2024 MeFi Holiday Card Exchange!

November 2, 2024 3:31 PM

It's the 8th MeFi Holiday Card Exchange!

Sign ups are open, and will close approximately 8am EST 11/17. I hope to have assignments out by end of day EST 11/19 - if you haven't gotten yours by end of day Friday 11/22, please check your spam/junk and contact me.

This is our eighth year of the card exchange. We have 5, 10, and up to 20 options available.

You can choose US only, send anywhere (international) or Europe only (if there are enough signups for this). Most of the people participating are in the US and Canada, so if you sign up for international, you will mainly get those addresses. I try to spread them out. If you're in Europe, and want a limited number of US addresses, just let me know in the notes section - I likely won't be able to give you 20 non-US/Canadian addresses, but I will do my best! (same if you'd rather mostly have US and Canadian addresses. I will do my best with specific requests.)

Other answers to commonly asked questions-
- There isn't a specific timeline on when you need to have your cards sent out by, just whenever you can.
- If something happens and you can't send out your cards after all, send me a message, and I will happily send some for you!
- Any type of card is fine - store-bought, handmade, postcards, etc.
- While this is a holiday card exchange, and most people do send holiday themed cards, I have received all sorts of cards, so do what makes you happy!
- Number of card options are 5, 10, and up to 20. If you are open to more than 10, but not 20, you can add that to the notes. Sometimes the sorting works out that I have some odd numbers. Also, if you choose up to 20, it is possible that you will have a duplicate (because you may be in two lists of 10) - so it may not work out perfectly evenly (I do my best to avoid this!).

If you don't have the bandwidth to do the card exchange, but you'd like to get a holiday card anyway, I am happy to send one - just memail me your info! (Seriously - Costco had holiday stamps, and I said "oh, I'll take two!" and phew, I have a lot of stamps now!)

I do have the form set up so that it sends a confirmation with a summary of what you've chosen - this means that it has to collect your email. If you don't want to let it do that, you're welcome to memail me, and I will add you to the spreadsheet.

I'll try to check into this thread daily, but if you have an urgent question, please memail me.

This is (still) truly one of my favorite things all year, so thank you for participating!

Sign up form is here!

posted by needlegrrl to MetaFilter-Related at 3:31 PM (43 comments total)

I’m in. Thank you, needlegrrl!
posted by probably not that Karen Blair at 4:19 PM on November 2 [2 favorites]

Signed up! I always love your exchange -- I think it's the seventh year?

Thank you for hosting!
posted by mochapickle at 5:24 PM on November 2 [1 favorite]

How funny, I was just wondering out loud earlier today when signups would be!
posted by sacrifix at 6:58 PM on November 2

Oh this will be nice! I have a surplus of cards and stamps I can use for this!
posted by tranquility at 7:19 PM on November 2

I'm down!
posted by Gorgik at 7:25 PM on November 2

In it to win it!! I can't wait, thanks so much needlegrrl. I'd better go get some stickers.
posted by Ms. Moonlight at 1:07 AM on November 3

Yessss!!!

I don't have the spoons to handle a more traditional gift swap but five cards is very doable. And very fun.

This will be my third or fourth year and I'm so excited!
posted by freethefeet at 2:52 AM on November 3

Signed up!
posted by Wretch729 at 6:29 AM on November 3

Oooh, I went back and read the google form and it's the eighth! The eighth year! Ah ah ah!
posted by mochapickle at 6:40 AM on November 3

Signed up! Thanks needlegrrl for organizing this!
posted by SunPower at 7:52 AM on November 3 [1 favorite]

YAY!! My favorite time of year!!!!
posted by RhysPenbras at 9:55 AM on November 3

Ok I've never done this and I'm scatterbrained by nature and I've had Covid twice and I'm drinking a beer sooooo apologies for the stupid basic question but how does this work? Like if I choose the 10 option then I get 10 addresses and I send a card to each one and get 10 cards in return? Is that the idea? I know it says "exchange" so I am assuming that is indeed the idea but I just would like confirmation if I understood correctly.
If so I'm in for the first time!
posted by bitteschoen at 10:35 AM on November 3 [2 favorites]

bitteschoen I believe that is pretty much how it works. I signed up for 15 I think last year, and got around that many back.

I'm excited-- I had a blast with this. It's wild how fun it is to send and receive mail that isn't a bill.
posted by blnkfrnk at 12:26 PM on November 3 [2 favorites]

I think I may have signed up once a few years ago, but am not sure if I actually sent the cards I was supposed to. I hope I did! (I'm a conscientious Secret Beans participant.) But after becoming disabled a couple of years ago, I started looking for ways to reach out to people. I sent out Christmas cards to a small list of people last year and regretted not being part of a MF exchange. So I'm especially grateful for you doing this needlegrrl. But I'll start small with just a 5 card commitment. Luckily, I can order stamps from Canada Post online!

However, it occurs to me that Canada Post may be on strike; as of midnight today the union (Canadian Union of Postal Workers, CUPW) can call a strike on 72 hours' notice. I'm sure MeFites will understand that I won't use the postal service if there is no collective agreement in place. But there's two weeks between now and sign-up cutoff, so I hope there will be a negotiated settlement by then.
posted by angiep at 12:33 PM on November 3 [1 favorite]

Yay!
posted by Saucywench at 1:56 PM on November 3

I'm in! Thank you needlegrrl for another year of seasonal wishes!
posted by initapplette at 2:20 PM on November 3

angiep, while this is a holiday card exchange, there isn't a strict "post by" deadline- especially with international delivery, I've received exciting February mail (and most probably contributed that kind of arrival time too!) I mean do your best but if you can't use the postal system for a little bit that's OK too.

It's a happy solstice/Merry Christmas/happy new year! Kind of card, I think. :)
posted by freethefeet at 6:26 PM on November 3 [2 favorites]

Ok I signed up! Thank you blnkfrnk for answering, I was just afraid I might have missed some details on how this works and I'm happy it's that simple, can't wait to participate
posted by bitteschoen at 5:15 AM on November 4

Thanks freethefeet. That's my take on it, too. I'm not stressed about it. If I can send cards to arrive somewhere near the end of 2024, great. If it takes the cards a little longer to get to their destinations, so be it.
posted by angiep at 10:15 AM on November 4 [3 favorites]

Signed up, thanks for organizing!
posted by expialidocious at 2:52 PM on November 4

I'm in again!
posted by KingEdRa at 5:24 PM on November 4

I'm not going to manage it this year but have enjoyed it in previous years - thanks, needlegrrl, for organising, and people who participate. Hope to be back doing next year.
posted by paduasoy at 12:39 AM on November 5 [2 favorites]

thinking of you, paduasoy ❤️
posted by mochapickle at 4:53 AM on November 5 [1 favorite]

Yay! All signed up. I make a bird related holiday card every year, and I haven’t even thought of what bird I’m doing this year. Maybe Rusty Blackbird? Thanks for the reminder to get started!
posted by oomny at 9:57 AM on November 5 [5 favorites]

Yay, signed up! Thanks for doing this!
posted by Sparky Buttons at 10:31 AM on November 5

Thanks!
posted by narcissus_and_ambrosia at 10:36 AM on November 5

I have received an oomny bird and can confirm it's a lovely experience and a lovely print.
posted by phunniemee at 11:18 AM on November 5 [2 favorites]

I also adore my oomny cards! Looking forward to this year's print!
posted by RhysPenbras at 11:57 AM on November 5 [1 favorite]

Thanks for setting this up. I'm really looking forward to it this year 😭❤️
posted by rachaelfaith at 4:07 PM on November 6

So excited to see this happening again! Thank you!
posted by bookrach at 6:15 PM on November 6 [1 favorite]

bitteschoen, yes, that is basically it!

angiep - absolutely understand if you can't use the post for a bit - I can always send out an email to your list for you, if you want, and I know I am always happy to get cards whenever!
posted by needlegrrl at 4:59 AM on November 7

Signed up for the first time. Looking forward to this!
posted by subwaytiles at 10:38 AM on November 7 [1 favorite]

I was wavering a bit as I don’t have the spoons for the gift exchange this year, but I’ve signed up for 5 cards! Thanks for organising.
posted by ellieBOA at 5:37 AM on November 8 [1 favorite]

Thank you, needlegrrl, for organising this. I’m sure I am not the only one wanting Things to Look Forward to.

Truly, muchly appreciated.
posted by kyraU2 at 3:08 PM on November 10 [2 favorites]

Signed up! Thanks for organizing this. Sending good cheer in the mail sounds delightful.
posted by Chalks-n-Locks at 5:57 PM on November 12

I’ve got my oomny print framed and on the wall over my desk, it’s really lovely :)

I am not an artist, but I enjoy sending everyone cards and putting up cards around the stockings, thanks to everyone who participates!
posted by lepus at 10:21 PM on November 12 [2 favorites]

Thanks for organizing this! I don't have the spoons to do a traditional gift exchange this year, but a holiday card exchange works great for me.
posted by carnival_night_zone at 10:39 AM on November 13 [1 favorite]

Just signed up, thank you for organizing it! I am also a Postcrosser, so always happy to participate in card swaps :)
posted by Eclectic_Emu at 12:46 PM on November 13

A note for folks sending from Canada: the postal strike is in effect. We won't be able to mail for a while. For those receiving cards from Canada, you may not receive them until well into the new year, depending on how long the strike lasts and how soon the mail resumes normal flow and operations. But from the threads above, I know everyone will be completely chill about it all.
posted by angiep at 10:24 AM on November 15

Thank you so much for doing this. I just dont have the energy or the heart to do the gift swap this year so I'm happy this less stressful but still lovely option exists :)
posted by silverstatue at 1:35 PM on November 17 [1 favorite]

I am closing the form in the morning, so if anyone wants to sign up tonight, it’s open! :)
posted by needlegrrl at 1:58 PM on November 17 [1 favorite]

Just checking in to say that I got my addresses! I'm so excited.
posted by freethefeet at 2:09 AM on November 23 [1 favorite]

Got my addresses!
posted by tipsyBumblebee at 9:50 AM on November 24