mon 17-Dec-18 06:22:09

X has stood for Christ for a lot longer than modern day card manufacturers! So while you may not like it, you are onto a loser there!
My mistake was to by 3for 2 at Waitrose and then find two of the boxes’ of cards said “Have a fun filled Christmas” inside so I passed them onto DD for the children to use if they wanted or indeed for her. While I do hope my friends and family have a joyous Christmas “fun -filled” didn’t seem entirely appropriate tchhmm
My M &S cards were mostly blank, but writing a short greeting was no hardship.

Lyndiloo Mon 17-Dec-18 02:57:01

I bought a packet of M & S Christmas cards last week. I was in a bit of a rush, and they were pretty, so I put them in my basket. It wasn't until I began writing in them that I suddenly noticed that nowhere on the card was the word 'Christmas'!

On the front of the card it says, 'Winter wishes', and on the inside, 'Enjoy the festive season'.

What's going on???

Okay, if you're not a Christian, these cards may be right up your street. But if you're not a Christian, why send a card at all?

I'm furious! (Not least because I'm now having to write inside every card, 'Happy Christmas!')

And, while I'm ranting, please, please everybody - stop putting an 'X' where 'Christ' should be! If you really do have to shorten 'Christmas' (lack of time? can't be bothered? disrespect?) how about 'C'mas'? But definitely NOT X!