Christmas Cards Facts
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Society -> subcategory Weddings.
Fascinating Facts About Christmas Cards
Introduction
Ever wondered who sent the first Christmas card? The first commercial Christmas card was designed and printed in London in 1843, the same year Charles Dickens penned "A Christmas Carol". Before this, people exchanged handwritten Christmas greetings, first in person, then by post.
The Origins of the Christmas Card
By 1822, homemade Christmas cards were causing significant challenges for the U.S. postal system. That year, the Superintendent of Mails in Washington, D.C., voiced concerns over needing sixteen extra mailmen. Fearing future postal bottlenecks, he even petitioned Congress to limit card exchanges, saying, "I don’t know what we’ll do if it keeps on."
In 1843, Sir Henry Cole, a prominent British businessman, wanted a card to share festive wishes with friends and colleagues. He enlisted his friend, John Callcott Horsley, to design it. Horsley created a triptych: two side panels illustrating acts of kindness and a central scene of a festive family party. Despite some Puritan disapproval due to the depiction of drinking, the Christmas card was an instant hit.
The card's inscription read: "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you." At the time, "merry" held a spiritual meaning akin to "blessed." A print run of 1,000 cards was produced, hand-colored by Mason, a professional colorist. Today, only twelve original cards remain in private collections, with one fetching £8,469 at a 2005 Wiltshire auction.
Early English cards favored whimsical designs over winter or religious themes, often featuring flowers, fairies, and reminders of spring. Humorous and sentimental images, as well as elaborate decorations, were popular.
Christmas Cards in America
Although printed Christmas cards quickly became popular in England and Germany, it took another 30 years for Americans to embrace them. In 1875, Boston lithographer Louis Prang, a German immigrant, began producing high-quality cards and became known as the "father of the American Christmas card."
Initially, Prang's cards featured floral arrangements rather than traditional holiday images like Santa Claus. Despite their quality, Prang's cards were costly, and he was eventually pushed out of business by cheaper German imports. These penny postcards dominated until the end of World War I, when America's modern greeting card industry was born.
Modern Christmas Card Trends
Today, over two billion Christmas cards are exchanged annually in the United States alone, making Christmas the top card-selling holiday. However, from 1987 to 2004, the average number of Christmas cards received by American households fell from 29 to 20. With the rise of digital communication, email and online cards offer more convenient options, especially for those unfamiliar with handwritten correspondence.
Interesting Facts About Christmas Cards
- Not the First Greeting Cards: Since 1796, merchants have sent cards with "best wishes" for the new year due to advances in printing technology.
- Deliveries in the 19th Century: The British Post Office once delivered cards on Christmas morning.
- First Christmas Stamp: Canada released the first Christmas stamp in 1898.
- Card-Sending Habits: The average person in Britain sends 50 Christmas cards annually.
- Religious Imagery: Only one in 100 Christmas cards in Britain features religious imagery, according to a Daily Mail survey.
What Your Christmas Cards Say About You
- Modern Cards: Indicate extroversion and enthusiasm, with a touch of creativity and unconventionality.
- Humorous Cards: Suggest an outgoing nature, emotional security, but possibly less warmth and sympathy.
- Traditional Cards: Reflect a preference for quiet activities, with a tendency to experience extreme emotions and follow rules.
- Abstract Cards: Show a spontaneous and disorganized nature, with a low need for social stimulation.
- Cute Cards: Suggest sympathy, calmness, openness to new experiences, and a preference for solitude.
- Religious Cards: Indicate emotional stability, sympathy for others, and a well-organized personality.
In conclusion, Christmas cards have a rich history and continue to be an integral part of the holiday season, reflecting both personal and cultural expressions.
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: Christmas Cards Facts.
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