Christmas Cards

Christmas greeting cards are such a firm tradition during the Christmas season that it's hard to imagine a time when they were not available. Surprisingly, the idea for these type of greetings was not another product of American ingenuity, but sprang from the creativity of an Englishman in the early 1800's. Sir Henry Cole was a wealthy philanthropist who sent handwritten letters to all his friends during the holidays. His list eventually became so long that it became impossible for him to hand write all his Christmas cards. In 1843 he finally hired an artist to create a picture of the poor and disadvantaged, which he subsequently had printed onto good paper stock. The idea caught on with the British and stirred a demand for similar products, which spawned companies that produced them in mass volume.

For over 30 years, Americans ordered Christmas cards from British companies because no one produced cards in the United States. Quick to seize the opportunity to begin his own business in America, a German immigrant began the first company in American that mass produced Christmas greeting cards for the general public. Louis Prang offered products that Americans were eager to purchase for their friendly, homey sayings. His first ones were neutral scenes that consumers purchased; his later ones depicted the Christmas story taken from biblical passages like Luke 2:11, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Christmas cards depicting the story of the Christ child quickly became his most popular products.

The selection of appropriate art has expanded through the years, providing consumers with not only reproductions of famous Victorian scenes but also designs from American artists. Norman Rockwell's heartwarming, homespun artistry is still reprinted today for some of the most nostalgic Christmas greeting cards available. The famous Kewpie doll creator and artist, Rosie O'Neill's artwork is still in high demand through reproduction printings as well as sales of other holiday collectibles. Humorous American artists such as Charles Shultz, the creator of 'Peanuts', also offers a delightful and humorous twist for Christmas cards.

The demand for these products will most likely continue as long as the United States Postal System is in existence! However, no matter what the latest design or trendiest theme marketed in order to sell these products, those that depict scenes of the real meaning of the holiday continue to be the most popular. Christmas greeting cards displaying the nativity scene, Christ child, wise men, joyful angels, and worshipping shepherds continue to top the sales on the market. It is good to know that in a changing world, some things never change! "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)

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