| Almost all of us have, at one time or another, | | | | Because of this, Mr. Prang is sometimes referred |
| sent or received a Christmas card. These | | | | to as the "father of the American Christmas |
| printed holiday greetings are a mainstay of the | | | | card." Mr. Prang's cards featured snow scenes, |
| Christmas season in the United States and many | | | | flowers, birds, burning fireplaces, and most of all |
| other countries around the world. But did you | | | | children playing with toys. Today some of his |
| ever stop to wonder how this tradition got | | | | intricate designs are favored by collectors. |
| started? Who sent the first Christmas card? | | | | The business of printing Christmas cards soon |
| Most historians trace the origins of Christmas | | | | became the mainstay of stationary |
| cards back to the year 1843 in London, England. | | | | manufacturers and specialty printers. Designs |
| During the mid-19th century in Britain, it was | | | | often followed the historical times. During both |
| customary to send hand written greetings to | | | | World War I and World War II the themes |
| one's friends and relatives, wishing them a Merry | | | | became very patriotic. The 1950's brought a mix |
| Christmas and Happy New Year. In 1843, one | | | | of nostalgic, sentimental, and religious themes. |
| Englishman, Sir Henry Cole, decided he was far | | | | Some other, more risque cards produced during |
| too busy to take the time to personally write | | | | that time suggest the changing of attitudes during |
| these notes. So instead, he commissioned his | | | | that decade. |
| friend, John Callcott Horsley, also an artist, to paint | | | | In the last decade, the United States has begun |
| some cards with a Christmas scene of merriment | | | | to see a decline in the volume of cards being |
| and a banner with a holiday greeting. Sir Henry's | | | | sent. To some extent, this is blamed on |
| idea was to save time by just signing and sending | | | | improvements in technology and instant |
| the cards. However, as the story goes, Mr. | | | | communication. With the advent of the internet, |
| Horsley may have depicted too much merriment, | | | | many people now choose to send free e-cards |
| as it appeared a number of children were | | | | instead of mailing a paper greeting card. Better |
| enjoying a glass of wine in the painted scene. Sir | | | | telephone communication has also played a roll, as |
| Henry Cole, embarrassed by the resulting scandal | | | | most people now have cell phones that offer |
| and controversy, only sent out a few Christmas | | | | them very inexpensive rates and free long |
| cards in subsequent years. | | | | distance. |
| In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Kate | | | | Even with the decline in recent years, the U.S. |
| Greenaway, a children's writer and illustrator in | | | | Census Bureau still estimates that nearly 2 billion |
| London, developed the idea of preprinted | | | | Christmas cards are sent in the United States |
| Christmas cards. Ms. Greenway was much more | | | | each year. Little did Sir Henry Cole know, he |
| sensitive to the "appropriate content" of the day, | | | | was on to something great. From its humble |
| and her cards quickly grew in popularity. | | | | beginnings in mid-19th century London, the |
| Up until this time, all Christmas cards sent in the | | | | Christmas card industry has blossomed into a |
| U.S. were imported from England. In 1874, an | | | | multi-billion dollar giant that will surely continue to |
| American lithograph printer, Louis Prang, began | | | | grow and evolve in the future. |
| printing Christmas cards to sell in the U.S. | | | | |