Garrison Keillor – A lovely thing about Christmas is that it’s compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together.
That time of year for merriment, festivity, and joy is upon us. Christmas Day is just around the corner. As the day draws closer and closer, many of us look forward to receiving our Holiday Greetings. We put them where we can see them and they are tangible reminders of our friends and family who have taken the time to remember us and share their good wishes for our happiness, health, and wellness at Christmas, and in the New Year.
All the cards in this collage were made and photographed by me. I bought lots of colored craft stones at the dollar store and had lots of fun making these. The plaque saying “Delight in the little things” was photographed in a year-round Christmas store. I decided to add it to this collage since we tend to get carried away in unnecessary consumerism at Christmas.
A few hours of card-making can be fun. With e-cards being so easy to send, and many families sending computerized newsletters, making a home-made Christmas card is somewhat antiquated. I myself send lots of e-cards – especially when it’s too late to mail a card. My hand-made cards are for special people.
It occurred to me that I didn’t really know anything about how we came to send Christmas cards to each other. This is what I found:
Christmas cards are one of the most popular holiday traditions we have today. They are mailed out all over the world to friends, family and acquaintances during the holiday season every year. They are available in any size, shape or color imaginable, and with a countless variety of thoughful messages. However, some may be interested in learning about the history of Christmas cards and how they came to be so popular in our society today. The custom of sending greeting cards dates back to Ancient China. In order to celebrate the New Year, the ancient Chinese delighted in sending messages of good will. Early Egyptians utilized papyrus scrolls to send their greeting. New Year’s tidings were being produced in Germany as early as the 1400’s.
The origin of the Christmas card is in England. They are a product of boys practicing their writing skills. The boys would practice by making cards for their parents. The history of Christmas cards goes all the way back to the year 1843, where the very first Christmas card on record was commissioned by Sir Henry Cole. The illustrations, which depicted a family, including a small child, enjoying wine together, was created by the artist John Calcott Horsley. The Illustration, and the concept of the Christmas card itself, create a fair amount of controversy. However, one thousand of the cards were reproduced, and each one sold for one shilling. This was how the Christmas card came into being.
It’s lovely to receive a card made just for you. In schools all over the world, many children are busy making Christmas cards and gifts for their parents. Their parents will be delighted. May you receive lots of greetings this year – even if they aren’t hand-made. Hope you enjoy this collage – even if you haven’t got the time to make your own cards. Merry Christmas!