The Etiquette of Cards?

I'm not sure where to post this question, so I did so here, as it seemed the best sub-forum.

One thing I've wondered about British culture/etiquette is the sending of cards on certain occasions.  Of course Americans also send cards, but it *seems* much more prevalent (expected?) in the UK and for a more variety of occasions.  Is this right? 

For instance, in the US, I would never send a card congratulating a wedding anniversary, unless perhaps it was to my parents for a particularly big anniversary (25, 50, etc.)  However, here my MIL has reminded us to send a card on my SIL and BIL's anniversary.  Cards also seem to be sent every time someone moves house or gets a new job and people seem to get bent out of shape when one is not received.  (Again, cards for this exist in the US, and I know people send them, but it just seems more prevalent and expected in the UK.) 

Just wanted to get others' experience with this.

My experience has been the same as yours. It was an adjustment given that I never bought cards in the US. I finally got on the bandwagon and we send A LOT of cards in my household!

In the US, I always sent cards to people for anniversaries, new houses, new jobs, etc.

We only do cards at Christmas and birthdays on a regular basis.

But they do sell cards for all those other occasions in the US, so I can't possibly have been the only person using them!

But they do sell cards for all those other occasions in the US, so I can't possibly have been the only person using them!

Oh yes...I have a friend who is always sending cards. I don't, my mom didn't so I didn't get into the habit of it. I do always call to acknowledge a special occasion like an anniversary, but that's about it.

My MIL sends cards for e.ver.y.thing, and what's mode, she makes them herself!  By contrast, I never send any, even at Christmas.  I've sent more cards since moving to the UK than in my whole life in the US.

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My parents only gave cards for birthdays (only for close family), Christenings, First Holy Communions, Confirmations, graduations and weddings and the was mostly because we were attending some sort of party attached to those events. We never sent Christmas cards, new home cards, new job, cards, anniversary cards. I did get a lot of cards wishing me luck on my move to the UK. However, as Chary said, there must be people sending these cards because they make them.

I did notice that DH received quite a few new home cards when I was here two years back as a visitor. We also received a lot of wedding cards from people I never would have expected to send one. So, I think there is more “card culture” here. I don’t think I’ll ever get into the habit though simply because I hate having tons of cards cluttering my house and I hate recycling them, so I don’t want to inflict that on other people. DH doesn’t like sending cards for anything other than birthdays and weddings, so if that's good enough for him, it's good enough for me.

I don't send cards very much.  Sometimes birhtday cards for my nieces and nephews if we can't attend the party. 

I have to mail out Christmas cards for work, about 70, so that puts me off doing my own.

I HATE getting Christmas cards here though that are literally a store bought card and just signed.  At least if I do send a card I put some kind of message in it. 

I don't know that there is more of a card culture here, or if it is just a personal or family thing. My family (or more accurately, my mom) sends cards for everything. I send a lot of cards as well. DH sends a lot too for various occasions. What he thought was funny/odd is that on Mother's Day, I send one to my mom, my grandmom, my godmother, my aunt and great-aunt!  In every card we send (as well as the 40-50 at Christmastime) we write a personal message.

At Christmastime, I send all the cards going to PA/NJ in one big envelope to my Dad in Pennsylvania. He then he distributes most by hand (as he sees most of my family during the holidays), and the rest he mails. Saves a bundle.

Perhaps it's a bit of an age thing, too. Us folks who grew up without cheap phone plans, cellphones or internet sent more cards.

One thing I thought was so nice was that when  I moved here, I received several cards from DH's friends. Just a short note welcoming me. So sweet!

I like to send and receive cards too, it is so nice to see a personal card (or a letter) in the mailbox besides boring old bills!

 The husband and I still send cards and letters to each other now and again and I keep them in a box that I can look through if I want, looking through old emails is just not the same   

I don't mind if a card is store bought, the person still took the time to go to the store, select a card, write in the card, address the card and post the card!

Perhaps it's a bit of an age thing, too. Us folks who grew up without cheap phone plans, cellphones or internet sent more cards.

I agree, getting a mass text or mass facebook post saying Merry Christmas is not quite the same as getting a pretty card in the mail and if that means I am an old fogey who still sends cards then so be it! 

I don't mind if the card is store bought, but most of the Christmas cards I receive literally have nothing other than the person's name signed in the card. 

I prefer the photo cards from friends, or even the printed out round robin type letter.  At least typing the letter took some time.

Some families and groups of friends are avid card senders but our families aren't, thank goodness!

We do send Christmas cards and birthday cards, and I like to send cards randomly when I think about a special person, or if someone needs a bit of a boost.

I like to send and receive cards too, it is so nice to see a personal card (or a letter) in the mailbox besides boring old bills!

I don't mind if a card is store bought, the person still took the time to go to the store, select a card, write in the card, address the card and post the card!

I agree, getting a mass text or mass facebook post saying Merry Christmas is not quite the same as getting a pretty card in the mail and if that means I am an old fogey who still sends cards then so be it! 

Absolutely agreed! 

I'm not sure where to post this question, so I did so here, as it seemed the best sub-forum.

One thing I've wondered about British culture/etiquette is the sending of cards on certain occasions.  Of course Americans also send cards, but it *seems* much more prevalent (expected?) in the UK and for a more variety of occasions.  Is this right? 

For instance, in the US, I would never send a card congratulating a wedding anniversary, unless perhaps it was to my parents for a particularly big anniversary (25, 50, etc.)  However, here my MIL has reminded us to send a card on my SIL and BIL's anniversary.  Cards also seem to be sent every time someone moves house or gets a new job and people seem to get bent out of shape when one is not received.  (Again, cards for this exist in the US, and I know people send them, but it just seems more prevalent and expected in the UK.) 

Just wanted to get others' experience with this.

This has been my experience as well.