Christmas Cards at work--Oh....no.

As a pagan who celebrates the Winter Solstice I totally agree. 

Ooo! Me too! 

Plus Jesus was Jewish anyway. 

It's unlikely that he was actually born in December, either!

We give Christmas cards at work.  It is kind of expected.  Just buy a cheap box and drop them off.  Even people who are going away bring them in to my work and to be honest if somebody doesn't give cards there is a little muttering.  Not much but it's kind of seen as 'not making an effort'. 

This is how it is where I work. I don't assume it's like that everywhere, but in our area, it is generally expected. I think even a nice Seasons Greetings card or something that doesn't indicate religion would be a nice gesture, if you feel uncomfortable with the Christian references. If I was getting them from everyone in the office, I would feel awkward not reciprocating, as I don't want to be considered the "rude American" who doesn't give cards. 

This is how it is where I work. I don't assume it's like that everywhere, but in our area, it is generally expected. I think even a nice Seasons Greetings card or something that doesn't indicate religion would be a nice gesture, if you feel uncomfortable with the Christian references. If I was getting them from everyone in the office, I would feel awkward not reciprocating, as I don't want to be considered the "rude American" who doesn't give cards. 

I think it's a regional thing, for sure.  A few people in my London office gave cards, but not that many.

The thing is, it's VERY difficult to find cards without the word 'Christmas' on them in the UK!

Ooo! Me too! 

Yay!

It's unlikely that he was actually born in December, either!

I know! 

As habitual heathen, we did not do much for Christmas other than treat it as a 2 week party break. But then the first little nipper came along and well, when ya got kids, it's kind of very unfair not to do the santa claus, tree, lights etc bit. And so it continues. We like it, it is fun. But I once was told this and still remember this quote:
People really act weird at Christmas time! What other time of year do you sit in front of a dead tree in the living room and eat nuts and sweets out of your socks?

But the card at work thing, each workplace will be different. I don't do it myself and in 30 years and umpteen different places I have worked here, I have never experienced the 'it's expected' thing. But I do know (because of DD, ex DW, DW & DS) that there are many places, like Jewlz's workplace that do expect it sort of. Not sure how how I'd handle it but I'd probably do it so as not to be the bah humbugger.

axial tilt is the reason for the season! 

BRILLIANT!!!

The thing is, it's VERY difficult to find cards without the word 'Christmas' on them in the UK!

I've always managed to find ones that just have a picture/image of santa, reindeer, a bird etc with just Season's Greetings on the inside.

I try to get the nature-y ones, too Bob--like robins or just snowflakes.  Got some great wrapping paper this year with snowflakes, polar bears, and penguins.

The thing is, it's VERY difficult to find cards without the word 'Christmas' on them in the UK!

All the charity shops seem to have non-Christmas Christmas cards! 

If it's the Christianity angle that's bothering you, you could always send out Happy New Year cards instead - just buy some pretty wintery notecards and write your own message in them.

All the charity shops seem to have non-Christmas Christmas cards! 

I was just going through my old cards and found a small stash of Edinburgh cards from Shelter.  I have two extra packs that I don't know what to do with now!

Just take in a thing of mince pies and they'll be happy. People passed out Christmas cards at my last job and I felt bad that I didn't get any for them. So I baked cookies instead! 

Can't go wrong with homemade treats (cookies, pumpkin bread, peppermint bark etc.)

Or do what a friend of mine did this year - she sent out an email (to friends, family and coworkers) saying that she's not posting cards this year, but sponsored two chickens through Oxfam instead! 

I've generally felt that Christmas here is almost completely secularised these days, so unlike in the PC American way of saying 'happy holidays' or being really careful in case someone is Jewish, everyone just says happy Christmas and means it in a more general, non-religious way. My partner and I are both raging atheists, but we have a Christmas tree, give gifts, do the big dinner and say happy Christmas to everyone. After all, even if you believe the bible, this time of year is not likely to have been the big J's real birthday anyway; it was just a co-opting of pagan festivals celebrating the days getting longer again; axial tilt is the reason for the season! 

Or Hindu or Muslim or Buddhist or pagan or atheist etc, etc.
As a pagan who celebrates the Winter Solstice I totally agree.  Plus Jesus was Jewish anyway.  But still, it's so deeply ingrained in me that Merry Christmas assumes Christianity on the one receiving the greeting.  I do realize that it's not strictly meant like that in the UK though.

Yes!!   
I love Christmas, definitely not because of the Christian angle, but because of the music, family, food, lights, decorating a pretty tree, etc. I also have a gorgeous nativity set, not because I believe the story is true, but rather, I find the story of Christmas really interesting. It is a good story, after all. So I put mine out to celebrate the story.    *Not trying to offend any Christians here who may believe it as truth. Many stories are riddled in truth. I just, personally, don’t believe it as true.*

My DH is born and raised here in Scotland and where as most everyone at work sends them out he refuses to. hahaha.  He says he sees them everyday and always brings in treats so it's useless.  Oh and mind you we're very strong Christians so Christmas means a lot to us, just not cards.  I on the other hand am working in a retail store with about 8 other girls who are all so close I would most likely get fired if I didn't send one out.  The first card I receieved I had to ask DH if this was normal.  After he said yes, only he doesn't do it, I still went out and bought a pack of 10 cards.   I think someone put it right, I don't want to seem like the "Rude, ignorant American"  Hubby can get away with it cause he's from here.  It all depends on what others are doing I suppose.

I don't think the issue with Christmas cards at work is about religion, I think it's about feeling obligated to give things to people that you don't feel that close to.

I suspect that, if it were made known the OP is Jewish, they'd be forgiven.

Agreed.  But it would need to be stated.  They'd never make that assumption. At least not at my work.

I don't think it's a regional thing although it might be the type of job or the work environment type of thing.

Like I said it's not that big of a deal BUT if I were in a place where I wanted to fit in and make freinds and it seemed like everyone was giving cards to everybody then I would certainly make an effort to do it.  If I already had friends and they knew me well enough for me to say I wasn't bothering and they didn't care then I wouldn't if it was something I felt strongly about.  OR if I really didn't care - didn't like anybody and wasn't worried about making friends or fitting in- then I wouldn't bother.