# Christmas Cards...what do you do with them after the holiday? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 9, 1999, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-cards-what-do-you-do-with-them-after-the-holiday/11919 "1999-12-09T15:07:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PurpleCrackwhore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc348/32.png) [@PurpleCrackwhore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PurpleCrackwhore)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 1999, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-cards-what-do-you-do-with-them-after-the-holiday/11919/1 "1999-12-09T15:07:00Z")
I always love all the cards that are sent via snail mail and usually save them to make some collage of art as a decoration for the next year. Does anyone else do anything with them? * * * “Only when he no longer knows what he is doing, does the painter do good things.” --Edgar Degas ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 1999, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-cards-what-do-you-do-with-them-after-the-holiday/11919/2 "1999-12-09T15:07:00Z")
Throw them away * * * Long separated by cruel fate, the star-crossed lovers raced across the grassy field toward each other like two freight trains, one having left Cleveland at 6:36 p.m. traveling at 55 mph, the other from Topeka at 4:19 p.m. at a speed of 35 mph. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 1999, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-cards-what-do-you-do-with-them-after-the-holiday/11919/3 "1999-12-09T15:14:00Z")
I keep them for a year so I know who to send cards to the next year. * * * “Some people are worried about the difference between right and wrong. I’m worried about the difference between wrong and fun.” ~P.J. O’Rourke~ ---
**Author:** ![Globe-trotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cab0a1/32.png) [@Globe-trotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Globe-trotter)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 1999, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-cards-what-do-you-do-with-them-after-the-holiday/11919/4 "1999-12-09T15:14:00Z")
Let’s see. Depending on who the card is from: ## [ul][li]Rip it up ;)[/li][li]Keep it for a few years, until I get fed up and throw all the cards I’ve accumulated[/ul][/li] Some drink at the fountain of knowledge…others just gargle. ---
**Author:** ![CanadianSue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@CanadianSue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanadianSue)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 1999, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-cards-what-do-you-do-with-them-after-the-holiday/11919/5 "1999-12-09T15:18:00Z")
Send them into my son’s school the next year so they can use the fronts for crafts. I do save the special ones tho. * * * I opened the door, and look who I found. Damn I’m good ---
**Author:** ![Globe-trotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cab0a1/32.png) [@Globe-trotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Globe-trotter)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 1999, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-cards-what-do-you-do-with-them-after-the-holiday/11919/6 "1999-12-09T15:19:00Z")
Oh, and I also delete 'em. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 1999, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-cards-what-do-you-do-with-them-after-the-holiday/11919/7 "1999-12-09T15:51:00Z")
I re-use parts of the ones I like, for either scrapbook pages, Christmas ornaments for next year’s tree, or window ornaments (or “ornery-ments” as I have called them since I was little). The ones that can’t be re-used in this fashion go into the mixed waste paper recycle (after our names are torn out to satisfy my paranoia). Meg ---
**Author:** ![bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bunny)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 1999, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-cards-what-do-you-do-with-them-after-the-holiday/11919/8 "1999-12-09T16:19:00Z")
As a teacher of little children we love it when they are donated to us. * * * All we really needed to know we learned in Kindergarden ---
**Author:** ![TheDoll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c2a13f/32.png) [@TheDoll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheDoll)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 1999, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-cards-what-do-you-do-with-them-after-the-holiday/11919/9 "1999-12-09T16:22:00Z")
Wow, now I have some ideas to replace throwing them away. Thanks!! * * * “Let me fall out of the window with confetti in my hair…” Tom Waits ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 1999, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-cards-what-do-you-do-with-them-after-the-holiday/11919/10 "1999-12-09T16:29:00Z")
Keep them for years and years and then feel guilty about throwing them out, even if the senders have written nothing on them but their names. I’m hopeless that way. * * * \\| |/ === '\> ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 1999, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-cards-what-do-you-do-with-them-after-the-holiday/11919/11 "1999-12-09T16:48:00Z")
I keep the picture postcards and throw away the rest. My friend has been sending me pictures of her kids every year and after I get a couple more, I intend on framing them for a “Christmas Through the Years” collage. ---
**Author:** ![Yankee\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/7ea924/32.png) [@Yankee\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yankee_Blue)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 1999, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-cards-what-do-you-do-with-them-after-the-holiday/11919/12 "1999-12-09T16:53:00Z")
I save them for the next Christmas when the picture fronts are removed from the text backs in a delicate operation. The pretty pictures then are assigned as Christmas package tags. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 1999, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-cards-what-do-you-do-with-them-after-the-holiday/11919/13 "1999-12-09T19:03:00Z")
Yup, I make tags outta mine too. * * * "There’s a snake in my boot! ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 1999, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-cards-what-do-you-do-with-them-after-the-holiday/11919/14 "1999-12-09T19:29:00Z")
**BurnMeUp** , don’t forget to check them for money before throwing them away! I like to keep the last card from each person. Keeping all of them would be too much. The rest go to christmas card heaven. * * * Quand les talons claquent, l’esprit se vide. Maréchal Lyautey ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 1999, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-cards-what-do-you-do-with-them-after-the-holiday/11919/15 "1999-12-09T19:32:00Z")
I save mind. I have nearly 7 years worth in one box. In this box are also birthday cards and other cards too. My intentions are honorable. A few years ago I received from an honorary uncle of mine a box made of Christmas card covers that was stitched together. It is very cute and I thought, " Hey, I could do that." Several attempts at duplicating the stitch later have proved fruitless, but I won’t give up the ghost. I’ve also heard that some Adults with disabilities will take your old Xmas cards and use them to help raise mula for charity. Keep an eye out in your local paper. Also, if you have kids, they are great to give to them for rainy day activities. ---
**Author:** ![Gr8Kat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gr8kat/32/18668_2.png) [@Gr8Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gr8Kat)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 1999, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-cards-what-do-you-do-with-them-after-the-holiday/11919/16 "1999-12-10T09:08:00Z")
I agree with Fretful Portpentine. I save them forever and ever, too, and the idea of cutting them up horrifies me. I can’t bear to destroy them, especially if the giver has passed on or just moved away and we’ve lost touch. * * * “I hope life isn’t a big joke, because I don’t get it,” Jack Handy [The Kat House](http://members.aol.com/gr8kat1/KatGen/home.htm) [Join the FSH Webring](http://members.aol.com/gr8kat1/KatGen/fshwebring.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Purple\_Toenails](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/779978/32.png) [@Purple\_Toenails](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purple_Toenails)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 1999, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-cards-what-do-you-do-with-them-after-the-holiday/11919/17 "1999-12-10T20:12:00Z")
Tippex out all the entries then re-send them the following year!,hey!,it’s the thought that counts! * * * Please forgive me i’m English! ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 1999, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-cards-what-do-you-do-with-them-after-the-holiday/11919/18 "1999-12-10T23:03:00Z")
Display them for a few months and throw them away. I haven’t recieved any this year though. I would normaly get about ten by now. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 1999, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-cards-what-do-you-do-with-them-after-the-holiday/11919/19 "1999-12-11T03:14:00Z")
Toenails – we’ll forgive you for being English if you tell us what Tippex is. 😉 I thought it was a car. Didn’t Vivian on the Young Ones drive a Ford Tippex? * * * "There’s a snake in my boot! ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 1999, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-cards-what-do-you-do-with-them-after-the-holiday/11919/20 "1999-12-11T06:55:00Z")
Mail them back to their original senders with a grading system that marks how good the card was. For example, “Hey, we’re both Christians, what’s with this secular ‘Happy Holiday’ crap?” “If all you’re going to do is sign your name, don’t bother next year.” “What the Hell are you doing mailing me a Christmas card when you know you’re going to see me on Christmas day, wish me a Merry Christmas in person, and even give me a gift?! Sheesh, you’re a real jerk, Mom.” Peace.