Why do people you never hear from send Christmas cards

I send Xmas cards because I think of the people concerned and I am at least fond of them , like them or love them.
Sometimes they go to people I haven't seen for a while (I live abroad at the moment). Sometimes they go to people where the relationship is a bit sticky at present.
I think it is a nice, light- touch way of keeping in touch so that if you do get a telephone call , or bump into them then you have a constructive hook to hang a conversation on...... "hope you got my card , I did send one.... how are you?"
I love to get a card even if the sender hasn't communicated for a while.

I have people 'on the list' for Christmas cards, when life permits I hope to see them again. Having children and being a carer are both reasons why there's no mental bandwidth to follow up friends more frequently but it doesn't mean they are not valued friends. There are so many things, like illness and changes in circumstances, which stop us getting together with people who are not close to where we live. I'd not be upset, I'd be pleased they cared enough to bother.

I get cards for th3 two previous owners of my flat. They have both died ages ago - I live in sheltered accommodation.
What annoys me is people I barely know in various organisations giving me a card. It feels like I’m being blackmailed into giving them a card to increase their “tally”.

worse than that there is the cards that arrive and for a previous tenant or owner. We have lived here for over 7 years yet still get cards for previous tenants; we know that the landlord had a lot of trouble with tenants before. as far as we know 2 had to be evicted via courts. But surely after 7 years they would either be thinking why do they not answer or if they are in touch they must have been to their new home?

I actually dislike them. If we haven’t been in touch for years, I don’t see the point. Of course you wish them…and everyone well…but I don’t understand why they do this. I’m hoping with rising costs, it won’t happen this year as I’m afraid I just give cards to close family and friends.

I receive cards containing just “love from”, and a couple of others containing letters which describe in minute detail everything that’s happened in the preceding year. I don’t know which I prefer, but both are welcome.

Knittypamela

I have sent and received cards from an old friend for 50 years. This year I got no birthday card. I'm worried about sending a Christmas card in case I upset her family.

I would send one, say you hope things are ok as you haven’t heard from her lately, and write your address down.

If she has gone in a home or died, they might let you know then.

If they haven’t told people, then it’s too bad if they’re upset.

I have sent and received cards from an old friend for 50 years. This year I got no birthday card. I'm worried about sending a Christmas card in case I upset her family.

Every year cards land in my letter box for the previous owner of the house. So pointless as they clearly haven't been in touch with them or they would know where they live and that they moved out years ago. Such a waste of time and money and all that happens is I put them back in the post box and the Royal mail probably bin them.

I gave up Christmas cards years ago and am not really happy to receive them. I'd much rather they called and had a chat than sent a pointless card.

I'd say the reason they send you a Christmas card is because that is the only time they and you are in touch - but they still value your old friendship and your shared past, and Christmas is a time to remember "absent friends"

If you don't want any contact any more, stop sending them a card yourself - or if you have already stopped, just keep on ignoring them and they will eventually get the message.

If you wish you had more contact with them, send them an Easter card or a birthday card or - better - write them a real letter.

I like getting Christmas cards even from people I haven't seen for years.
It's good to be thought of and to remember them. Sadly my list is getting shorter as old friends have died.

Why do people you never hear from send Christmas cards

That's a contradiction in terms.

You do hear from them once a year. They send a Christmas card.

My parents had a lot of contacts whom I knew from childhood. When my parents died I wrote to all their contacts about their passing in Christmas letters. Some stayed in touch but after ten years there is now only one and she is in her 80s. I assume the rest have either given up or passed away. If I don't hear from someone one year, I don't send a card from them the next. Often, via the internet you can see who is sadly no longer with us.

If it’s to someone I’ve not seen for years I always write a few lines and generally get a few back.
Most often I save cards from year before to refer to when writing following years.

One way of keeping up with people is including a letter keeping people up to date with how your life is.

I am sure this suggestion will trigger a thread on hating round robins.

Just to let you know they are still alive probably.

Only one list I'm worried about being on & that's between me & Santa

Flippinheck

keepingquiet

I was told by an old work colleague who still insists on sending a birthday and Christmas card, that I was on her 'list.'

I was a bit offended by this- I think I'm worth more than just being on a 'list.' Maybe an occasional phone call? An invitation to a meet-up? No, just a list.

People are very strange...

It works both ways though. Can’t you do the phoning or issue the invitation? Why is it her responsibility, not yours?

It isn't a 'responsibility' aren't friendships worth more than that.

Calls not returned, e-mails not replied to, no actual friendship any more, no arrangements to meet-up responded to.

So why the cards? I'm just on the list!

Allira

keepingquiet

I was told by an old work colleague who still insists on sending a birthday and Christmas card, that I was on her 'list.'

I was a bit offended by this- I think I'm worth more than just being on a 'list.' Maybe an occasional phone call? An invitation to a meet-up? No, just a list.

People are very strange...

It means she still thinks of you.
Positively, not negatively or else you'd be off her list.

I still think of people although we never see them now.

Yes, I am sure she still thinks of me, and we have good shared memories of when we worked together.

I don't see what this has to do with sending cards though.

To show that they’re still alive….
Our Christmas card list is rather shorter than it was 10 years ago.

I enjoy receiving cards from friends in places where we used to live. It is impractical to meet up, but lovely to keep in touch once a year, especially if there are a few words of news in the card.

Every year we receive a card from Bill and Anita addressed to the previous owners.
We have lived here for over 20 years. There is no way to inform them Ann and Cyril have moved.

keepingquiet

I was told by an old work colleague who still insists on sending a birthday and Christmas card, that I was on her 'list.'

I was a bit offended by this- I think I'm worth more than just being on a 'list.' Maybe an occasional phone call? An invitation to a meet-up? No, just a list.

People are very strange...

It works both ways though. Can’t you do the phoning or issue the invitation? Why is it her responsibility, not yours?

We have friends from way back. We haven't seen them for over 10yrs and phone every 6months or less - and yet it is always as if we met the day before. Conversation flows and dh and friend have so much in common even after such different lives. Good friendship endures. Family wise we rely on one member to keep us informed of the several health issues.

I've sometimes received cards from 'oh-my-goodness-we-never-sent-them-one', and one card was unsigned but whoever it was had just had the other hip done!