Do you like receiving Christmas "brag" letters?

[JoyG]

Inspired by another thread...I LOVE receiving letters at Christmas in cards. I have about 10 friends from HS and College who I never talk to during the year, but I get their cards with letters at Christmas. I love hearing about what they're up to. Although I called them "brag letters" I don't really think people are bragging, they're just letting me know what they're up to.

I love getting pictures of the kids too, although I confess, I don't keep them. Once they're too dated to be displayed on the fridge, I just throw them out.

I've only mailed a holiday letter once, but I'm thinking about doing it again. I just don't want people rolling their eyes and thinking I'm bragging. What do you think, should I do it?



ETA: Oh poop, this was supposed to be a poll. Can't make one after the fact can I?

 

[nealymouse]

I also love them. I get one every year from my moms old neighbor (way up north in Maine) and its a riot to read about whats going on up north (ayah)

 

[amarberry]

I always enjoy them!

 

[RitaZ.]

I have never written one.

I really don't care for them because the ones that I get are full of bragging. I want to know what is going on in my friends' lives, but do I really need to know about the "ridiculously fast boat" (brand and size also included) that they recently purchased. How about all the wineries that they visited on their most recent foofoo trip? My favorite has to be the one where a friend goes on and on about their new house and the moonlight reflecting on the water while they sat in front of their fireplace drinking a bottle of wine. I'm surprised she left out what they did after all the moonlight-reflection watching and wine drinking. Yes, these are all things that I have had the pleasure of reading.

 

[PlutosFriend]

I like hearing what people are up to, but when they go into their child's great grades or whatever, I think that is a bit much.

 

[Papa Deuce]

We like them, but we don't think of them as brag letters... we call the "ketchup" letters.

 

[daisyduck123]

Well I do not like them. I got one the other day...full page, single-spaced....is there a yawning smilie???? I skimmed the first paragraph & that was it.

 

[skuttle]

I have never received one and never written one. Actually never heard of it before the DIS a few years ago!

 

[aprilgail2]

I can't stand them. If you are sending me a christmas card then I am sure we must talk during the year either on email or phone so I would know what you are all up to...I can't stand hearing about Muffy and her cheerleading and Chas and his gifted program and hubbys new boat, car whatever. Sure if you just want to say, family is good, then fine, but all the bragging I can do without. One year I sent one to my cousins that I wrote (you have to know the background, we get together every chrsitmas and bring all our brag letter we got to make fun of together) and I wrote things like -"my car is out of commission right now, I hit a tree the other night after having a few to many-Junior is in rehab and sally was picked up for shoplifting" my cousin said she almost peed herself reading it!

 

[Robinrs]

I have never received one and never written one. Actually never heard of it before the DIS a few years ago!

I swear I was about to write the same thing! I first heard about them here on the DIS...like a million other things I've never heard of before!

Never even thought of it...

 

[MUFFYCAT]

We get a few which are nice , but only one irks us.
I think this one family are the champions of bragging.

We once sent out one that was totally opposite.
Like our older DD is getting all A's because she thankfully sits next to the smartest kid in class.
Younger DD doesn't think she is Elmo anymore
but is noe Blue from Blues Clues. and other stuff to that effect.

People got a real kick out of it!

 

[DISUNC]

We get one 'Brag" letter from a specific friend every year.....I get a kick out of it....because I know the "True Untold" stories behind the letters!

 

[Boston Tea Party]

I don't care for them. I get one every year from my SIL/BIL and it is just so sweet it makes my teeth hurt.

As a protest, last year I started my own satirical newsletter. I don't think many people in the family "got it" but I liked doing it.

I think that this year, with the big news being my grandmother passing, I will make the top story: "Grandma Nannie heads to Heaven early, saves seats for the rest of us"

Here's a sample story from last year:

Alyssa Earns Her License

Against her mother’s better judgement, Alyssa is now permitted to drive “the mule” at Aunt Rita’s. “She’s going to kill herself!” Lea Ann exclaimed as Craig reassured her by saying, “Lea Ann, Alyssa doesn’t drive like YOU do!”

 

[momrek06]

Being with the Railroad for many years before starting our own business, DH and I lived all over the USA. We met sooo many fabulous friends. And we all keep up with the Christmas Letter.

I write one every single year. I take it to Staples and have them copy it onto lovely Christmas letterhead.

I enclose a pic of all of us and it is alllll good!!!

(btw: I do not brag, more like a cub reporter)

 

[MushyMushy]

No, they drive me nuts!

If we're on good enough terms that we're exchanging cards, then please update me with this stuff throughout the year.

Blech, ptooey!

 

[Libby X 3]

I don't write them either.. but do enjoy reading the few that we get. We take turns reading them dramatically for each other. You probably have to be there but it is enjoyable and we do it in good fun.

 

[wilderness01]

I love getting them from my out of town friends.

 

[MI mom of 3]

I think they are hysterical!! Love getting them!

 

[SDFgirl]

I enjoy them.

 

[LukenDC]

I don't think that there is anything wrong with "annual update" letters at Christmas. They're fun and keep people informed.