Thank you cards for Christmas gifts, really??

Question

I read some previous post where people ask the question - Is it necessary to send a thank you note for a Christmas gift. Almost everyone replied yes!!! I have to admit I was quite surprised. While I do agree that it is polite, I have never received a thank you note for any gifts that I have given, unless it was a gift to a co-worker; although I have sent some myself.

So now to my question - Is it necessary to send a thank you note when a gift is being exchanged? For example, my daughter just celebrated her first Christmas. We received a lot of gifts for her from her Aunt's and Uncle's but in exchange we gave their children gifts (as we always have in previous years and never received or expected a thank you note).

And even though I know that everyone said it is polite to send a thank you note, have you really sent thank you notes yourself for Christmas gifts?? Please be honest. :)

Just wondering.

In addition is it ok to send a thank you via an email greeting?

Answer 1

When I was a little kid - there was a dreaded night a few nights after Christmas when we sat down and wrote a million thank you notes. My Mom got two kinds - some were pre-written and had little poems in them or something and all you had to do was sign your name. Those were for the smaller presents. The others were blank and you had to actually say thanks and what you liked about the present and how grateful you were and so forth. Those were for the bigger presents. We all absolutely hated that night - but always got through it.

My kid does not write thank yous to anybody who is there when she opens the gift (she just says thank you right then) or anybody who she talks to on the phone that day and thanks. Sometimes though - there is somebody - like an Aunt or Grandparent who we don't touch base with - and she sends them a thank you. BUT - we let her do it by e-mail. She understands about gratitude - and she's very polite. I think that's good enough.

And - like you - I have sent MANY presents out over the years - and received very few thank you cards. However - I've always loved receiving them.

Hope that helps.

Answer 2

Thank you notes for gifts received at any occasion are appropriate.

If you receive a gift for your baby while you're pregnant or right after the acchouchement to celebrate the birth of your child, then you are responsible for sending a thank you. However, after that, any gifts received until the child is old enough to compose a thank you note him or herself then a verbal thank you from the parents is enough. But once junior is able to pick up a pencil and print no matter how illegibly, then thank you cards are to be sent.

Answer 3

Miss Manners, Emily Post and anyone else writing etiquette books will say "Write the thank you notes."

Someone went to the time and trouble to buy a gift, wrap it and present it to you or any family member. It takes 5 minutes or less to write a simple thank you note.

I write thank you notes for gifts I receive. It tells the giver that 1) you received the gift 2) that you acknowledge the gift "Thank you for the gasoline powered socks! They are fabulous!" 3) It is simply the right thing to do.

When my nieces and nephews stopped sending thank you notes for gifts I sent (including checks), I stopped sending gifts. My rule is "No Thank You Notes, No more Gifts!"

Think about it- 5 minutes to write a Thank You Note. That's all you need.

Answer 4

The only time I've sent thank you cards is when I've received a gift from someone I won't be seeing in person or haven't thanked on the telephone (if they are long distance).

Some form of acknowledgement has to be made for those you can't personally thank and a card is nice. I haven't sent thank you "emails", either...they just aren't that personal.

Answer 5

Something I send them to my aunt in Washinton as gift to let them know I am thinking about them and that I love,and hope they have a Merry Christmas some people don't get that and I am sure they are very Thankful for the card.

Answer 6

If you received the gift in person, and thanked the giver right then, a thank you card is not necessary. You already said thank you. If it is a gift someone shipped to you, a thank you card is good to do.

Answer 7

I would send a note to be on the safe side and to also set a good example to others who may be less socially gracious.

Answer 8

Yes, it is polite. No, I don't do it. We have sort of a thank you note cease fire in my family.

Heck, some of my relatives and I have a gift cease fire: "You don't get me anything, I won't get you anything, and we'll save on postage. Deal?"

Answer 9

Not necessary, but a thoughtful response anyway!

Answer 10

only if you werent with the giver when it was opened..