<p>LOL at Anudduhmom. Great idea!</p>
<p>One of the funnier things I do is send Chanukah cards to people who sent me Christmas cards. Either it goes without comment-- or they get the hint for next year. Nowadays there are so many cards with Happy Holiday greetings that it shouldnt be too difficult to not offend anyone.</p>
<p>I don’t send Christmas cards or Hannukkah cards or cards at all at any time of year. I particularly dislike receiving cards with long letters in them from people I barely know. </p>
<p>I will send notes to people throughout the year and/or call on a holiday,birthday. I have occasionally sent e-cards to those who seem to like them (because they sent me one). </p>
<p>I try to make a more personal contact with those who are part of my life and do “catching up” type contact throughout the year. </p>
<p>Cards, in my opinion are just another part of the mass commercialism that has grown up around every holiday (just another way for someone to make money). </p>
<p>I will buy a card for a special event in someone’s life- graduation, baptism, bar mitvah- usually accompanied by a gift.</p>
<p>My favorite radio station played the Adam Sandler’s song as I was driving home last night, and I thought that the song started to show its age… Seattle Supersonics?</p>
<p>Happy Chanukah to my Jewish CC friends!</p>
<p>I definitely do not take offense when I receive Christmas cards, have people wish me a Merry Christmas (and I will always answer in kind with a smile) etc. etc. But on the other end, I think the OP did a nice and considerate thing, and as she said, not a lot of effort required there.</p>
<p>Speaking of the Santa tradition and how it does or does not mesh well with Jewish tradition, here is a funny story from my childhood. When I was four years old, my family took me to see the famous Santa at the big flagship Macy’s store in NYC, which was a big deal back then as it is now. On this occasion there was a huge line to wait for Santa and lots of families waiting nearby by the time I finally got my turn. After I was settled in Santa’s huge red lap, he asked me the inevitable question. “So, little girl, what would you like Santa to bring you for Christmas?” “Um, well, er… that is, Santa - I can’t have anything” was my forlorn reply. “Oh, now, surely Santa is going to want to bring a little girl like you something special for Christmas. Haven’t you been a good little girl?” “Oh yes, Santa!” “Then, just tell Santa what you would like!” Well, this went back and forth for some time, with Santa imploring me and me insisting I couldn’t possibly get a Christmas present from Santa. “WELL THEN,” Santa said finally (with a bit of exasperation) WHY don’t you think Santa will bring you a present?! “Santa - I am not a Christmas girl, I am a Hanukkah girl!” The place apparently exploded with laughter. Not only that - a radio producer in the crowd asked to use the anecdote on the air, which he did! </p>
<p>The back story - we are Jewish (reform in practice leaning to conservative) - never ever would have stockings, a tree, gifts from Santa in the home. However, my family used to encourage the recognition of the celebration of the holiday season that is, after all, all around us. I always went in to Manhattan every year to see the store windows all decorated, the big trees with all the lights, the Nutcracker performances etc. However, to this day I think they probably took things a little too far with the time they took me to sit on Santa’s lap at Macy’s, LOL!</p>
<p>i just want to add that i don’t even send christmas cards. i just don’t think that anyone would be upset for being remembered.</p>
<p>My (Jewish) FIL used to work as a Santa when he was in medical school to get a little extra money on the side!</p>
<p>Anudduhmom - loved your post … I realized to my horror I hadn’t yet done my holiday cards, so I went to Shutterfly, opened an account, uploaded a recent pic of my kids and poof - within 5 minutes, they were ordered and on their way. I can’t believe I’ve never done this electronically before - this seems SO easy, and it really was cheaper than getting cards made at Wolf Camera or such. </p>
<p>There’s got to be some way where you could even upload your address book and have them sent? Does anyone know? And yeah, I know that precludes writing individual messages.</p>
<p>I like sending cards to family, friends, colleagues, and especially clients. After the season, I buy prettiest cards I can find, great words, & funny ones. No brag letter. People have sent me e-cards. I’ve rarely received a religious Christmas card. I know my elderly relatives enjoy the cards.</p>
<p>My son frequently went to his close friend’s house for their Xmas tree trimming party, but I never took him to a Santa. I like the story of the Hannukah girl.</p>
<p>Shutterfly.com will stamp and mail cards for you for 99 cents each.</p>
<p>mom60–my son got caught up in the secret Santa thing at school one year (for choir). A freshman in HS, he didn’t really know what it was all about, and didn’t want to be the one to say he wasn’t doing it. But I think it was totally inappropriate to ask all the kids to celebrate Christmas this way.</p>
<p>I don’t mind getting Christmas cards - don’t really expect friends to buy a separate card just for us - but I do get offended when the wife of friends we’ve known for 30 years adds “Merry Christmas” to the inside message. They know we’re Jewish!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>If they would also compose and write witty notes to my friends and family I would pay a lot more that that!</p>
<p>I do not mind receiving Christmas cards–I do not expect people with mostly nonJewish friends to buy Happy Holidays cards if they would rather send Christmas cards.
I find getting cards with no handwritten message or even signature suggests someone is just doing a mass mailing and I would prefer they give money to charity instead.</p>