The first Christmas cards as we know them today were invented in England 150 years ago. Sir Henry Cole had so many greetings cards to send that it was impossible for him to handwrite all of them. But he didn’t want to miss even one friend. And then he found the answer.

He commissioned John Calcot Hoesley to paint a greeting card. It displayed a happy family  enjoying the festival and sipping wine. There were criticized because showing a kid who enjoys a sip of wine was “moral corruption”. On the card was printed “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you”.  It is believed that Sir Henry didn’t send any card on the next year. But the costume of printing Christmas cards became very popular.

In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s were very popular the Christmas cards designed by Kate Greenaway, Frances Brundage and Ellen H. Clapsaddle. Most of their cards were shaped like crescents, bells, birds or candles. They were decorated with silk, satin and fringe.
Till 1875 Americans imported Christmas cards from England. Then the German immigrant Louise Prang opened a lithographic shop and published the first Americans Christmas cards. They were illustrated with snow scenes, children playing with toys, fir trees.

The World Wars changed the Christmas theme in the greeting cards and brought patriotic themes. Abraham Lincoln asked Thomas Nast to illustrate Santa Clause. He was the first to introduce Santa Clause in the traditional red suit and big leather belt as he is famous today.

In our days Christmas cards are with comics, clever verses, jokes and beautiful Christmas scenes. They are usually sold in packs of varied designs. They can be separated in different categories: traditional-with pictures of nativity scenes; formal-with painted pictures of Christmas tree; cute-with small cute animals; funny-Rudolf throwing balls and others The digital photography and advanced printing provides more possibilities to personalize the Christmas Cards with photos and personal messages.