Do we send too many Christmas cards?

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Some of your thoughts on Christmas cards

People should cut down on Christmas cards by only sending them to people they really like, the Bishop of Reading has said.

The Right Reverend Dr Stephen Cottrell says writing loads of cards takes up time, is bad for the environment, and costs loads of money!

So we wondered if YOU send cards to everyone you know, or just your few closest friends and family?

Do you feel you have to give everyone in your class a card, in case you make them feel bad leaving them out?

Perhaps you think email cards are cool, or maybe you prefer the real thing to hang on your wall?

Unfortunately this topic is now closed but there are Comments pages on other subjects on the main Chat index.

Your comments

"I think sometimes we do get carried away sending too many Christmas cards to people we hardly know. I think that we should just send them to the people we really care about, like close friends and family and maybe teachers."

Kristy, 11, Cambridgeshire, England

"I love getting Christmas cards. In our school we have a Christmas card post box and the teachers hand them out in class! It's really cool and everybody loves it! As I am going to high school next year, I am sending a card to everybody in my year and my teachers!"

Laura, 11 England

"I give cards to all my family because half my family lives in New Zealand and I don't get to see them that often so I always send them cards. I am giving cards to everyone in my class because it is my last Christmas in primary school!"

Aisling, 11, Galway, Ireland

"No, because we use recycled paper cards!!"

Rebecca, 11, Manchester, England

"I send Christmas cards to my family but only send an email to my best friends. When I do send cards, all I do is turn on my computer, open my card program, change the name on a previous card I made, then print it out. Everyone in my class sent me a card last year - even people I don't really like. Waste of paper, really!"

Arthur, 8, Brighton, England

"It's always nice to get Christmas cards, and if people recycle them afterwards then there's no problem!"

Eve, 13, Lancashire, England

"I think that Dr Stephen Cottrell is just saying that because he doesn't get any Xmas cards!"

Tyler, 10, Kent, England

"I normally only send cards to a couple of people that are my friends, but this year, as it is my last year at primary school before I go to high school, I am giving a card to everyone."

Rhiannon, 10, Glasgow, Scotland

"My mum sends loads of cards and we get loads. But I think it's better to see your friends and family on Christmas than send and receive cards."

Taylor, 13, Scotland

"We send too many Christmas cards. Emails are more environmentally friendly. Up with the emails!"

Khazzi, 10, England

"Because I'm at secondary school I send even more cards - about 60!!!"

Roisin, 13, Hertfordshire, England

"I think it's important to send Christmas cards because your friends really appreciate it when they get it and I use last year's cards to make new ones."

Lisa, 11, Scotland

"No way! That's the best part of Christmas time! Make a bunch of cards and send them to everyone! That's what I do. It's so fun making them, as well. It's not like I don't want to do it!"

Harriet, 13, Isle of Wight, England

"I do like getting Christmas cards but with the credit crunch taking over, I think we should not give that many Christmas cards out this year."

Jessie, 10, Wales

"I do think we should send Christmas cards because we don't see all our friends from school that much in the Christmas holidays so really it's a way of saying 'hi' on the holidays. It's a good job I send the WHOLE CLASS a Christmas card, even the naughty ones, otherwise they may feel sad."

Ellie, 7, Swansea, Wales

"I really enjoy getting Christmas cards. I can also understand why some schools have banned them. It wouldn't be nice not getting any cards."

Anisah, 10, Edinburgh, Scotland

"I send loads of cards at Christmas. I send one to every person in my class and also to relatives. I think receiving cards is nice and makes you feel good. It adds to the festive spirit!"

Mollie, 10, Scotland

"I think sending Christmas cards is good. I send them to everybody in my class, because if I don't it makes them feel left out. I love sending Christmas cards and getting them off people because you feel you are cared about a lot! Christmas is the best!"

Emma, 10, Birmingham, England

"I think we are making a bigger problem for the environment and using too much ink and paper! I know we can recycle but why don't we just send a handwritten letter (better than using up too much ink)?!!"

Alice, 10, Essex, England

"I think everyone should send cards to whoever they want to! I send Christmas cards to all the people in my class and all the teachers!"

April, 11, Dorset, England

"I love getting Christmas cards and I know my best friends love them, too. It's great to get a Christmas card because it shows how much you like your friends."

Aoife, 9, Dublin, Ireland

"I think we send too many Christmas cards; we are wasting paper we don't need to use."

Andrew, 9, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

"We should send Christmas cards because it shows that you care about someone and that you also care about Christmas."

Laura, 13, London, England

"I think sending Christmas cards to family and friends is a great idea! I send cards to my friends at school every Christmas! I do not want that to change."

Jessica, 12, Shropshire, England

"I think people should stop buying and start making their own!"

Courtney, 10, Peterborough, England

"I love sending and receiving Christmas cards. It is polite and fun. I normally send paper cards; they are more traditional. I only give cards to my family and best friends; that way it is less money and is eco-friendly."

Dionne, 11, East Sussex, England

"In my old school, everyone would send cards to all the people in our year via the Christmas post box. We would also send cards to everyone we were friendly with. Now, at secondary school, no one sends Christmas cards."

Ellen, 12, Reading, England

"I'm not a Christian, but I think that sending Christmas cards is a good way of showing you're somebody's friend. Even I send them."

Krish, 12, Leicester, England

"I send them to my friends, although I use the front of my cards as name tags and I always recycle them!"

Pauline, 14, England

"At our school we are not allowed to send a Christmas card to everyone in the class. We are only allowed to send a Christmas card to the whole of the class."

Hope, 9, Staffordshire, England

"We should cut down on Christmas cards and save trees."

Michael, 11, Inverclyde, Scotland

"I think that you should send Christmas cards because it's a way to spread Christmas. You could send them to anyone you like, not just the people you really like."

Georgia, 9, Brighton, England

"I send cards to everyone I know. It makes them know that I'm thinking about them during Christmas time."

Jenny, 15, London, England

"I think Christmas cards are a bad idea because they can be a waste of money, by sending them to all of your friends."

Kieron, 13, Gloucester, England

"I think they're great because it shows how much you care about someone and they are very festive."

Tanya, 10, Newry, Northern Ireland

"I only send them to people I like."

Charlotte, 13, Leicestershire, England

"People just scribble down names of the people they're going to give to. How is that being thoughtful about the person?!"

Ad, 11, London, England

"I like getting Christmas cards - if anything we don't send enough! It's really nice and pleasant even if you're not their best mate. It's nice to know you've been included; it's like saying we send too many invites and we should only invite our best mates to our parties. I don't think many people would do that and not many will cut down on Christmas cards! I know it is bad for the environment but so are birthday cards or thank you cards (really cards in general!)"

Alice, 11, Wigan, England

"I send them to my friends. Later, I use the front of my cards as name tags and always recycle them!"

Pauline, 14, England

"I only send them to my family."

Nick, 11, Essex, England

"I think we should give cards to whoever we like because if your guardian says you can you might as well."

Kelsey, 11, North Yorkshire, England

"In the past I have written them to everyone in my class, but because I started secondary school last year it was just too many. I have become very eco-friendly since as well and this year I am only giving a present to four people and a card to about six. I waste my time writing them."

Louise, 13, Ayrshire, Scotland

"I think it is a good idea because it shows you care about people and also makes people feel the Christmas spirit. I send them to friends and family each year."

Lucy, 9, London, England

"I only give cards to my family and to my best bff. And my class will be sad because I'm popular."

Katy, 8, England

"I just send them to my friends."

Amelia, 10, Surrey, England

"Yes, we do. We should make our own."

Tash, 11, North Wales

"I think that we should send Christmas cards but only to people we really know and who send Christmas cards to you!!!!!!!!!!!"

Kitty, 10, Norfolk, England

"I think that there is no point in sending Christmas cards as it harms the environment and people know when it is going to be Christmas. On the other hand, I think it is good because it is a great way to keep contact or regain contact with people you haven't seen for a long time."

Shermya, 11, Telford, England

"I think sending Christmas cards is a good idea, because you are being thoughtful by sending them, and I think people should send them to whoever they want. I give cards to my cats."

Lauren, 14, England

"I send them to my friends in my class, and for family members we send a joint one from the household. We might send too many, but it's the festive season, and you have to do it properly."

Holly, 12, Brighton, England

"If I don't send Christmas cards to all my friends, they feel left out. I feel pressured to buy them!"

Giulia, 12, Devon, England

"I think sending cards to your friends is good. You wouldn't be able to send them to everyone in your class because you would be carrying too many."

Jack, 13, Manchester, England

"I only buy them for my friends and I make them for my family."

Georgia, 9, Hertfordshire, England

"Might as well ban birthday cards, too!"

Gemma, 13, Cornwall, England

"I just send them to the people I like. Why send it to anyone else? I like to buy the Christmas cards that give money to charity!"

Hannah, 12, Scotland

"I think it's a waste of time and money because they only cause excess clutter and don't look very attractive."

Luci, 12, Hampshire, England

"I always send a Christmas card to everyone in my form, but perhaps we should only send them to our closest friends and family."

Meggie, 13, London, England

"I only give them to my friends. We recycle ours but I think it's selfish for people to buy them and not recycle!"

Bethany, 13, Argyll, Scotland

"I personally think Christmas cards are underrated! There are so many different types and people have a lot of choice. So what if they're a waste of money? Let us spend it! At the end of the day how else are we going to let the whole world have a merry Christmas? Christmas cards are fab - I don't know where I would be without mine!"

Jhust, 15, Kent, England