Every day, thousands of greeting cards are literally sent around the world. Yet a few of us stop to think about the history behind this worldwide tradition, or about the fact that it has been a popular custom for hundreds of years.
Exploring Ancient Times
According to experts, the tradition of sending greeting cards to friends and family dates as far back as the times of the ancient Chinese. During this period, sending card greetings to wish loved ones a happy and healthy New Year was customary. Similarly, the early Egyptians were known for sending greetings to each other on papyrus scrolls, and this custom was also common in Europe by the early 1400s -- though these greetings were made with handmade paper.
The oldest-known greeting card in existence dates back to the 1400s. This card, which is housed in the British Museum, was hand-delivered on Valentine's Day. During this period, Valentine's cards were the most popular form of greeting cards. Prior to the widespread use of the cards, lovers would sing or simply say their Valentine greetings.
Of course, making paper from scratch or creating greetings on papyrus was a time-consuming process. In addition, the materials for making these greeting cards were not readily available. The practice, therefore, of sending greeting cards was generally left to the wealthy upper class.
Greeting Cards Reach the Masses
By the mid-1800s, during which time innovative printing mechanisms were developed, sending greeting cards was far less time consuming. The first postage stamp was also introduced around this time, which made it easier to send out greetings all over the world. As a result, the popularity of the tradition grew immensely. In fact, it was during this time that the tradition of sending Christmas cards began to progress. This tradition was further spurred on by Sir Henry Cole of London, who hired an artist by the name of John Calcott Horsley in 1843 to design Christmas cards for him to send to his friends and family.
By the 1860s, card companies began to emerge. These companies also hired well-known artists and began to mass produce their cards. When color lithography was introduced in 1930, the popularity of greeting cards grew even more. Soon after, the purpose of these cards also began to change. Rather than being used solely for special holiday greetings, card manufacturers began developing humorous cards and "just because" greetings.
Technology Steps In
Today, greeting cards have evolved to take on a number of different forms. With the help of technology, consumers are able to explore alternative methods for creating and sending greetings. For example, e-greetings that are sent electronically through e-mail continue to grow in popularity. In addition, the increased availability of technology and high-quality printers have encouraged some to create their own professional-looking cards from home. Nonetheless, most agree that nothing can replace the warmth and sentiment created by sending a conventional store-bought card through the mail.
The tradition of sending greeting cards has a long and interesting history. The next time you place a stamp on an envelope or hit "send" on your e-greeting, remember that you are carrying on a tradition that has helped bring mankind closer for hundreds of years.
Victoria Primicias writes Boring Bedtime Stories featuring baby nursery bedding for Bella & Fella Children's Bedding. A guaranteed snooze for parents, these musings from the "bedding set queen" deftly weave childhood tales from a distant land, business startup challenges, and titillating tales in the wonderful world of crib bedding sets.
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