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Stephanie Grace Whitson |
A footnote from history
by Stephanie Grace Whitson
Only 13 days until Christmas, and some of us are feeling the pressure. Did you know that holiday stress produced the first Christmas card? Neither did I ... until reading a Smithsonian article about the first published card (pictured below.)
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The first Christmas card. 1843. |
The answer, Sir Cole decided, was to have an artist friend sketch a scene and then have 1,000 copies printed on stiff cardboard. Adding "To" at the top and "From" at the bottom, allowed Sir Cole to personalize the greeting.
An industry began--as did controversy (everyone has an opinion about everything, and that's not new). The temperance movement folks thought Cole was encouraging underage drinking (note the child in the foreground sipping from what looks like a wine glass). But the idea caught on, and within a few years, other Victorians had copied Sir Henry's idea and were sending cards of their own.
Our American Christmas card industry began back in the early 1900s, when Joyce Hall's postcard-printing company produced its first holiday post card. We all know about the Halls, who changed the company name to Hallmark about ten years after producing that first holiday post card.
You can see a lovely online exhibit of vintage Christmas post cards here: http://www.indiana.edu/~liblilly/xmas2/.

In the spirit of the gift-giving season, I'll send a copy of either A Patchwork Christmas or A Basket Brigade Christmas to two readers who join the conversation (and who provide a way to contact them for their shipping address).
Here's the topic:
Do you send real or virtual Christmas cards? How do you decide on a design or a message?
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Stephanie Grace Whitson is the author of nearly thirty books, including two Christmas novellas featured in these collections published by Barbour.
Learn more at www.stephaniewhitson.com
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When I do send out cards, I send out real ones. As for the design and message, I always try to find pictures with snow and a Godly message. They MUST say Merry Christmas, too. Thanks for the opportunity to win. Merry Christmas and God bless.
ReplyDeletedebsbunch777(at)gmail(dot)com
Blessed Christmas to you and yours!
DeleteI do real cards. Virtual are nice to get but I like to send the real thing.
ReplyDeleteThereadmaster@me.com
I still send a few ... especially to extended family---people I know appreciate it.
DeleteI send real Christmas cards via USPS. I choose cards with scripture verses and an inspirational message about the true meaning of Christmas. I'll also using add a personal note in the cards. I'll reread the cards I receive and some of the Christmas card pictures are used the next year--especially the ones with the true meaning of Christmas. God bless. Merry Christmas and thank you for the giveaway. marilynridgway78[at]gmail[dot]com
ReplyDeleteBlessed Christmas to you and yours, Marilyn.
DeleteWhat an interesting history lesson! I always so enjoy your books and appreciate the opportunity to participate. I send what I term more traditional or classic cards via the postal service. dixiedobie at yahoo dot com
ReplyDeleteThanks! Like you, I am more traditional when it comes to selecting cards. Mine this year has a 3-day nativity scene on the front.
DeleteI still give several cards and I do send them through the mail. In the last few years I have tried to send cards with a message or a scene pertaini to the birth of Christ I also write Merry Christmas if it isn't included in the verse on the card. I still love to find cards on my mailbox and I try to extend that joy to others!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this wonderful post and giveaway!
Merry Christmas!
Connie
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
I like that phrase, "extending that joy." That's a good way to look at greeting cards!
DeleteI send Christmas cards by mail every year. In the past few years, I get photo pictures made of our whole family or hubs and I with the grands. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeletemauback55 at gmail dot com
Oh, I LOVE those photo cards and always look forward to receiving them and enjoying them throughout the year.
DeleteI still send cards by mail to my closest friends and distant relatives. I give gifts to my close family members, so I don't send them a card. As for the design, I usually chose one I like with something about Jesus on it. I liked the story of the first Christmas card. I hadn't heard that before.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that story, either, Vickie, and enjoyed learning the "rest of the story" behind the industry.
DeleteThis is such an interesting post, Stephanie! I have quite a few old cards from my grandmother, as well as her sisters, from the early 1900s. They sent a lot of postcards too. I have several sent in 1898 with a one-cent stamp. It's interesting to get a glimpse of their lives then. Nowadays, I send Christmas cards to friends and relatives. I don't really like the digital cards, although sometimes I receive them. But it's the thought that counts.
ReplyDeletederobin7@gmail.com
Like you, I love the vintage cards and post cards. I've been scanning some of mine this year and putting them on my Facebook page. People seem to enjoy seeing them.
DeleteI love to send and receive physical Christmas cards! I only include a letter in the years where significant events happened. We always take a family picture or if we didn't get that done in time I pick a favorite one of our daughters to send. Thanks for the great giveaway! I have the Patchwork Christmas book so I'd love to win Basket Brigade! Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeletecolorvibrant at gmail dot com
Since I love receiving cards with photos in them, I'm cheering you on ;-) in that regard. Thanks for your kind words about the Patchwork Christmas book!
DeleteHow interesting! I love sending and receiving Christmas cards! Our card always features a family picture or one of the children. Thanks so much for the chance to win one of these wonderful collections. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeletetexaggs2000 at gmail dot com
Merry Christmas to you, too, and thanks for keeping up with us here a HHH.
DeleteThis year we sent out real Christmas cards. They have a verse inside that reminds us of why we celebrate Christmas. I like the ones with snow pictures, as we live in MN... and usually have snow for Christmas. We also added a family picture to the card this year. Thanks for the giveaway and Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeletebettimace at gmail dot com
Christmas cards are even more special to me now that cyberspace seems to be the easy way to do everything. You live in a beautiful state!
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