Many of us have adopted the tradition of sending Greeting cards without stopping to consider their origins. So, let’s take a brief journey into the history of Christmas cards.
For centuries, people have exchanged Christmas greetings, with the earliest recorded use of the phrase "Merry Christmas" appearing in a letter from 1534. However, what could be considered the first prototype of a Christmas card was presented to King James I of England in 1611. This large, ornate manuscript, measuring 84cm by 60cm (33" x 24"), featured a central rose design and contained messages for the king and his son, along with four poems and a song. Though a far cry from the cards we know today, it hinted at the future tradition.
The custom of sending Christmas cards, as we recognize it, began in 1843 in the UK, thanks to Sir Henry Cole. A civil servant who had helped establish the new 'Public Record Office' (now the Post Office), Sir Henry sought ways to encourage everyday people to use the postal service. Together with artist John Horsley, he created the first official Christmas card, selling them for a shilling each. These cards featured three panels, with images of people helping the poor on the outer panels and a family celebrating Christmas dinner in the center. Despite some controversy over a child being depicted with a glass of wine, around 1,000 cards were printed and sold. Today, these early cards are rare and extremely valuable.
The advent of the Penny Post in 1840, also pioneered by Sir Henry, made it more affordable for the general public to send mail. As railways expanded, postage costs dropped, and by 1870, sending a Christmas card cost only half a penny. This made Christmas cards increasingly popular, particularly when they could be sent in unsealed envelopes for an even lower cost.
Early Christmas cards often depicted religious scenes, such as the Nativity. But by the late Victorian era, images of robins and snowy landscapes became more common. Robins were associated with Christmas because postmen in the UK, who wore red uniforms, were nicknamed 'Robin Postmen', and snowy scenes reminded people of the harsh winter of 1836.
In 1891, the famous sharpshooter Annie Oakley sent the first known personalized Christmas card. While visiting Glasgow, Scotland, she designed a card featuring her own photo in traditional Scottish tartan, which she sent to her family and friends in the U.S.
By the 1910s and 1920s, handmade cards became fashionable. Often featuring unique shapes, foil, and ribbon, these cards were too delicate for mailing and were usually exchanged in person. In 1915, the Hall brothers founded Hallmark Cards, a company that remains one of the largest card manufacturers to this day.
Christmas cards have continuously evolved over the decades, from religious to personalized designs, and from physical to digital formats. Today, there is a wide variety of styles, from traditional to contemporary.
But with modern technology and shifting traditions, how relevant are Christmas cards today? I look forward to communicating with you in the next post.