The firm began selling the Christmas card in America in 1874, thus becoming the first printer to offer cards in America. At Christmas 1873, the lithograph firm Prang and Mayer began creating greeting cards for the popular market in Britain. Humorous and sentimental images of children and animals were popular, as were increasingly elaborate shapes, decorations and materials. Įarly British cards rarely showed winter or religious themes, instead favoring flowers, fairies and other fanciful designs that reminded the recipient of the approach of spring. Two batches totaling 2,050 cards were printed and sold that year for a shilling each. Allegedly the image of the family drinking wine together proved controversial, but the idea was shrewd: Cole had helped introduce the Penny Post three years earlier. The central picture showed three generations of a family raising a toast to the card's recipient: on either side were scenes of charity, with food and clothing being given to the poor. The first commercially available card was commissioned by Sir Henry Cole and designed by John Callcott Horsley in London 1843. It was hand-made and incorporated Rosicrucian imagery, with the words of the greeting – "A greeting on the birthday of the Sacred King, to the most worshipful and energetic lord and most eminent James, King of Great Britain and Ireland, and Defender of the true faith, with a gesture of joyful celebration of the Birthday of the Lord, in most joyand fortune, we enter into the new auspicious year 1612" – being laid out to form a rose. It was discovered in 1979 by Adam McLean in the Scottish Record Office. The first known Christmas card was sent by Michael Maier to James I of England and his son Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales in 1611. History The world's first commercially produced Christmas card, designed by John Callcott Horsley for Henry Cole in 1843 Children looking at Christmas cards in New York 1910 Christmas card by Louis Prang, showing a group of anthropomorphized frogs parading with banner and band. Some secular cards depict nostalgic scenes of the past such as crinolined shoppers in 19th century streetscapes others are humorous, particularly in depicting the antics of Santa and his elves. Many Christmas cards show Christmas traditions, such as seasonal figures (e.g., Santa Claus, snowmen, and reindeer), objects associated with Christmas such as candles, holly, baubles, and Christmas trees, and Christmastime activities such as shopping, caroling, and partying, or other aspects of the season such as the snow and wildlife of the northern winter. The content of the design might relate directly to the Christmas narrative with depictions of the Nativity of Jesus, or have Christian symbols such as the Star of Bethlehem or a white dove representing both the Holy Spirit and Peace. The first modern Christmas card was by John Calcott Horsley.Ī Christmas card is generally commercially designed and purchased for the occasion. There are innumerable variations on this greeting, many cards expressing more religious sentiment, or containing a poem, prayer, Christmas song lyrics or Biblical verse others focus on the general holiday season with an all-inclusive "Season's greetings". The traditional greeting reads "wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year". Christmas cards are usually exchanged during the weeks preceding Christmas Day by many people (including some non-Christians) in Western society and in Asia. Norwegian Christmas card A 19th-century American Christmas cardĪ Christmas card is a greeting card sent as part of the traditional celebration of Christmas in order to convey between people a range of sentiments related to Christmastide and the holiday season. For similar custom in less religious countries, see New Year Card. For other uses, see Christmas card (disambiguation).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |