Christmas cards originated in England during the early 1800s. During this time, people would send hand written greetings and messages to friends, and send them post. It often took a lot of time to do this. In reference to this practice, Richard Armour wrote, "You cannot reach perfection though you try however hard to, there's always one more friend or so you should have sent a card to." What Richard Armour was saying is that no matter how hard you try to send your Christmas greetings, handwriting and drawing them all makes it an impossible take to contact all friends. Sir Henry Cole, founder of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, understood what Richard was saying; he had so many Christmas greetings to send that handwriting them was impossible, but he felt a great compulsion to help his friends see the needs of others during the holidays, and encourage them to help those who were destitute.

Helpful Resources: Creating Your Own Christmas Cards This is a site where you can create your own Christmas cards to send out at the holidays. It lets you choose a template and it lets you insert a photo and go with a standard greeting and personalized message. Fun Electronic Cards This site offers the history of Christmas cards as well as some fun electronic cards you can send. It allows you to save money on postage by sending Christmas cards via email, or electronically. Who Invented the Christmas Card? This site explores the question of who invented the Christmas card, and who sent the first one to establish the tradition. It helps you learn more about some of the traditions of Christmas, and ideas for sending cars. Where to find Christmas Cards This site offers some great information about the history of Christmas cards, as well as has a list of links for places where you can find Christmas cards to send with various scenes depicted, types of cards, etc. Origin of Christmas Cards This is a great site for learning the history and origin of Christmas cards. It is a fun site to learn the history and origin of Christmas traditions, and has some great links for sending cards to others. Fun Christmas Cards This site offers some fun looks at Christmas cards, and explores the history of greeting cards and their use at Christmas. It gives the origins, and offers links for purchasing your Christmas cards this year. Sir Henry Cole This is a great site for learning about Sir Henry Cole, the inventor of the Christmas card. It gives the history of the Christmas card, and a look at why they are sent, when and what you usually send with them. Free Online Greeting Cards This site offers some free online holiday greeting cards. They are e-cards that you get to send over the internet either using their service, or via email. They offer a wide variety to choose from, some religious, some secular, etc. History of Christmas Cards This site offers the history of corporate Christmas cards. It explains how sending corporate Christmas cards can help your business, and how they are a nice way to establish a relationship. Customized Christmas Cards This is a great place to learn how to make a customized Christmas card. You can use your favorite photos from the year and place them on a pre-designed Christmas or winter card template.

So, in 1843, Sir Henry commissioned John Calcott Horsley to paint a card showing the feeding and clothing of the poor. His hope was to send this card out and in doing so encourage others to feed and clothe the poor. The card was painted, and it displayed a happy family embracing one another, sipping wine and enjoying the festivities. The first card was printed with the saying, "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You." Sir Henry Cole sent this out to his friends, and despite his good intentions, his card drew criticism because it showed a child drinking wine, so instead of being thought of as a way to encourage help of other, it was considered to be fostering the moral corruption of children. So, because of the harsh criticism, it is said that Sir Henry didn't send any cards the following year, but the custom became popular anyway.

By the late 1800's and early 1900's sending Christmas cards was all the rage. Holiday cards were being designed, and sent out. Those designed by Kate Greenaway, a Victorian children's writer and illustrator were extremely popular, as were those designed by Frances Brundage and Ellen H. Clapsaddle.

What were the Christmas cards like? When they were first designed, most were elaborate. It was a tradition for the wealthy, and the commissioned great cards, decorated with fringe, silk and satin.

As the tradition became more popular, so did the variety of card types and shapes, some were shaped liked fans and crescents; others were cut into the shapes of bells, birds, candles and even plum puddings. Shaped cards became popular, and cards were being designed in all of the traditional Christmas and Holiday shapes. Bells, mistle-toe, etc.

Cards were becoming a widespread tradition, and the variations spread like wild fire. Soon there were Christmas cards of every shape and size imaginable. Some folded like maps or fitted together as puzzles; other squealed or squeaked; some had pop out pictures, scenes of popular Christmas themes, and even moving characters.

During this time, Christmas cards were really only being printed and made in England. They had been around for more than 30 years before Americans started making their own. It was not until 1875 that they began being printed in America rather than just be imported in. A German immigrant to the U.S., Louis Prang, decided to open a lithographic shop, and with the measly sum of $250, he did so and published the first line of Christmas cards in the U.S.

Originally the cards Louis Prang published were of featured flowers and birds, unrelated to the Christmas scene, however, his business grew, and so did his line of cards, and by 1881, Prang was producing more than five million Christmas cards each year. These cards featured Christmas phrases and scenes, such as fir trees, fires, children with toys, snow scapes, and more. The cards were carefully crafted and printed lithographically, and are worth a lot today, and are a favorite for collectors.

Of course, Christmas Cards have changed since the days of Sir Henry and Louis Prang, and while we still see the traditional Christmas scenes, and carefully printed lithographs, we now see even more variation, including clever rhymes, silly verses, gadgets that play Christmas songs, various shapes, etc. While cards with Nativity scenes, and carolers are still in high demand, so are cards featuring Santa Claus, Frosty, Rudolph, and other more modern things.

Christmas card etiquette:

A lot of people love to send Christmas cards, and yet they do not want to forget someone, or offend someone, or do something that would be considered rude in the Christmas card sending world. There are some rules of etiquette that go along with sending out Christmas cards, so let's take a look at them:

First let's look at who to send the cards to: While some people use Christmas cards as a way to reconnect with and reunite with people they have not seen or heard from in years, you do not have to send a Christmas card to everyone you know, have known, and have worked with. The rules of etiquette typically state that if you see them regularly, are directly related, or receive a card from them, you will probably want to include them in your Christmas card giving list. But, the fact is sending Christmas cards is not a requirement, so only send them to the people you want to.

Second, let's look at the etiquette for sending cards of a religious nature to non-religious people. If you celebrate Christmas in a religious manner, and want to send a Christmas card with a Nativity scene, or some other religious theme, such as scripture quoted inside, the rules of etiquette say that it is fine to send it to anyone on your list as long as you do not try and have them change their views, or their feelings about Christmas. So, in other words, unless you are pushing them to believe as you do, sharing your way of celebrating with them is perfectly acceptable.

Third, let's look at when to send Christmas cards. The rules of etiquette for when to send Christmas cards say not to send them so they arrive before Thanksgiving or after Christmas. Really, anytime in between and you are going to be fine. For the best timing, it is good to send them so they arrive around two weeks before the holiday, however, you can really send them whenever you wish during the month of December. If you are sending a holiday card, rather than a Christmas card, you have a little longer of a time frame, both before and after the previously mentioned time frame.

What can you send in addition to a card?

Over the years the cards have gotten less elaborate, and the additions to the card more so. For example, you may send a very simple card, but include in it a family newsletter that updates your friends and family about the goings on in your life over the past year. Many people take the opportunity of sending out a Christmas card to list their accomplishments, and significant events in their life, including births, deaths, graduations, marriages, divorces, awards, etc. some choose to include information about fun things they did, such as vacations, or home building. Really you can include a letter about anything with your Christmas card.

Photos. Many people have found that in addition to a holiday or Christmas card, sending an updated photo of their family is very appreciated. This is especially nice for those who have relatives or friends that live far away and that they do not see often. It is a good way for them to see what you look like, and have something to put up on their fridge. A family photo in front of a Christmas tree with a seasonal greeting printed on the bottom is a typical way to eliminate the need for the actual card. So, in some cases people choose to send a photo in place of a card, and in other cases it is in addition to a card.