Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Xmas Cards

I really enjoy the custom of sending Xmas cards.  When we were first married 50 years ago, I would send out a lot of cards. Today the list has dwindled down to under 30 because people just do not send them like they used to.

Xmas cards originated in England by Sir Henry Cole, he was the director of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Each year he would send Christmas messages to his family and friends and decided it would be better to produce a card instead of all the different letters.  The artist John Horsley created a design and Sir Henry approved and the first Xmas card was sent.

On each side there is a design of people helping others in the season. The middle shows a group of people of enjoying a day together.

It didn't catch on right away but by 1880 the post office was warning card senders to get an early start mailing.

Xmas cards show so many themes, are yours snowmen, snowy cabins, holiday streets or maybe the manger scene. I think we have sent every design you can think of.  Lots of people today do the photograph family card, I've done that a couple of times.

If I was really dedicated I would design my own card and have it printed on special cardstock--maybe someday.

Hope you received lots of beautiful Xmas cards this year.


Ann


10 comments:

carol l mckenna said...

Ann ~ lovely post about Xmas cards for X ~ used to love the tradition ~ dwindling here also ~ electronics is taking over the world ~

Wishing you a Happy Christmas ~ ^_^

Reader Wil said...

I am glad there is e-mail for I have to walk a long way to the nearest letterbox, because the others were all removed. I also try to call people if possible. Merry Christmas Ann!

Reader Wil said...

Your post is lovely and informative.

Trubes said...

That was something I didn't know, a most interesting post.
I like to send cards with a religious theme, After all it
is a religious celebration. Although I just send cards conveying
a'Season's Greetings'message to my non christian friends.
Merry Christmas.
Best wishes,
Di.
ABCW team.

MelodyK said...

I think it is a great pitty that much people don't sent regular cards anymore, all those cards online are beautiful but never the less, I like a card in my hands more ;-0

Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones
Have a nice ABC-Wednesday / _ Week
♫ M e l ☺ d y ♫ (abc=w=team)
http://melodymusic.nl/abc-wednesday-19x/

Handmade in Israel said...

Nice to read the history behind card sending.
Happy Christmas!

Roger Owen Green said...

I used to do that!

ROG, ABCW

ann chin said...

my dad liked sending cards. I send emails with news.

Su-sieee! Mac said...

I enjoy sending and receiving Christmas cards. I love the Christmas letters the best, to read and write. :-) Happy Christmas!

Annesphamily said...

I still send and love receiving cards. Of course, I belong to the encouragement group too and was thrilled to receive cards from people who I sent encouragment too. I love cards and letter so I won't stop. I find the e cards so cheap and so impersonal. UGH! I love getting the Christmas letters too. Such fun to read!
When I turned 60 I received 60 plus cards and letters and I have each one in a birthday box. Those messages mean a lot to me.
I also have many cards from loved ones no longer living. I even have a letter from Tom Landry former Dallas Cowboys coach. My oldest is a Dallas fan so oneday she can keep that letter with her memories too.
Your Chiefs have been playing amazingly. I bet everyday the 49ers wish they had traded the "other" QB! HaHaHa! Alex Smith was treated just like Joe Montana, a winner who they dumped aside. I had the pleasure of seeing Joe Montana play college football twice in his younger days.Not a Raiders fan but sad to see their amazing QB out withsuch a terrible injury. Last Saturday was a bad injury day. That young QB from the Titans seriously injured also and the young player Lockett from the Seahawks. Sometime I think they get too brutal in football.
Have a good New Year Ann, take care. xo

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