Christmas Round Robins

[KittyGlitter]

What are people's views on these? You know, those CV type letters that are included with Christmas cards. They come from people you never see, telling us that they went to Cuba for a month and that their daughter is now a professor of philosophy. I think they are very irritating and come accross as bragging. My view is that if you keep in touch with the person, then you would know this stuff anyway. If you don't keep in touch, there is probably a good reason for this and you don't actually care about what they've been up to!

[Hgrove]

I think the whole idea is a bit ridiculous;  usually they are rather boring.  One year a lot of important things had happened in my life, every month something like moving house, passing my driving test, etc., and I half thought of doing one myself for the first and last time, but my husband laughed me out of the idea, and I have not been tempted since.

[Ewood27]

I hate them.  I also hate Christmas cards printed with the sender's name.  I don't even like computer-printed address labels on the envelopes.  A Christmas card should be hand written to show you care.  Otherwise it's too obviously a conveyor belt thing.

Mind you, I'm an OAP, so what do I know about today's acceptable behaviour?

[Weaza_cfc]

Hey, im fifteen, and i certainly find them irritating too. My friend often groans when this time of year comes around, as her mother is one of those not content with a simple "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year", and feels the need to tell every cousin three times removed how blah passed her piano exam. Plenty of exciting events happen during the year (blah cheated on *blah with blahs boyfriend... blah got suspended... blah got 7 A* in her GCSEsm, and she didnt even revise (b*tch...)) but they are usually not the things you feel like sharing with aunty mabel. Pointless waste of time

[bernardo]

"My view is that if you keep in touch with the person, then you would know this stuff anyway."

 

Mostly I agree, but for some people such things are the way of keeping in touch.  I thgink thay are OK as long as they are not too detailed with reams of minor trivia.

[Bangkok]

Simon Hoggart (Guardian journalist) has compiled a very funny book with the worst of the round robins he has collected

[Pinotage]

I think they're a great idea and I can't understand why people are upset by them. If you're not interested, the don't read them.

 

They're not 'Round Robins' though, that means a circular letter signed around the edge so you cant identify the prime originator. These are circulars or newsletters. 

[natalie_1982]

What's a round robin?

[KittyGlitter]

This is quite funny:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/2004_49_tue_02.shtml

[FP]

I  handwrite notes in Christmas cards to people I haven't seen for a while, generally giving a little information about what has been going on in our family, but not in great detail  I also ask how they are and make the card personal to them.  I hate the 'round robins' and would never consider sending them.  Mine would be pretty uninteresting anyway!  This years would say 'Haven't done much, haven't had any holidays, haven't moved..... etc., etc.'

[FP]

Natalie.  'A round robin' is a printed newsletter with the family's news for the year, that some people put in all their Christmas Cards. 

[Kingaroo]

In the US we call them Christmas Newsletters.

Here's what www.word-detective.com has to say about the origin of the term ROUND ROBIN:

" The phrase actually has nothing whatever to do with a bird, robin or any other kind. "Robin" in this phrase is a corruption of the French "ruban," meaning "ribbon."... It seems that in 17th and 18th century France, there was a good deal for the average peasant to complain about, but complaining to the King in particular was not a terribly good idea. The monarch's usual reaction to a petition from his subjects was to seize the first two or three signers and have them beheaded. Not wishing to lose their heads, but bent nonetheless on petitioning for justice, clever peasants came up with the expedient of signing their names on the petition in a circle, like a ribbon. That way, no one's name came "first," and, assuming that there were hundreds of signatures on the petition, it was impractical for the King to punish all the signers. A similar method was adopted by disgruntled sailors in the 18th century British Royal Navy, another institution not known for welcoming criticism. Sailors often signed their names to a petition like the spokes of a wheel, so that no one of them could be considered the leader of a mutiny and hanged. Today we use "round robin" to describe any event, most often a sporting event of some kind, where everyone takes a turn."

I guess it started being used for "circular" letters because of the "round" thing -- not because everyone's participating.

[mother25]

Good Heavens!  What a bad-tempered, miserable crowd you are!

I am 65 years old and find it easier to keep a note of all the good, bad, interesting, happy and sad things that happen in my life all year. Then, early in December, I collate the information and turn it into a newsletter. I include pictures from holidays and any family occasions, and make the letter as 'newsy' as possible. I then send it to distant friends I don't see very often, and family members who look forward to my news. I get similar letters back from family and friends and we all enjoy catching up with the happenings of our lives.  This year I received two Christmas cards in November asking when the senders could expect my letter which they were looking forward to very much!

Cheer up, people, and remember, some folk love to get letters, especially at Christmas.

Happy New Year, and lots of letter writing!