What a Christmas Card Means

Peter Bruegel the Elder

I just ordered my holiday cards yesterday. The last few years I have ordered from Minted, a Northern California company and been happy with the quality and the speed in which they come. One of my favorite things about this time of year is getting the cards in the mail each day! Even as a little girl I was so excited to open all the red and green envelopes and then help my mom pin them to a satin ribbon to admire all month. The little glamour girl in me loved the glittery ones and I’d run my hands over them to feel the sparkly bits.

When we were young, my mother always chose Christmas cards with snow scenes. Ice skating scenes always reminded her of her childhood in Wisconsin. I too grew to love them and have a special fondness for snow scenes. This one above from Peter Bruegel, the Elder, reminds me of another Bruegel print that hung in our home as kids.. This one is from 1565! Can you imagine they were ice skating (probably ice sliding) back then? Love that!

Theodor Severin Kittelson

I’m rambling here, but this got me thinking about Christmas cards. Do you know the first ones were sent about 1840s in Victorian England? Most people couldn’t afford them. Later in the 1850s someone had the idea to print ones with a snow scene or robin picture. They were pre-printed with a greeting inside to save the sender time. That way more could be sent!

One of the oldest known Christmas cards from England 1843. The writer Henry Cole commissioned this card from an artist because he was too busy to write notes. It is hand colored. Apparently it was controversial because a child is having a sip of wine here!

I try to write a note on my cards. If they are going far away, even a longer note. That is just me. I think it’s nice.  I don’t fault others who don’t.  I still love getting a card, personal message or not. Of course the photo ones are just a blast. I think almost everyone does these now. It’s great to see people’s families and how they have grown over the years.

 Some older folks still send regular cards and I treasure those too and the time they take to write them! It’s also nice to have your own photo cards to look back on. I really love doing that and seeing how much we all have changed…Well some of us- I’m so much older.:(

Some of our wonky cards from past years. I usually prefer outdoors or vacation pics. They aren’t professional ever as you can obviously see. Usually my husband has the camera on auto-shot. I love impromptu and casual.

Many people now like to print out a note about their year. We don’t do this, but I love to hear how old kids are, if they have graduated, where you’ve traveled or if you’ve moved, and the like. I think you have to be careful about sharing job promotions or honor rolls and the like.. It’s all about sending good tidings, not keeping up with the Joneses.

 It takes me a few nights to write all mine, but I make some tea or a cappuccino, put on some holiday tunes and make it fun. I think it’s such a lovely tradition. A card says to family and friends far away you haven’t forgotten them. For friends nearby, it says I’m fond of you and appreciate your friendship- basically, thanks for being in my life.

Some send New Year’s cards instead. So smart! Last week I received a beautiful Thanksgiving photo card from a friend and I love that idea as well!