During this holiday season, a woman has stirred up a strong debate with her opinion that single friends and divorcees should abstain from sending festive greetings to their married friends. The woman brought up an instance where a friend sends a Christmas card addressed solely to her husband, sparking confusion.
A mom and wife, who posts under the username @jnobles28, shared a short rant to TikTok, where she asked users what they would do in her situation.
‘If you’re married would you be fine with your husband or wife receiving a Christmas card from their divorced or single friends?’ she asked.
The content creator went on to explain that every year her husband gets a Christmas card from a divorced friend of his, who is female.
‘She’s a single mom, and I know he’s known her for years but I’ve never met her,’ she explained.
The mom-of-two went on to say the pair have known each other for years, but she’s never met the woman in question.
The woman, posting as @jnobles28 on TikTok, shared her frustration in a short video where she questioned the appropriateness of the situation. She noted that the card had no personal message and was a generic one, leading her to seek advice from other users on the platform.
‘I just think that’s a bit weird – what do you guys think?’
The incident has ignited a discussion online about the etiquette surrounding holiday greetings, particularly between friends with different relationship statuses. While spreading holiday cheer is customary during this time of the year, opinions vary on the appropriateness of such gestures in certain circumstances.
Users largely defended her husband’s friend, pointing out it’s not weird to keep in contact with someone you have known for a long time.
‘I’ve known my guy friends for 15+ years. I would send them a Christmas card if I were married OR divorced. I’ve known them longer than my husband for Pete’s sake!’ exclaimed one person.
‘I’ve been married 23 years, I do not police my husband’s friends. He had a life before me, and I’m very happy that he has people in his life that love him. I don’t care what their gender is,’ pointed out another.
‘My mom sends like 50 Christmas cards every year. She just has a list. Doesn’t put much thought into it. My point is it’s not that serious,’ responded another person.
‘Would it matter if she had a partner? Would you be okay with her and her partner sending a card? I don’t think she wants your husband if she’s just sending one card a year,’ pointed out someone else.
Others were on the wife’s side, saying they wouldn’t be happy of they were in her position.
‘Just addressed to him. I think not. I’d be writing return to sender and putting it back in the outgoing,’ snarked someone else,’ one wrote.
‘I would not be a fan of this but I for sure would tease my husband about his ‘other family,’ joked someone else.
The content creator went on to explain that every year her husband gets a Christmas card from a divorced friend of his, who is female – and she’s not happy about it (stock image)
Users largely defended her husband’s friend, pointing out it’s not weird to keep in contact with someone you have known for a long time
Last year, etiquette expert William Hanson shared the dos and don’ts of sending Christmas cards.
‘Receiving anything through your letterbox from your nearest and dearest over the festive period is always nice and makes you feel warm inside,’ William told his 1.4 million followers in an Instagram video.
‘Christmas cards should be sent to anyone to whom you wish to express festive wishes,’ he adds.
‘You can send as many or as few as your wrists can cope with writing. That said, it is fairly standard practice amongst the more prolific card writers to keep a list of who sends you cards and who you, in turn, send to.
‘I have a rule that if I don’t get a card from someone for three years, they’re off the list, however much I may love them. You have to give to receive.’
