Christmas cards become a tradition

Wishing each other a merry Christmas goes back a long way. People used to walk around and knock on people’s doors. Then the idea of a Christmas card came.

Gammelt julekort
Gammelt julekort

The first Christmas card

It was a British man named Henry Cole who first came up with the idea in the early 19th century. His friend John Calcott Horsley drew a beautiful Christmas card. Cole copied the card and sold the copies. A new business idea was born.

On the first card from 1843, you see a family who sits around the dinner table together. The words ‘A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year’ are printed on the front of the card. The card was delivered in person and was seen as a gift.

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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. 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. Usually it was “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.” The thought behind this was that more people would send cards. At this time, many people couldn’t write that well, so it was easier just to write a few words. From 1 January 1983, this was changed and postage was now based on weight.

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Gammelt julekort
Gammelt julekort

Christmas card designs

The history of Christmas cards and Christmas card designs

Christmas card designs in Norway

In the beginning, the cards had typical Norwegian designs. A little nisse, winter, skiing and sleigh rides were popular. 

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

The pig was often used in Norwegian design, as well as the Christmas tree. You could also find religious designs, but that was more common in other countries.

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Christmas cards in wartime

Many soldiers were far away from home during the Second World War. They couldn’t go home for the holidays and Christmas cards became important to let the family know they were okay. 

American Christmas cards were mostly naive and cheerful, often with cartoons looking like soldiers or weapons. Many showed the “V” sign for “Victory”. This could be to boost morale.

Amerikansk julekort med en nisse som viser peace-tegn

The cards were often made for specific parts of the military. Soldiers from countries such as New Zealand and Australia would send cards with national symbols or showing where they were working.

On a German Christmas card, you could find soldiers as well as Hitler instead of religious images.

Gammelt amerikansk julekort med en soldat som motiv

Christmas cards with signs of resistance

During the Second World War, it was important with motives that symbolised nationalism and that showed resistance to Nazism. Motives with nisses with red hats and the Norwegian flag were banned by the Germans.

Julekort under krigen
Julekort under krigen

Christmas cards tell a story

It became popular to make Christmas cards with pictures of your family. These cards are often saved as memories. Now it is also common with silly motives. Christmas cards are important both culturally and historically as they tell us 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 stamp was created to support good 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 good causes, such as UNICEF cards.

Papirbakgrunn
Papirbakgrunn

Christmas designs from other countries

The pictures on Christmas cards have their own cultural identity.  For example in Australia, a design of a large flock of white sheep is common.

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

Christmas cards led to other types of cards, for example, birthday cards. 

In the 1920s and 30s, people started to collect their favourite Christmas cards, but today not many people collect cards any longer.

4 tenåringsjenter i bursdag
4 tenåringsjenter i bursdag

From Christmas cards to Christmas letters

Christmas letters are an American tradition with a longer message than a card. In the letter, you write about the good 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

Today, most people have computers and write letters on them. It is common to include pictures from special occasions. You use the same text for all letters.

Brevbunke
Brevbunke

The ritual of writing cards and letters

People write Christmas letters with joy and spend a lot of time on making them look nice. To many people, it is a tradition just like advent calendars of Christmas baking.  

People look back and decide what they want to share.

Mor og sønn skriver julebrev
Mor og sønn skriver julebrev

Who receives Christmas cards?

It is common to send Christmas cards to family, friends, and people you don’t meet very often. Businesses send cards to their workers as well, and cards can make friendships and networks better.

Gammelt julekort
Gammelt julekort

Christmas cards are still popular

The 1920s and 1930s were the most popular decades for sending Christmas cards. Despite the electronics we now have, we still send a lot of handwritten cards.

With the millennial generation, we now see a boom in sending cards. Also, COVID-19 and social isolation also caused a rush in sales and sending Christmas cards.

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Papirbakgrunn opp ned
Papirbakgrunn opp ned

Merry Christmas

Remember to use capital letters for the names of holidays in English. Try to keep it short and simple. 

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
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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
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    16. Ukjent (CC BY 2.0)