# Strange Christmas card occurrance **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 25, 2006, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-christmas-card-occurrance/385562 "2006-12-25T22:41:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2006, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-christmas-card-occurrance/385562/1 "2006-12-25T22:41:29Z")
My family moved into this house when I was 13, in 1958. My brother and I grew up, moved away, while our parents stayed here until they both eventually passed away. Now I’m back in the house, alone. A few days ago, I received a Christmas card in the mail, and opened it. There was a lot of writing inside, in Italian (which I barely recognize). So I looked at the envelope, and discovered that it was sent to someone else, at this address. That name seemed kind of familiar; then it occurred to me that it’s the name of the family that used to live here until we moved here _ **48 years ago!** _ To the best of my knowledge, we had never received a Christmas card from Italy, addressed to the former owners. So why would someone send a card to a person they hadn’t been in contact with in almost 50 years (otherwise they would have known the family had moved)? And it was addressed to the father of the family, who was in his 60s then, and almost certainly quite dead by now. I’m sure there’s a story here. Anyway, I’m sending it back, marked "Not at this address (for 48 years). ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2006, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-christmas-card-occurrance/385562/2 "2006-12-25T23:06:44Z")
You aren’t going to try to translate it first? I would, else the reason for the card would be bugging me forever. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2006, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-christmas-card-occurrance/385562/3 "2006-12-25T23:09:54Z")
I’m not exactly sure why they’d do it, but my guess is that it is some attempt to reconnect with a friend or relative or branch of the family thought to be long-since lost. If it were me, I’d want to get a translation of the Italian! At minimum, I’d send their card back along with a note explaining the situation, not just give it the “return to sender” heave-ho. But that’s the hopeless romantic in me. Maybe they’re just trying to collect on a massively overdue debt. (So get it translated, all ready! Surely there’s a Doper who’s fluent in Italian!) ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2006, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-christmas-card-occurrance/385562/4 "2006-12-25T23:18:42Z")
Hey, I grew up in N.E. Ohio and my folks sold their house in 1958 (but we’re not Italian). Yeah, I think I’d get it translated and go from there. Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction revived it. ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2006, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-christmas-card-occurrance/385562/5 "2006-12-25T23:22:07Z")
Just a thought. This might be a good “personal interest” holiday story for a local reporter. ---
**Author:** ![Lars\_Aruns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c68b51/32.png) [@Lars\_Aruns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lars_Aruns)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2006, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-christmas-card-occurrance/385562/6 "2006-12-25T23:44:10Z")
This story is not surprising at all for me, considering the not-so-good reputation the Italian Mail Service enjoys. It could be possible that it took years and years just to get out of Italy, and a few days to finally reach your home. When I still lived in Italy, I remember quite a few stories on the TV news about similar cases of mail delivered very, very late, often for mundane things like love letters from soldiers on the front (and we’re talking WWII here), sometimes even for official, urgent documents (like a letter granting a pension for wartime disabilities). Things are better now, mind you! On the other hand it’s also possible that somewhere in Italy there’s an elderly gentleman or lady wanting to send Christmas wishes to a relative he or she didn’t think of for a long, long time. If you’re curious and want to know what the card says, you could post the text here, and I’ll translate it. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2006, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-christmas-card-occurrance/385562/7 "2006-12-26T01:39:21Z")
Oh yes please get it translated! And keep us posted. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2006, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-christmas-card-occurrance/385562/8 "2006-12-26T03:03:08Z")
Oh yes, please, invade the privacy of these people even more than you already (inadvertantly) have by posting the contents of a private letter to the internet! ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2006, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-christmas-card-occurrance/385562/9 "2006-12-26T03:40:53Z")
The suggestion that the text be posted for all to read initially struck me as unwise, but then it _is_ just a Christmas card and unlikely to contain anyhing of great import. Still, I agree that it might be better to use a more private means of communication to ascertain the contents of the message. Having said that, I’m very curious, but I suppose it’s going to be one of those little mysteries of life. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2006, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-christmas-card-occurrance/385562/10 "2006-12-26T03:47:46Z")
It’s not some long-lost piece of mail, because it mentions “Natale 2006” and “Anno nuovo 2007.” Also, the people are close enough to be on a first-name familiarity, which is strange. The handwriting is very hard to read, and I can’t even make out a lot of the letters. I admit I’m curious, but will just send it back. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2006, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-christmas-card-occurrance/385562/11 "2006-12-26T05:36:53Z")
[QUOTE=panache45] It’s not some long-lost piece of mail, because it mentions “Natale 2006” and “Anno nuovo 2007.” Also, the people are close enough to be on a first-name familiarity, which is strange. The handwriting is very hard to read, and I can’t even make out a lot of the letters. I admit I’m curious, but will just send it back. [/QUOTE] Oh, please, try to find the addressee or next of kin! ---
**Author:** ![Lars\_Aruns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c68b51/32.png) [@Lars\_Aruns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lars_Aruns)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2006, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-christmas-card-occurrance/385562/12 "2006-12-26T11:02:27Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] Oh yes, please, invade the privacy of these people even more than you already (inadvertantly) have by posting the contents of a private letter to the internet! [/QUOTE] Got a strong point there, **Otto** , you’re right. Best not to intrude; this is very probably some Italian relative (or friend) of the family living in your house before you hoping to contact them. It would be better that they know that their relatives don’t live there anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2006, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-christmas-card-occurrance/385562/13 "2006-12-26T16:15:39Z")
nah, just write back: "cara familia, Stiamo motlto inbankruptato Senda molto dinero, pronto!" and hope for the best. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2006, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-christmas-card-occurrance/385562/14 "2006-12-26T20:59:24Z")
Now, in any good Hollywood film, **panache45** would toss the letter on the table in the foyer and go to work. Then come home and sip some wine, look at the letter and the next scene would show panache45 getting on a plane and going to Italy. Then the montage of searching through Italian countrysides in search of the person who wrote the Christmas card. Finally arriving at a quaint villa, greeted by a sweet little Italian lady just finishing preparing the normal 6 course lunch - **panache45** would learn the meaning of a simpler life and fall in love with one of the younger members of that Italian family… The film would end with **panache45** , sitting at a desk in the Italian villa, writing a Christmas card and addressing it to the old address in the US.