Reading Through History
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Why do we send Christmas Cards?
Posted
December 19, 2016
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24,999
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December 19, 2016
24,999
144
6
0.60%
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3:22Now PlayingThe following video provides a short history of Christmas cards. Get the Christmas workbook
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In this video:
Almost every family receives Christmas cards each holiday season. Where did this tradition begin? Why is it such a big part of our Christmas tradition?
The first Christmas cards were sold in London in 1843. They were illustrated by an artist named John Calcott Corsley, and the original card featured an image of a family celebrating Christmas. A total of 2,050 cards were printed and sold for one shilling each.
Most people today would not recognize an early English Christmas card. Cards of today feature winter scenes or religious imagery. However, in the late 1800s, cards would have had scenes of fairies or flowers. These types of images were designed to evoke thoughts of the coming spring.
The first American Christmas cards were produced by Louis Prang in 1875. Christmas cards continued to grow in popularity, both in America and Europe, over the course of the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Christmas cards took on a different meaning during both World Wars, as Patriotic themes reigned. In 1953, Dwight Eisenhower sent out the first official White House Christmas card. Originally, the White House card was sent to about 2,000 households, but is now sent to more than one million homes!
Not all countries send Christmas cards. For example, in the Czech Republic, the holiday that is stressed is New Year’s Day rather than Christmas. While the cards are typically mailed out prior to Christmas, the importance is placed on wishing a Happy New Year rather than a Merry Christmas.
As time has progressed, the themes and images have continued to change with the times. Modern Christmas cards can present a menagerie of designs, from dramatic depictions of the nativity, to images of Santa Claus and his reindeer, or perhaps scenic winter nature scenes.
Modern technologies such as email and the internet have taken a toll on Christmas card sales. However, many families still find time to mail out cards to friends and family members. In fact, it is estimated that nearly two billion Christmas cards are sent each year, and each household receives an average of approximately twenty cards each holiday season.
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