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Christmas Cards
 | Sending printed Christmas cards started in London in 1843. People had exchanged handwritten notes for many years. They would deliver them in person or send them through the post, but there were no commerical cards available to buy for holiday greetings. |
The first Christmas card for sale was designed by a London artist named John Calcott Horsley. He was hired by a weathly businessman who wanted a nice card he could send to his friends to wish them a Merry Christmas. The card was made up of three panels. Two panels showed people doing good deeds. The center panel showed a party of adults and children with plenty of food and drink. The caption read, "Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to you". There were 1,000 copies of this card printed.
Printed cards quickly became the rage in England - and then in Germany. But, it was 30 more years before the idea caught on in American. Today more than two billion Christmas cards are sent every year just in the U.S. It is the top card sending holiday of the year.
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