Many of the traditions that have become synonymous with Christmas — likestockings , evergreentrees , and ared - suited Santa — have only been around for a couple century or less . One of the most permeant customs among masses who lionize the holiday is the obligatory Christmas identity card . Whether you be intimate getting the flood of post at the end of the year or dread it , you have Henry Cole to thank for sending the first commercial Christmas card .
According to theLibrary of Congress , Cole was a British civil retainer born in 1808 . It was habitual in the 19th one C to place letter to loved ones around Christmas , and by the clock time Cole had reached his 30 , he was sick of the recitation . Looking to save time and zip during the holidays , he asked his protagonist and illustrator John Callcott Horsley to help him make a shortcut .
Horsley ’s answer to Cole ’s problem was an example of a happy category bearing the subject matter “ A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You . ” At the top of the card , there was a clean line to fill up with the name of the recipient , and one at the bottom for that of the sender . The image could be reprinted G of times . Now , instead of writing personalized letter of the alphabet until his hand get down to halter , all Cole had to do was jot down some names before slipping his season ’s greeting into their envelope .
It twist out that many people shared Cole ’s gripes about vacation - letter writing . They wanted in on his idea , and the card grew from personal holiday hack to the first pot - produced Christmas card ever made . card were sold for ashillingapiece , or about 12 times the cost of postage .
Holidays scorecard are more popular today than ever before . Americans place about2 billionof them every yr . Of course , now that letter - writing has been supplant by phone calls , texts , electronic mail , and social mass medium , the tradition is view by many to be more of a chore than a convenience .
