The history of Christmas cards

Posted by citiYellow

Saturday, 21 January 2012 07:30

No, it wasn't aunt Betty who first thought to send out a holiday greeting adorned with a photo and a rundown of the family's activities over the past year. The tradition of Christmas cards started well before anyone alive today was even born - but it keeps getting stronger every year.

The Christmas card idea started in England, in 1843, and was commissioned by Sir Henry Cole, a successful entrepreneur. It featured an etching with a group of people drinking wine together, flanked by two other drawings of people doing charity. As many as 1,000 of the lithographs were made, and a few survived over the years. In 2001, an original card sold for 22,500 British pounds.

The idea migrated to the United States in the 1870s, and Louis Prang offered the first stateside versions in 1875. The idea was so well received that an influx of competition soon developed. It wasn't long before countless families were using Christmas cards as a way to send greetings to many people - without the inevitable cramps associated with hand-written letters. Even presidents and royalty started opting for Christmas cards - and still do to this day.

Christmas cards have changed right along with the trends and innovations of the decades since their introduction. When postcards were first introduced, they became a popular option, giving traditional envelope cards a run for their money. Today, Christmas photo cards are among the most popular options because they enable people to share images from the past year - giving friends and family a visual update to treasure for years.

But it's not just the form of the cards that has evolved - the content has changed, too, in reflection of the times. In the early English cards, religious themes were rare, and the message focused on whimsical reminders that spring was coming soon, with images of flowers and fairies. During the World Wars, there was a distinctly patriotic bent to Christmas card designs, as families' thoughts were on the troops spending the season far from home. During the 1950s, a more happy-go-lucky spirit prevailed, and funny Christmas cards came on the scene. Today's card designs run the gamut, from religious images to celebrations of the winter season to customizable options.

Despite all the changes over the years, the central idea of the Christmas card has remained the same - wishing all of your friends and loved ones a merry holiday and a happy new year.