Holiday card exchanging is a lifelong tradition for most families. From the awkward family photo card to the terrifying unexpected musical card, holiday cards are a pretty deeply rooted tradition. This wasn’t always the case. While people had exchanged written greetings since the dawn of the written word, Christmas cards didn’t become an established thing until 1843. Before this, people would send letters to their friends and relatives.
The first card was created by painter John Callcott Horsley for Sir Henry Cole. Cole was a popular civil servant whose network was too large for individual letters, so he had 1,000 printed to give out. The trend soon caught on in England, and people in the U.S. used to import Christmas cards from England until 1875, when they started printing them domestically.
The first Christmas card, 1843
When you see these cards, remember that the people making them were new at this greeting card thing. Also remember that this was the Victorian period, and their aesthetic often seems questionable today. Perhaps in 150 years, people will be horrified by cards featuring Elmo.
1.) An incredibly serious dog
2.) Menacing Santa via giant snowball, 1879
3.) This sarcastic-looking fox
4.) Strolling Robins
5.) The creepy face that overshadows the Christmas tree
6.) Child on outsized insect
7.) Gingerbread (?) monument building and cat
8.) All aboard the Christmas lobster, 1880
This card reads “Peace, Joy, Health, Happiness” in French, which is a standard holiday wish. Not so standard are the mouse and the lobster, specifically the mouse riding the lobster. Also, that festive red seems to suggest that the lobster has already been cooked, and the idea of a rodent on your lobster dinner is, well, gross. Illustrations of the natural world were popular during this time, which may be one explanation, but it seems like a stretch.
9.) Fear the Christmas emu.
If you find yourself getting tired of the Hallmark staples, consider bringing some of these back to life. That emu card is sure to make some holiday memories for years to come.
(Via Mental Floss)
These 9 Vintage Victorian Holiday Cards Are Just Plain Weird, Merry Christmas?
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