How did Sending Christmas Cards Become a Tradition?
The Christmas cards custom was introduced in 1843 by Sir Henry Cole of England.
Because he had too many customers to hand compose Christmas notes, Sir Henry Cole enlisted artist John Calcott Horsley to produce a card onto which he had printed “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You”.He printed one thousand cards. Of those, twelve remain today.Within time, delivering Christmas cards became a custom all over the world.
In the late 19th century and early 1900′s, Christmas cards created by Kate Greenaway, the Victorian childrens storyteller and illustrator, were popular. Her designs often utilized multi-media, with different fabrics, fringe and papers. Some were even elaborate pop-ups featuring skaters and tiny mangers.
Christmas cards were not widely available in the United States until 1875, when Louis Prang, a German immigrant, opened up a shop and began producing them. Prior to to that year, Americans imported Christmas cards from England. Sadly for Prang, less expensive versions were introduced from abroad in the 1890′s, which forced him out of business. Even so, Prang is known as the father of the American Christmas card.
Card publishers competed fiercely amongst themselves during WWI and drove many technical advancements in card production.
During America’s Depression in the 1930′s the use of color lithography renovated the industry.
In the 1950s, the studio card was introduced. Studio cards introduced humor as a staple in the greeting card industry.
The 1990′s saw the introduction of the e-card, an electronic version of a greeting card sent via e-mail.
In present day, there are a wide range of Christmas cards available. From traditional scenes and religious Christmas cards to jokes, there is a card out there to put anyone in the holiday spirit. In fact, the industry has evolved so much that there is a card for virtually any event, or “non-event.” Still, Christmas remains the highest ranking of the card-selling holidays.
For some people, Christmas cards are a way to keep in touch in an otherwise hectic life; a way to say, “Hi, I’m still here!” While the Christmas card is changing from one decade to the next, the sentiment is the same: “Merry Christmas!”
N Sync – Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays
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