It's graduation time. Are Announcements a regional thing?

[Virginian]

I thought everyone sent out high school graduation announcements, but I was surprised that my husband's niece and nephew didn't order any.
My husband grew up in the Philly suburbs. He says he and his siblings didn't order any either.

All of my family from Virginia to Florida has sent me graduation announcements. Is this something that is done only in the South? Do kids in other regions of the country send out announcements when they graduate from High School?

If they don't send out announcements, how are you supposed to remember when to send them graduation presents?

[realisticphish]

1. Central Ohio, and yes

my high school always has

[Virginian]

7. Good, that means it isn't just a Southern thing.

[ofrfxsk]

2. I don't give a flying poop when someone graduates

No one ever did when I did. It's not a big deal here.

[Virginian]

4. Where is here? n/t

[ofrfxsk]

8. The farthest reaches of your mind.

[Heidi]

3. I didn't send announcements.

And they were a huge thing (along with class rings, etc.) where I grew up. When our "Class of '81" ordered class rings, announcements, etc., our school brought in only one company to offer this commemorative stuff to us, and it seemed somehow wrong to me. These salesmen set up long tables in our school's foyer to show off this stuff, and the whole thing seemed somehow predatory, like preying on our parents' "pride." It didn't work with me, or with my parents because there never was any question that I'd graduate from high school, so there wasn't really anything to announce, ya know?

Edit to add that my parents saw the whole graduation announcement thing as "trolling" for graduation gifts.

[Virginian]

5. The rings don't always last very long. What part of the country?

Edited to add text.

I didn't so much think of it as an accomplishment, but more as a milestone.

I think of the presents as something to get them started on the next step whether it be college or getting out on their own. I think of it like a wedding present or a housewarming gift. I guess I consider them all milestone gifts.

I think the oddest milestone gift I ever received was when I separated from my first husband, HIS aunt brought me a box of little things to help me get started again. I jokingly referred to them as "lovely parting gifts." They were little gizmos for the kitchen like measuring cups, a tea strainer, measuring spoons, a squeeze bottle for ketchup... Nothing was very expensive, but it was a lot of fun opening them.

[Heidi]

6. Northeastern Oklahoma.

When I lived in Nebraska as an adult, parents made a huge deal of having actual graduation receptions for their kids just before or after commencement. Yes, announcements were the rule there, too.

[xmas74]

9. I had announcements when I graduated in Missouri.

My cousins in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Oregon, California and Washington all had announcements too.
Maybe they were too expensive or something like that. I remember that the ones at the school were very expensive so I went to a local printer and had some made there for about a third of the price (and the quality was much higher also).

[Virginian]

14. Smart move

Saving money is always wise. There are so many fancy things the printers can do these days. Engraving is way over rated.

[xmas74]

16. This was about 13 years ago and they were engraved

even then from the printers. It's just that Jostens (the company that my school used) was so much more expensive than the local printer. And I figured that my local printer could use the business more than Jostens.
Same w/ my class ring. The same company sold the rings as the announcements. Instead of buying a regular class ring I saved my money, went to a local shop and designed my ring. It is much classier than the one that I would have gotten from them and can still be worn to this day. It's a simple marquis cut sapphire w/ two diamond accents and Black Hills gold band. On the outside of the band I had my graduation year engraved. On the inside I had the initials of my high school engraved and my first name. Unless I take the ring off you would never even know that it was a class ring. And it goes w/ anything.

[Virginian]

18. My class ring was so... so... so... traditional

Not feminine at all except it was smaller than the male version. I gave it to a boyfriend to wear and I think he hocked it.
It was to clunky for me to wear comfortably -- and I changed schools my Senior year, so it wasn't even the school of my graduation.

[xmas74]

19. That's why I preferred my ring.

I didn't care for the traditional ones-thought that they were cheap and clunky looking. I wanted something that I could wear for years on end.
Actually, I had a total of two class rings. The other had a huge moonstone on it and a very simple band w/ my name and my year engraved inside the band. That one disappeared (but I think I know who has it).

[Momgonepostal]

10. I'm in CA and most people I know didn't

Very occasionally we get one, but I didn't send them. It wasn't even a consideration.

[deadparrot]

11. I'm in St. Louis

and just went through the graduation announcement thing (jest a few thank-you notes left, I think). We send them out here, and my cousins in Colorado, Arizona, Illinois (Chicago area), and Wisconsin (Milwaukee area) all sent them out, too.

[Virginian]

12. Writing the thank-you notes builds character.

I always had a problem after:
Dear Aunt Petunia,
Thank you for the lovely green gasket.
I know I am supposed to say more, but what?

Some gifts were easier:
Dear Aunt Magnolia,
Thank you for the lovely ten dollar bill.
How did you know green was my favorite color? I have framed it already and will treasure it always as it hangs over the head of my bed.
I am collecting these lovely renditions of our most famous presidents. Thanks again for adding to my collection.
Your favorite Niece,
Rosebud

[deadparrot]

13. Believe me, I know the feeling well.

I don't mind it too much; it's a good excuse to stretch out on the couch, put on a movie, and waste away an afternoon...

But yes. Considering the fact that basically every gift was money, I ran out of things to say pretty quickly. Hopefully the thank-you recipients don't compare notes. There's plenty of repetition, I'm sure.

Oh well. They're pretty much all done now, and it's a big load off my mind. Now I can actually enjoy the rest of my summer. :)

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

15. I sent out announcements when I graduated from HS .

Yes I live in North Carolina . I thought everybody did it . Just to let those who know and love you , to inform them that you are graduating .

[TlalocW]

17. They do in Kansas

My niece sent me one. When I graduated from high school in Kansas, I think I was the only one who didn't get a class ring (hate wearing jewelry) and didn't order announcements. I couldn't see the point and didn't feel like costing mom the money. Besides, the family members I wanted to show up knew I was graduating. Why bother sending them an overpriced piece of stationery.

If I ever marry, I'll probably just email people to let them know to attend. :)

TlalocW

[LeftyMom]

20. It never occured to me to get them

Of course, I didn't go to my graduation ceremony either, as I graduated midyear and was well established in my own place, my job and generally my adult life by the time the ceremony would've happened. Even if I had, I'm in California, we don't really do formal stuff like announcements, and we're not real good about thank you notes. Really, we'll just call to tell you when the party is, that grandma's service is on Saturday at one, or that we appreciated the new Tupperware bowls. I guess it's a cultural difference, because my in-laws in Ohio always seem somewhat scandalized by that lack of formality.

My sister (who did do the ceremony thing and had relatives come in from out of state) didn't have announcements. We just called up all the interested relatives and told them when the ceremony was, and if they wanted a momento to save we took pictures and the school put out a nice program. (I still have one, because I'm proud of my baby sister.)

[fortyfeetunder]

21. Bleeping social obligations

My mom made me buy several dozen of those horrid things. Yes, I think it was a social obligation thing for her since she would receive tons of announcements from her friends kids' graduations.

I felt it was also trolling for gifts too, and I ended up writing the thank you notes to a bunch of people. Not that I didn't like writing the notes (I love to thank people for their kindnesses) but this was not my idea to solicit funds.