- Holiday cards date back to both ancient Chinese and ancient Egyptian cultures. In China, holiday cards consisted of written messages of goodwill sent to friends, family and neighbors during the New Year. For the Egyptians, messages were taken down on papyrus and conveyed everything from announcements to good wishes. By the 1400s, the handwritten or handmade holiday card could be found in Germany, France and Belgium in honor of New Year's and other holidays of import. In the 1800s, traditional handmade cards celebrating Valentine's Day inspired Esther Howland. Howland revolutionized the giving of holiday cards and gave birth to the greeting and holiday card industry as it is known today.
- Handmade holiday cards remain inexpensive, yet thoughtful gifts. In the 1800s, these gifts could be hand delivered and contained thoughtful holiday wishes, prayers and other communications. Holiday cards also marked a turning point in long-distance communication as settlers moved long distances. Sending a holiday card with a letter inside once or twice a year served to send holiday wishes as well as maintain communications with family and friends. Modern day children still create their own handmade holiday cards to give to family members as projects in school and Sunday school.
- Different occasions call for different types of holiday cards. The use of verses, quotations and cards written specifically for a purpose is credited to Louis Prang and his founding of the greeting card industry. Holiday cards often featured the original writing of the sender or carried a letter within its decorated pages. Today's holiday card industry reflects modern tastes with humor cards, rude cards and character-based cards from large retailers like Hallmark (see Resources below) and Blue Mountain.
- Although the electronic age could have been the demise of holiday cards, the concept evolved. E-cards are tremendously popular. Hallmark.com and other free websites offer holiday e-cards for all occasions. E-cards take the free, charming gift to a level of unprecedented convenience. A card can be created or personalized and emailed in just seconds. Today, holiday cards remain big business both online and off.
- While purchasing holiday cards is easier than ever before, handmade cards offer a personal touch. If you do opt to purchase cards, consider adding a handwritten line or two personalized to each of your recipients.
Comments
mlanoue said
on 10/2/2009 This is an excellent article about the evolution of holiday cards. As a supplier of custom holiday cards, I am hearing more of my clients say that they are "going green" by sending electronic cards. A generic card will indeed be tossed into the trash. But a card that is special, with art that tells a story and shares a feeling of joy, will quite often be kept by the recipients for years to come. Electronic cards can't do that.