…1843…
It was last posting day for Christmas cards today. I think I got all mine done, though most I got to hand people in person. Fortunately. Stamps are not cheap.
And the thing in the pictures is the very first commercial Christmas card, 1843. Invented by British civil servant Henry Cole, who realized he was spending much of his Decembers writing holiday letters and thought there has to be a better way.
There’s a fun little post about it on the Library of Congress blog.
They take their Christmas cards seriously here. Although maybe it’s me — maybe people take them seriously in the States, too, and I’m just rough and unsocialized.
Did you send any this year?
Posted: December 18th, 2019 under holidays.
Comments: 11
Comments
Comment from Gromulin
Time: December 18, 2019, 9:45 pm
I don’t think we’ve sent any in 10 years. Everyone is connected via the Faceborg, so it seems redundant. We still recieve 1 or 2 each year from oldsters, but those are dropping off also.
Comment from DurnedYankee
Time: December 18, 2019, 9:46 pm
Oh – I thought the front page had my comment – none.
Comment from Mitchell
Time: December 18, 2019, 10:18 pm
I don’t do much in the way of Christmas cards either, but this year I got to write $15,000 checks to a bunch of relatives. Dad is giving away a big chunk of his estate before he “kicks the bucket” so it’s a Very Merry Christmas indeed for some folks this year.
Comment from p2
Time: December 18, 2019, 11:34 pm
None. Haven’t sent any in at least a quarter century. Left all that up to ‘er Indoors, the Brit ex-missus. I get the one card with the mass blast state of the year letter each year from a service bud, well, his very Brit wife, actually.
There seems to be a trend here……
Comment from OldFert
Time: December 19, 2019, 12:17 am
Sent none, got two. E-mail greetings instead. And greetings to my imaginary friends on various blogs and places to comment.
That said, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Comment from Armybrat
Time: December 19, 2019, 12:21 am
I quit doing cards about 5 years ago. I placed a note in every card the last year and said this was the last one. My friends and family extends to literally every continent and cards became a time and money suck. We’re all connected on Facebook and mobile text. My husband constantly marvels at the number of family/“family” texts we get every day.
Comment from Mark Matis
Time: December 19, 2019, 1:38 am
Always send my Christmas cards from Christmas, Florida. The recipients seem to appreciate it!
Comment from AliceH
Time: December 19, 2019, 3:12 am
I started sending Christmas cards about 8 years ago. Best part was digging up addresses and reconnecting with my uncles and some old friends I hadn’t seen in years. I enjoy it, but I still get quietly pissy every year as I compare my number sent VS received. One more major list culling (bye bye nieces and nephews) and I may have a ratio my ego can absorb.
Comment from Uncle Badger
Time: December 19, 2019, 10:27 am
I can’t help feeling a little dismayed to read that Faceache is used in place of a Christmas card. I suppose it must be (yet another) sign of my age, like preferring not to stream music, or regarding twitter as something that happens in the garden.
Bah Humbug!
Comment from DurnedYankee
Time: December 19, 2019, 5:11 pm
You let twits in your garden?
Comment from DurnedYankee
Time: December 19, 2019, 5:35 pm
In other news – Canada sets itself apart once again with the world’s tiniest gingerbread house.
Eh! Good work Canada!
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-7809861/Worlds-tiniest-gingerbread-house-smaller-human-hair-created.html
Uncle B, Weasel will need this set up for by Inktober next year to draw pictures of sad people demanding another vote to prevent Brexit.
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