Don't you
just love the Christmas season? The mood is so festive. The streets are filled
with colorful lights, houses are beautifully decorated and there are lots of
foods and drinks. Of course, you get to buy various items at discounted prices.
This festive mood against the cold season makes Christmas one of the most
anticipated holidays in the world.
There are
so many activities during the season. Family members come together to decorate
their Christmas tree. There are several parties to attend to. You go shopping
for gifts and feel the excitement of wrapping them yourself. There is also that
anticipation of what gifts you are going to receive. And, who can forget about
sending out cards, especially to your friends and loved ones who are in far
places. Just like gifts, you can put your personal style to your cards. It
would be even more rewarding if you can find time to make them and compose the
thoughtful messages yourself. But, did you know that the first commercial
Christmas card was first made because one person did not have enough time to
write all of his friends and professional acquaintances to wish them a merry
Christmas?
It happened
in the year 1843, when John Callcott Horsley, a British narrative painter and a
Royal Academician, was commissioned by a wealthy British businessman to make a
Christmas card that the latter can send to his friends and professional
acquaintances. This businessman was Sir Henry Cole, who also happened to be the
first director of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The card showed a picture of
a family with a small child drinking wine together. A thousand copies were
printed, which was sold for one shilling each.
Sending out
Christmas cards was thought to be a vogue, but apparently, it isn't. Let us
take the number of cards that Americans send every year as an example. Figures
show that at present, almost 4 billion cards are sent every year. This can be
equated to an average of twenty cards per person.
Christmas
cards come in different styles and themes. During the Victorian era, the most
popular Christmas card is the 'trick card.' It had been called as such because
of the element of surprise that went with it. The surprise would come to you
when you turn a page or pull a string. Moreover, they are usually very
elaborate. They are adorned with layers of lace, ribbons, satin, and dried
flowers, among others.
As
Christmas is supposed to be a religious celebration, cards showing the nativity
scene or a picture of the holy family are always there. There are also pictures
associated with Christmas such as Christmas trees, toys, and Father Christmas
or Santa Claus. Humorous cards have also become popular.
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