From the satisfying shuffle of envelopes on the doormat to the warm sight of cards lining mantelpieces and door frames, this simple act of festive connection has been part of British culture for nearly two centuries.
But where did it all begin? And how have Christmas cards evolved from Victorian curiosities to modern-day masterpieces?
A Very Victorian Invention
The very first Christmas card was commissioned in 1843, coincidentally, the very same year Charles Dickens first published A Christmas Carol.
Sir Henry Cole, a civil servant and one of the founders of the Victoria and Albert Museum, found himself too busy to handwrite dozens of holiday letters. His solution? A printed card.
Cole commissioned artist John Callcott Horsley to design a small, festive illustration showing a family celebrating Christmas together, flanked by scenes of charitable giving. Underneath ran the now-familiar greeting: “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You.”
The cards were printed lithographically and hand-coloured, then sold for one shilling each. Quite a sum at the time. Although initially a luxury, the idea caught on, especially after postal reforms made sending mail cheaper and more accessible.
The Golden Age of the Christmas Card
By the 1860s and 1870s, Christmas cards had become a national craze. Advances in printing and chromolithography allowed for mass production in vivid colour, and publishers such as Raphael Tuck & Sons turned Christmas cards into collectible works of art.
Designs ranged from the traditional, robins, holly, and snow scenes, to the delightfully odd. Early cards sometimes featured frogs in top hats, dancing vegetables, or even mischievous clowns. Victorians loved a bit of whimsy, and Christmas gave them the perfect excuse.
Sending and displaying cards became a festive ritual. Families kept albums to preserve particularly beautiful ones, and exchanging cards became a way to maintain friendships and connections across Britain’s growing postal network.
20th Century Style and Sentiment
As printing technology improved, cards became more affordable and more personal. The early 1900s brought simpler, more sentimental themes, snowy villages, children carolling, and nativity scenes. During both World Wars, Christmas cards carried patriotic motifs or heartfelt wishes to loved ones serving abroad.
The mid-20th century saw the rise of charity Christmas cards, beginning with the British Red Cross and Save the Children Fund in 1949.
Buying cards that supported a cause soon became a cherished part of the season.
By the 1970s and 1980s, Christmas cards had become an art form in their own right, with everything from minimalist modern prints to glitter-covered Santas. Schoolchildren, charities, and even royal designers contributed to the nation’s Christmas card collections.
Into the Digital Age
In the 21st century, the humble Christmas card has faced stiff competition from digital greetings and instant messaging. Yet millions in the UK still send them each year. For many, it’s not just a tradition, it’s a personal gesture of warmth, effort, and nostalgia that no email can replicate.
Today’s cards span every style imaginable: eco-friendly recycled designs, minimalist Scandi chic, nostalgic retro prints, and even augmented reality animations that come to life when viewed on a smartphone.
Some families still treasure the ritual of writing and posting cards together, often with a pot of tea and a tin of biscuits at hand, proving that, even in the digital era, the spirit of Sir Henry Cole’s original idea lives on.
A Tradition Worth Keeping
The Christmas card remains one of Britain’s most enduring festive traditions, a tangible connection between friends and family, near and far.
Whether hand-drawn by a child, glittered within an inch of its life, or sleek and sustainable, each card carries the same timeless message: you were thought of this Christmas.
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