Christmas cards become a tradition

The tradition of wishing each other a merry Christmas goes back a long way. It used to be common to walk around the village and knock on people’s doors to wish them Merry Christmas face-to-face. Then the idea of sending Christmas cards came.

Gammelt julekort
Gammelt julekort

The first Christmas card

It was the British man Henry Cole who came up with the idea in the early 19th century. He contacted his artist friend John Calcott Horsley who designed a beautiful Christmas card. Cole then copied the card, took what he needed himself and sold the rest. This became really popular and a new business idea was born.

The first card, from 1843, is a drawing of a family who get together around the dinner table. The words ‘A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year’ are printed on the front of the card. It was what is called a presentation card, which means that the card was delivered in person and was in itself considered to be a gift.

Forrige avsnitt

1 / 2

Neste avsnitt
Første julekortet fra 1843, illustrasjon av John Calcott Horsley
Første julekortet fra 1843, illustrasjon av John Calcott Horsley

Christmas cards are sent by post

The first Christmas card in Norway was for sale in 1883. Christmas cards became so popular that the post office had to bring in more workers to manage the Christmas mail. At this point, Christmas cards were sent by post.

Until 1982 it was cheaper to send Christmas cards in Norway when you only wrote five words on the card. Most often this was ‘Merry Christmas and Happy New Year’. It probably sounds strange, but the thought was that it would make more people send cards. When Christmas cards were first sent, not everyone was very good at writing, so it was easier to write only a few words. Post office workers would count the words to make sure that the postage was right. From 1 January 1983, this rule was no longer used and postage was calculated based on weight.

Forrige avsnitt

1 / 2

Neste avsnitt
Gammelt julekort
Gammelt julekort

Christmas card designs

The history of Christmas cards and Christmas card designs

Christmas card designs in Norway

The Norwegian cards which were sold in 1883 and later had typical Norwegian designs on the front. A little nisse was a popular design, as was winter scenery, skiing, sleigh rides and snowy farms. 

⬅ The painter Adolph Tidemand’s “Farm house with a corn-bundle” was a popular design.

The pig was also often used in Norwegian design. Following the First World War, the Christmas tree also became popular on the cards. There were of course also religious designs on cards, such as drawings of people on their way to church. But religious designs such as that of the baby Jesus were more common in other countries.

Forrige avsnitt

1 / 2

Neste avsnitt

Christmas cards in wartime

During the Second World War, many soldiers were overseas, and were not able to go on leave for the holidays. Christmas cards became important for both the soldiers and their loved ones.

American Christmas cards were mostly naive and cheerful, often with cartoons looking like soldiers, war machines or weapons, and a Christmas greeting. Many also showed the “V” sign for “Victory,” made popular by the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill. This artistic choice was probably meant to keep up morale.

Amerikansk julekort med en nisse som viser peace-tegn

The cards would often be aimed towards specific branches of the military, and there were cards for both men and women in service. Soldiers from countries such as New Zealand and Australia would send cards with national symbols or showing where they were in service. 

In Germany, Christmas cards also showed soldiers, as well as the swastika or Hitler. They tended to have  fewer religious images than those of the Allied forces.

Gammelt amerikansk julekort med en soldat som motiv

Christmas cards with signs of resistance

In Norway, an occupied country, it was important to show nationalism and show resistance to Nazism. Designs of little Norwegian nisses with red hats and the Norwegian flag were very popular among Norwegians, but were banned by the Germans. The cards showed a clear message to the receivers that they were on the right side during the war.

Julekort under krigen
Julekort under krigen

Christmas cards tell a story

With time, it also became popular to create your Christmas cards with personal photos of children and family. These cards are often kept as memories. Cards with humoristic designs and designs that provoke have also become a thing. Christmas cards are important both culturally and historically, as they tell us a story about what people were interested in at that time.

📷 Former US President Ronald Reagan’s parents sent out this private Christmas card with a picture of the family around 1916-1917.
Julekort med Ronald Reagan og familien
Papirbakgrunn opp ned
Papirbakgrunn opp ned

Christmas is a time for consideration

A special Christmas postal stamp was created to support charitable causes. It was invented in Denmark in 1904. The first Christmas stamps raised money for children with tuberculosis. There are also Christmas cards created to support charitable causes, such as UNICEF cards.

Papirbakgrunn
Papirbakgrunn

Christmas designs from other countries

Christmas cards are sent across a lot of countries and all have their own cultural versions. For example in Australia a design of a large flock of white sheep is common. The poinsettia is originally Mexican, and is widely used as a design on Christmas cards and in decor.

In the East, you’ll find orchids, water lilies and roses on Christmas cards, whilst many Arab countries favour the palm tree.

In Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, peacocks and elephants are common. The Christmas tree as a design is common everywhere.

Tre julekort utstilt på en hylle
Tre julekort utstilt på en hylle

Christmas cards become year-round cards and collectibles

The popularity of Christmas cards led to the creation of other types of greeting cards, that is, cards that could be used all year, such as birthday cards.

From the 1920s and 30s, people started to collect their favourite Christmas cards, but today not many people collect cards anymore.

4 tenåringsjenter i bursdag
4 tenåringsjenter i bursdag

From Christmas cards to Christmas letters

For people who wished to write a longer Christmas message, a Christmas letter was the solution. Christmas letters are an American tradition. A Christmas letter is a summary of all the positive things that have happened during the year. The most common themes are children, travel and special occasions. The letter is often decorated with Christmas symbols, drawings or photos.

Dame som skriver et brev til julenissen med juledekorasjoner rundt på bordet
Dame som skriver et brev til julenissen med juledekorasjoner rundt på bordet

Mass-produced letters

In the beginning it was common to write Christmas letters by hand. As most people got computers and the internet, this changed. Many people will now write their letters on a computer, and add in their photographs from their holidays or other special occasions, such as confirmations or birthdays. The same text is often used for all letters.

Brevbunke
Brevbunke

The ritual of writing cards and letters

To many people, writing Christmas cards is a tradition that they look forward to. A lot of thought is put into both the design and the content, and it is a ritual that can be compared to advent calendars or Christmas baking. 

Few people would want to send out a negative Christmas greeting, and more often than not, writing a Christmas card is a moment where the sender can look back on the year that has been, reflect, and share the year’s events in a positive light.

Mor og sønn skriver julebrev
Mor og sønn skriver julebrev

Who receives Christmas cards?

It has been common to send Christmas cards to friends, and people that you don’t see very often. Businesses send Christmas cards to their employees and business partners. Christmas cards can make friendships and networks better.

Gammelt julekort
Gammelt julekort

Christmas cards are still popular

From around 1900, Christmas cards became common. The most popular decades for sending Christmas cards were the 1920s and the 1930s. We still send a large number of cards despite new and modern ways of communicating with each other such as text messages, email and electronic Christmas cards. There is still something special about getting a nice Christmas card which has been handwritten with care, just for you.

In recent years, writing and sending Christmas cards has experienced a boom, as the millennial generation like the analogue nature of things, and for sentimental reasons. In addition, COVID-19 and social isolation also caused a rush in the sale of and sending of Christmas cards.

Forrige avsnitt

1 / 2

Neste avsnitt
Papirbakgrunn opp ned
Papirbakgrunn opp ned

Merry Christmas

When you are about to start writing a Christmas greeting, remember that if you write in English, the names of holidays are written in capital letters. A Christmas card is not supposed to be a letter – try to keep it short and sweet, and remember that clichés are allowed. 

You could try one of these greetings:

“May this Christmas season fill your home with warmth, light and joy.”

“Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours.”

With this, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Julehilsen fra Tønsberg 1908
Julehilsen fra Tønsberg 1908

Sources:

  • Magisk jul (2020)
    Orage Forlag AS
Forrige avsnitt

1 / 2

Neste avsnitt

Media Rights:

    1. Getty Images
    2. John Calcott Horsley
    3. Getty Images
    4. Adoph Tidemand / Getty Images
    5. Ukjent
    6. Collection of Auckland Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, 1996×2.551
    7. Ukjent
    8. Ukjent / Getty Images
    9. Getty Images
    10. Getty Images
    11. Getty Images
    12. Getty Images
    13. Getty Images
    14. Getty Images
    15. Getty Images
    16. Ukjent (CC BY 2.0)