The History of Christmas Greeting Cards By Melanie Smith At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Despite the fact that Christmas has been widely celebrated since the birth of Jesus Christ, the first identified use of any Christmas greeting was through an informal letter written by an English admiral in way back in 1699. The same expression was reflected in the first Christmas greeting card, printed in the 19th century in England. The source of Christmas greeting pertains directly to the Christmas holiday and was primarily the first greeting used for any holiday from November to January. Christmas greetings are famous among Christians and the non-Christians equally.

The father of the American Christmas cards was the popular Boston lithographer and inventor Louis Prang, who replicated a holiday card signed by Christmas Carol author, Charles Dickens in 1873. Conceivably, one of Prang's greatest novelties was the development of a multi-color printing method that integrated as many as 20 colors on one print or card. Shades and detailing were so dramatic that artists were at times not able to tell between their own works from reproduced chromolithographic prints when compared side by side on a wall. Taking complete benefit of this technology, Prang employed the premium artisans of his day. Several card painters include Frederick S. Church, Winslow Homer and Arthur F. Tait. Poetic intellects like William Cullen Bryant, Longfellow, and Tennyson were one of those who were hired to write the verses.

Christmas is taken from the words ‘Cristes Maesse’, which means Christ's Mass. It is also occasionally referred to as Xmas. This ‘X’ in the word stands for ‘Xristos’, which means Christ in Greek word. Xristos Mass is then reduced to Xmas.

Christmas is one occasion in the calendar which is globally celebrated in the most diverse of ways, with mores and traditions entirely different from one region to another and celebrations crossing a wide range from the extremely religious to festively secular. Christmas around the world makes a fascinating learning experience. Varied odds and ends taken from every region and every country around the world has urbanized its own way of celebrating this jovial holiday.

Many people send greeting cards to their close friends and distant acquaintances. The greeting inside the card can be customized and are frequently exchanged every year. The popular expression "to be off someone's Christmas card list" is used to signify a tiff between friends.

Many companies, mostly smaller local ones, also send out Christmas cards to people on their consumer’s lists, as a way to establish universal goodwill, keep brand awareness and strengthen social connections. These cards are almost always sophisticated, and do not attempt to sell a product, preventive themselves to bring up the name of the business.

Usual content of these Christmas Greeting Cards varies from strictly Christian symbols such as Nativity scenes to a simply secular orientation, oftentimes humorous, to seasonal weather conditions or general Christmas time activities such as partying.

Many associations create unique Christmas greeting cards as a fundraising means; the most prominent of these enterprises is perhaps the UNICEF Christmas card program.

A holiday filled with joy, a season overflowing with merriment—Christmas unleashes the jovial spirits in the hearts of all sundry ways. So let us all embrace each other with all our warm wishes and Christmas holiday spirits. Just like handing out gifts on Christmas, Christmas greetings also take up a key part of our Christmas celebrations. It’s an entirely special feeling to send and receive greeting cards on Christmas!

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