[MargaretR]

I stopped sending christmas cards in 1964.

I was pregnant at the time and, with the prospect of having to give up work, that expense was my lowest priority.

If I lost contact with some friends because of it - I didn't miss them - if they took umbrage at not getting a card then they weren't worth having as friends anyway.

Now that I have no religious belief in christianity, I was amused to get a christmas card from one of my carers who is muslim. When I told her I was an atheist we both chuckled at the irony of it.

Too many christmas traditions are observed purely to conform to society's 'norms'.

I don't feel the need to conform.