What do you think of Holiday letters?

[TikiGoddess]

Hi all,

I just finished writing up my annual holiday letter that I was planning on putting into our Christmas cards. I fancied it up with pictures of the girls and just wrote what we've been up for the past year.

But I got thinking... what does everyone think of holiday letters? Do you read them when you receive them? Do you write one of your own?

Kathy

[DizNee143]

i think they are some what ok...
the ones we get are just so i dunno annoying..its like the few people who do write them..just brag about whatever..and just some of the things they put in the letter its like..ok..so? lol...i dont do one..and never will..people wanna know whats going on im my life..they can call..write..or whatever...
but as i always say - to each his own!!!

[disneymom15]

I tend to agree with DizNee143.

[Ian]

Forgive my manly ignorance, but what's a "holiday letter"?

[Marilyn Michetti]

Oh, they're O.K. When you're my age, it's kind of fun to see the pictures of kids that I used to diaper.

What's annoying are the lines like:

Dave and I are enjoying our new Infinity, that sits in the circle of our new 4,000 sq. ft. home.

The weather while we were in Hawaii was just beautiful.

Our son, Blake, was awarded the Student Of The Year at Buxton, (a private school for gifted children), and will be entering Princeton as a Freshman when he's 12.

We've been to Disney World four times this year, and were the Grand Marshalls of the parade each time. (NOW, THAT SMARTS) !!

Yeah, some of the letters are a "little" annoying. I'd rather read anything you guys write online about your frustrating relatives, annoying rashes, and how to get cat pee out of your mattresses - you know, REALLY interesting stuff.

Let's have a contest. Write boring letters on Intercot - save on postage. I'll start. My dog died, I have a toenail fungus, and have to wear my slippers to church, and the photographer wouldn't take our Christmas pictures. (Something about needing a wider lens???).

[MsMin]

I've never done one but was considering this year especially to friends that I've not seen in years or friends that send them. I would consider it appropriate for distant family and friends. My mom has a friend who sends one and my mom complains every year that she's just bragging. Truth is she is angry with her. I see it as wanting to share her experiences -- you never know.
It is hard to say how are you and the family when it's a generic letter...

[SBETigg]

Forgive my manly ignorance, but what's a "holiday letter"?

They're sort of like newsletters people print out to send with holiday cards that update others on what's happened with their family over the year.

Personally, sorry to say, I don't like them as much as I like personal handwritten mail. I never send them. I wish people could take the time to write individual letters for personal correspondence. It's as if the sender couldn't be bothered with me. But I know people are busy and that's what it comes down to now more often than not. Better to get a newsletter than nothing at all, I guess. I take the time to write the information individually, even though it means I have a smaller mailing list. The newsletters are great for business situations, though, if you're not writing to close personal friends and family.

[PirateLover]

Ian, holiday letters are what some people send out in their Christmas cards to update you about their family.

We don't get very many anymore. I think they can be fun, but there was one family that obviously sent one out every year just to brag. Sometimes it's hard to walk the line between "updating" and "bragging" though, especially during the holiday season when so many people are depressed.

They only time my mom does one is when something really important is going on.

[brownie]

I enjoy reading them, and we write one every year. It's nice to be able to update people you don't necessarily have frequent contact with about what's been happening with your family.

As far as bragging goes, would you really put all the bad stuff that goes on in the letter?

[Christine]

What's annoying are the lines like:

Dave and I are enjoying our new Infinity, that sits in the circle of our new 4,000 sq. ft. home.

The weather while we were in Hawaii was just beautiful.

Our son, Blake, was awarded the Student Of The Year at Buxton, (a private school for gifted children), and will be entering Princeton as a Freshman when he's 12.

We've been to Disney World four times this year, and were the Grand Marshalls of the parade each time. (NOW, THAT SMARTS) !!

Wow! You get a newsletter from my aunt, too? Hers sound JUST like that!

I don't mind holiday letters...so long as they're not braggy!

[offwego]

I've always been Eh about them. Growing up my family lived far from my dad's family (and back then long distance was super expensive) so they would all do them and send them around to other relatives etc. I can't imagine anyone really putting in the "real truth" into one so I kinda look at it like fiction.

Besides odds are if you popped over to great aunt suzzies you'd see the infiniti is a jalopy..the 4000 sqfoot is the size of the overcrowded appt building she's sharing with 4 roomies and the circle is the fire route. If people have to brag that way it's not a big deal to me.

[Disneyatic]

I like them!
We only have one family that we get one from, but I enjoy reading it.
I appreciate the time that it takes to get it written and pictures included.
I have thought about doing it but just haven't gotten around to it.

I like to send the Christmas cards that you can insert a picture in the front of, that is usually what we do with our family picture, but this year we are changing it up. I bought the cutest Christmas cards in DTD on our last trip so we'll be sending those out!

[tinkwest]

I don't get many holiday letters, but enjoy the majority of the ones I do receive. The people I receive them from would more likely include a line such as "Our pet bunnies would not stop reproducing and we were finally eaten out of house & home" rather than "Our stable of thoroughbred racehorses included several participants in the Kentucky Derby". Such is my circle of friends.

But seriously, I can understand those that are so excited or joyful (birth of baby, marriage of son or daughter) that they just have to share. However, the letters that go on about vacations abroad & purchases of summer homes tend to make the reader feel more down than uplifted.

My Aunt puts out a great letter that I look forward to every year. It starts out with remembrances of the past and leads in to what is happening today. I love being reminded of fond memories & events I might otherwise have forgotten.

I would probably write a letter myself if I could ever find the motivation. But actually, I think I only wrote one brief letter the year we moved. Wanted to make sure everyone had our new address.

[ibelieveindisneymagic]

I like them!

I always mean to write one, but never seem to get around to it. I have a cousin and a friend who send one faithfully every year.

I look at it as a chance to catch up with them a bit, and I get far more information than if they wrote each of us a personal letter.

[TheDuckRocks]

I like them, if for no other reason than laugh value!
You always know you're getting to the bragging part when the sentence starts out, "Not wanting to brag but........." or "We have been really blessed this year..........."

[SBETigg]

I enjoy reading them, and we write one every year. It's nice to be able to update people you don't necessarily have frequent contact with about what's been happening with your family.

As far as bragging goes, would you really put all the bad stuff that goes on in the letter?

I think it would be hilarious if someone did it in a self-deprecating, purposely funny way. I wouldn't laugh at someone's misfortunes otherwise, but this could really be a hoot. That's a Holiday letter I would actually look forward to receiving.

[DizneyRox]

We get a few, and honestly, it is a highlight of the mail. I enjoy the laugh at such a stressful time of the year.

It's kindof presumptuous to think that people really care about everything that's happened in their lives from the previous year. Kindof like looking at someone elses vacation pictures.

I think that the pictures we send each year are overkill.

[Here we go again...]

Let's have a contest. Write boring letters on Intercot - save on postage. I'll start. My dog died, I have a toenail fungus, and have to wear my slippers to church, and the photographer wouldn't take our Christmas pictures. (Something about needing a wider lens???).

Wait a minute, this sounds like my life....
You are too funny!

I get a letter every year from an aunt that I love reading. She has a great sense of humor and manages to make it a nice balance between fun and bragging. She has a truely wonderful family so anything would come off as bragging even though it is only stating the truth.

I had a cousin that let her DD write the family letter every year. We did not ike that one at all... it was a me, me, me letter.

So, I guess it depends on how it is written. Remember to keep some real life in it, not just the good stuff. That will make it more "real" and interesting.

[TikiGoddess]

Okay, I'm going out on a limb here... be nice please...

Here's the letter that I was going to send out. This is a letter going to about 30 of our families (cousins, aunts/uncles, friends that we don't normally see very often). Let me know if this is too 'braggy' or 'who cares', as those seem to be the main faults most posters find about holiday letters. My original thought was just to share what our family is like these days and what we've been up to this past year.


Hopefully this letter finds you well and enjoying the holiday season! This year was a busy one for us. After many years of thinking about it, I finally decided to start running. So far I have run three 5K races and am in training to do a 10K next summer. I joined the CitySingers of Hartford, a 28 person choir that does three concerts a year. I am also an active Disney fan – I went to three fan meets this year and have met some wonderful people. Being at Disney World with our girls this summer was a highlight for both (DH) and I.

(DH) is active in the teacher’s union, hosted a student teacher this fall, and is looking into getting his sixth year degree in administration. He is also working on his second recorder book, “Ready, Set, Play!” He loves going to music classes with the girls and answering their many questions. He was especially happy to watch the Red Sox win the World Series!

(DD4) is now four years old and attends preschool. She has found a great love for drawing and is quite the accomplished artist. She also takes music and dance classes on Saturdays, and is often found singing one of her favorite songs or composing one of her own. At home she plays with her dinosaurs, cars, and trains.

(DD3) turned three in November. She goes to a home daycare three times a week and enjoys learning her letters and numbers. (DD3) also likes going to Grandma's to play with Lacey, the new German Shepherd puppy. She and (DD4) had a ball at the local fairs this September. At home she is a big fan of dressing up and playing ‘princess’. Daddy is a fine Prince Charming!

The best times were spent with family-- a week in Florida at Grandpa’s house, visits to (and from) Grandpa and Grandma in NY, hosting Thanksgiving at our house with my brother and his family, and the many birthdays and celebrations throughout the year. We look forward to a busy and blessed new year, and hope the same for you and your own!

??????
TikiG

[thrillme]

Sounds really nice but I'm jealous you've been dedicated enough to start running. I sure need too.

I enjoy holiday news letters especially with pictures.

Normally I really can't come up with anything exciting.