Seriously, am I alone in hating Christmas letters?

Question

I have some very dear friends who send these Christmas letters out every year, designed to be so cutesy like a little corporate newsletter and cheery graphics--there's even a column written by their cat, for godssakes. I will never tell them how I actually feel, but I have to finally vent about this. Don't get me wrong, if I get a Christmas letter giving updates about a distant relative's health or something, I'm grateful for the information. But if I read one more "article" about their son's perfect grade point average, or how the whole family is learning Japanese "for fun," I'll puke! Please tell me I'm not alone.

Answer 1

It is a bit irritating. My family has received letters from families we really wish we could keep in touch with, so it's nice to hear from them. However, there are always those people who send out letters with an attitude of, "We are doing so freaking amazing, and look at all of the wonderful things we do". They may not intend for it to come across that way, but somehow, it always does, just a little bit. Especially for people who feel less fortunate or not as accomplished. I wonder why they feel the need to send these letters. If they have to send out a blast letter to all family and friends, then that means that their family and friends didn't know about those "exciting" things before hand...which leads to the fact that they must not keep up with their family and friends, lol. Who knows. I just think it can come off snobby to send letters like that, unless they are from people who you know genuinely mean well. I mean, it's great to be proud of your life, but you know they'd never send a letter if their daughter got pregnant at 15, Timmy flunked 11th grade, and Bob lost his job.....

Answer 2

You are soooooooooooooo NOT alone. If they are close friends then I will already know that Junior has already been accepted into Harvard, Yale and Princeton even though he's only in the 9th grade. Or who fricking cares that they went on a 3 week cruise, a 2 week skiing vactation etc......
Tell me the stuff I might actually care about like how you mom/sister etc... is doing. Tell me interesting stuff but DON'T brag.....................
As soon as I get one of those type I don't finish reading it and into the trash it goes. ICK!!!!

Answer 3

I think 'hate' is a bit strong, but I don't particularly like them and only look at them briefly.
Now that the vast majority have computers, it is possibly to add some personalised details like how are XXX and YYY ? (the children)

Long before e-mail I had a friend who would write a Christmas letter and then photocopy it!

Answer 4

I'm with you! I especially hate the ones that are written in 3rd-person, like some mysterious author wrote it for them???? Yuck! I told my husband to smack me if I ever start thinking they're a good idea.

Answer 5

all the bragging makes me want to barf....makes you think that everyone has perfect children and perfect pets but you.
I think sending out letters with christmas cards is in very poor taste....no one but the sender could give a hoot.

Answer 6

I have only recieved such a letter once, and found it amusing, but were I 2 recieve many such letters I would likely tire of them also.

Timothy

:o)

Answer 7

Are they trying to make non-Christmas-letter-writers look inferior for not doing the same I wonder?

Answer 8

You are not alone. These are very vain and egotistical people who try their very best to make every ones Christmas an unholy event......JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON........need we say more.........

Answer 9

Nope. I would start hating them too if I got a lot of them.

Answer 10

I would hate them too