According to a new survey, six in 10 adults are getting fewer Christmas cards – and three-quarters of them aren’t the least bit concerned.
The study of 2,000 American adults found that 44 percent expect this decline to continue for the rest of this Christmas.
Three in 10 aren’t planning on sending a single card this year, but 35 percent wish they didn’t have to, but feel like they have an obligation to do so because they’re still receiving them.
Nearly four in 10 (37 percent) don’t think Christmas cards are as important as they used to be, while 35 percent believe they lack sincerity.
However, Americans are picky about their gifts, ranking ugly clothes, socks and toothpicks as the top three worst gifts they have received.
The research was commissioned by the smartphone game Clash Royale, which is sending a selection of these awesome paper-wrapped gifts to gaming content creators to be gifted with in-game rewards.
A spokesperson said: “Christmas cards may once have been a highlight of the holiday season, but it seems many Americans are happy to let this tradition fade like tinsel on a tired old tree.”
The research also found that 60 per cent believe the cost of purchasing and posting cards could be a reason for their demise, while 58 per cent believe the increase in digital communications is making them obsolete .
In fact, 39 percent would prefer to have a celebratory video call to meet their loved ones, and 33 percent think a personalized text message would suffice.
On average, Americans who are sending cards will write 10 and expect to receive eight in return.
But 23 percent of people aren’t looking forward to getting something from a distant relative they’ve never seen, and 12 percent are nervous about the idea of getting something from a work colleague they barely know.
Once the festivities are over, 19 percent of people will throw the cards they receive in the trash.
Younger generations also seem to be abandoning the Christmas card tradition, with Gen Z sending and receiving the least out of all generations.
And they also feel the most obligation (55 percent) to send cards, even though they typically don’t bother.
However, according to OnePoll’s findings, Gen Z is one of the most passionate about cards, with 32 percent likely to own one as a souvenir.
It also emerged that 20 percent admitted they have been Scrooge in the past, fighting against the holiday spirit.
Of these, 18 percent refused to decorate the tree and 15 percent complained loudly about terrible Christmas music in public places.
20 percent named Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ as the holiday song they never want to hear again.
And 12 percent will put in their headphones and play mobile games throughout Christmas Day.
