The History of the Christmas Card

The History of the Christmas Card

The custom of sending Christmas cards is now so well established that it is surprising to discover that it is only about one hundred years old.  Valentine cards were popular in the mid-eighteenth century, and New Year cards were exchanged in Europe a long time before Christmas cards became accepted, in the 1870’s.

Other early forerunners were the Christmas greetings that children brought home from school, done in their best handwriting on decorated paper, to present to proud parents.  Traders would also leave specially decorated visiting cards at Christmas.  But it is an Englishman, Sir Henry Cole, who is credited with the idea of the first Christmas card.

Cole was the first director of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.  He was a businessman with a keen interest in art.  In December 1843, he found he had little time to write individual Christmas greetings to his friends, so he decided to produce a printed card.  The artist John Calcott Horsley drew a design which Cole approved, and the first Christmas card was born.  It had a picture of a family enjoying the festivities, with two side panels showing acts of charity.  One thousand of the cards were printed and sold for a shilling each.

The idea was not an overnight success.  However, advances in the color printing process and the introduction of the halfpenny post for cards in the 1870’s meant that Christmas cards started to gain widespread popularity in England.  By 1880, the Post Office was having to broadcast it’s annual advice: “Post early for Christmas’, familiar to those who live in Great Britain.

At around the same time, Christmas cards were becoming popular in America through the work of Louis Prang, a German living in Massachusetts.  He introduced high-quality cars and helped to spread their appeal by organizing nation-wide competitions for the best design.  Many of the designs still seen today originated with the earliest Christmas cards.  Snow-scenes, pictures of festive feasting and nativity scenes were all popular.  Other early cards were more elaborate, coming in the shape of fans, stars, and scrolls.  Some even had silk finishes and pictures that could be ‘animated’ by pulling a tab.

This year, one of the best ways to bring someone Christmas cheer is to send them a card.  At the same time, take a minute to write a sentence of two of what they mean to you.  It’s one more way to show His love.

Reflections:

1)  How are you most encouraged through the Christmas season?  Music? Cards?

2)  Are Christmas cards a tradition for you?