LETTER : Forget Christmas, and have a merry pagan Winter Solstice festival

Sir: May I, as a very small card publisher, comment on your article "Card retailers are charity Scrooges".

For the publisher who has to produce cards more cheaply at Christmas (achieved only by large runs) the charity sums donated may be fairly generous when compared with the profit margin. The sum of 30p in the pound, as suggested by Nigel Griffiths, is unrealistic.

It should be remembered that some charity shops selling Christmas cards who give the largest proportion to charity are not commercial retailers and therefore do not have the full retail and staff costs to meet.

ELIZABETH MANSON BAHR

Bizzie Lizzie Cards

Oxford