Some will have already bought their Christmas cards, others will be making them, some will do that last minute bargain hunt, but regardless of HOW and WHEN you bought them, you'll more than likely be sending out Christmas Cards this year.
Christmas Cards: A short history
Sending out Christmas Greeting cards was a custom that started in the UK and is still very much present. The customer became popular during the Victorian period, where families made homemade cards and gave them to loved ones. It was Sir Henry Cole who started the actual tradition of sending them out, as the use of the Post Office became more and more public. His friend, an artist, design a few Christmas cards, and so started the trend. With the advance of printing technology, and the decline in postage costs, Christmas Cards became increasingly popular and were printed and posted in greater numbers. The custom spread to America, although they prefer to coin the name of their cards 'Holiday Cards'.
A culture which spread
The tradition of sending out Christmas Cards quickly spread to other countries in Europe and America, although some prefer to refer to them as 'Holiday Cards' or 'New Year Cards' cards.
The designs however are very dependent on the tradition of the country from which they originate from: the three kings in Spain, Father Christmas in the UK etc…
A few examples Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in other cultures:
Czech: Veselé vánoce a šťastný nový rok
Dutch: Prettige kerstdagen en een gelukkig nieuwjaar
French: Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année
German: Fröhliche Weihnachten und ein glückliches/gutes Neues Jahr
Irish: Nollaig Shona Duit
Italian: Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo
Polish: Wesołych Świąt i Szczęśliwego Nowego Roku
Russian: С Новым Годом и Рождеством
Spanish: Feliz Navidad y próspero Año Nuevo
Ukrainian: Веселих свят! З Новим роком і Різдвом!
The Tradition Today
Today, Christmas Cards come in all shapes and sizes, although it's tradition in Britain to hang them on a line across the fire place, or to stand them on the mantelpiece.
Company's send them out to their clients; Charities sell them as a way of making money during the Christmas period.
Over 800 million cards were sent in 2010. With the proliferation of the internet and the gaining popularity of Ecards, this number appears to be decreasing. But sending out Christmas cards is a enduring tradition which is core to the celebration of Christmas.
About the Author
Rachel from Planet-Cards, specialist in online printed photo Christmas cards and Christmas greeting cards.
