About Greeting Cards

Greeting cards mark many occasions from birthdays and graduations to simple encouragement and well wishes. The sending of greeting cards is a tradition embraced by many families and dates back to ancient times. Holiday cards can carry greetings as well as generous sentiments and other tokens of affection including gifts of money.

Greeting cards started out as simple slips of papyrus, that were exchanged by both the Egyptians and Chinese as messages of goodwill. As the concept of greeting cards evolved, Europeans began to send them to one another for holidays such as Valentine’s Day – and this occurred as early as the 1400’s. Of course, these cards were handmade and expensive so not everyone could afford to send greeting cards for their holiday well-wishes.

Greeting cards really hit the mainstream in the 1850’s, when commercial printing as well as the invention of the postage stamp started to allow people all over the world to send greeting cards to their loved ones. Now, greeting cards are a billion dollar business, with people purchasing and sending cards for holidays including religious celebrations, birthdays, and even just as a simple thank you or gesture of love.

Of course, you don’t need to buy your greeting cards in a store. Computers and home printers have made it easy to create and print out your own cards at home. Greeting cards have evolved from an item used only by the rich to an everyday tradition. Whether you want to communicate with far-off relatives, or just let your sweetie know how much you love them – greeting cards make a great (and inexpensive) way to brighten up someone’s day!

Although the electronic age could have been the demise of holiday cards, the concept evolved. E-cards are tremendously popular. Hallmark.com and other free websites offer holiday e-cards for all occasions. E-cards take the free, charming gift to a level of unprecedented convenience. A card can be created or personalized and emailed in just seconds. Today, holiday cards remain big business both online and off.

Handmade holiday greeting cards remain inexpensive, yet thoughtful gifts. In the 1800s, these gifts could be hand delivered and contained thoughtful holiday wishes, prayers and other communications. Holiday cards also marked a turning point in long-distance communication as settlers moved long distances. Sending a holiday card with a letter inside once or twice a year served to send holiday wishes as well as maintain communications with family and friends. Modern day children still create their own handmade holiday greeting cards to give to family members as projects in school and Sunday school.

Different occasions call for different types of greeting cards. The use of verses, quotations and cards written specifically for a purpose is credited to Louis Prang and his founding of the greeting card industry. Holiday cards often featured the original writing of the sender or carried a letter within its decorated pages. Today’s holiday card industry reflects modern tastes with humor cards, rude cards and character-based cards from large retailers like Hallmark (see Resources below) and Blue Mountain.

While purchasing holiday cards is easier than ever before, handmade cards offer a personal touch. If you do opt to purchase cards, consider adding a handwritten line or two personalized to each of your recipients.