We have a tradition here at the Funny Farm of hanging our Christmas cards from either a red satin ribbon draped across the entryway to the dining room, or on a home-made wreath in the kitchen. These holiday centerpieces are partly for decoration, and partly for bragging rights, as in, “See how many friends I have?” As I was hanging the first of those to arrive this year, and thinking about writing this blog, I began to wonder how this holiday tradition actually got started. So I decided to do a little research.
It turns out that the first commercial Christmas cards were commissioned by a man named Sir Henry Cole, in London in 1843 and featured an illustration by John Callcott Horsely. The picture which consisted of a family with a small child drinking wine together, proved to be quite controversial . For, although the illustrator, Mr. Horsely, campaigned against the use of naked models while serving as a rector at the Royal Academy, he evidently didn’t seem to have a problem with under aged drinking. Two batches totaling 2,050 cards were printed and sold that year for a shilling a piece. Queen Victoria sent out the first "Official" Christmas cards in the 1840s. The British royal family's cards generally include portraits that reflect significant personal events of the year. And meanwhile, back in our neck of the woods, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first official White House Christmas card in 1953. The cards usually depicted White House scenes as rendered by prominent American artists. Over the decades, the number of recipients snowballed, from just 2,000 in 1961, to 1.4 million in 2005. It was rumored that George and Laura Bush sent out over 1.5 million while in office. In 2009 the White house Christmas card created a bit of a stir. There was some controversy over it, as it was the first time the White House Christmas card wasn’t actually a “Christmas card”. That year, the Obama’s decided to leave the word “Christmas” off the card and instead, selected a card that announced “Season’s Greetings!” I’m not really sure how many Holiday Greeting cards the Obama’s sent out this year, however, I am pretty sure I wasn’t on the list of recipients.
Over the years the Christmas card has gone though many changes and forms. Modern day Christmas cards can be bought individually, and are also sold in packs of the same or varied designs. Recent changes in technology have been blamed for the decline of the “Traditional” Christmas card. There are now photo cards available, AND with the invention of the internet, smart phones, and tablets (iPad), E-Cards have become quite popular. Also, recent concern over the environmental impact of printing, mailing and delivering the traditional style Christmas cards, has fueled an increase in the use of e-cards. They have become a much easier, and more environmentally friendly way to send your friends and loved ones warm wishes, and holiday greetings.
Here at the Funny Farm, we do the annual family portrait photo card, which always proves to be an adventure in itself. I spend days laying out the clothes, planning poses, watching the weather reports for a break in the rain, and looking for props, then it’s over in a few quick clicks. Meanwhile, I’m hoping against hope that everyone’s eyes are open, no one’s picking their nose and that the dog isn’t licking himself. This year’s photo was especially challenging. My husband decided that he wanted to include the dog and the new puppy in our family photo. So, after much careful planning and deliberation, we ended up with what I believe is an “almost” perfect family photo. What you don’t see in this photo, are the wet butts from sitting on a rain soaked hay bale, the baby is missing a shoe, and I’m choking the dog, trying to keep him from lying down and licking himself. And Oh, those red eyes! Thank God for photo editing. Now if they could only come up with a program to make us look thinner, taller, tanner, younger, and lose those extra chins.
And then, there’s the Christmas letter. You either love it or you hate it? Some of them are short, sweet and entertaining to read, and some are lengthy, and “very” informative. It’s these “very” informative letters that often leave me with feelings of inadequacy, as if for some reason, my family just doesn’t quite measure up. We haven’t traveled the world, or hobnobbed with any celebrities, and none of my children have won the Nobel Peace Prize or earned an Olympic Gold Medal. However, I did make several trips out of the city limits this year, and my four year old got a toy prize out of the “treater box” at preschool a couple of times for being especially good, and helping the teacher clean up the table after lunch. I tried writing a Christmas letter once, but it ended up sounding sarcastic. I found it difficult for some reason, and wondered to myself, do you write the truth, or an exaggeration of the truth? I even thought about writing some funny lines about what the kiddos had been up to, but figured one of my letters might get into the wrong hands and I would have Child Protective Services knocking at my door. So long story short, The Christmas letter is not for me. Though I do enjoy receiving them, don’t look to be receiving one from our family any time soon.
Then there is the issue of ecology. Everyone is going green. I’ve been trying to go green for several years now, but have only been able to achieve a lighter shade of chartreuse. (Think Margaritas!) It is estimated that The 2.65 billion Christmas cards sold each year in the U.S. could fill a football field 10 stories high, and requires the harvesting of nearly 300,000 trees. Just think. If we each sent one card less, we'd save 50,000 cubic yards of paper. However, because Christmas cards are usually exchanged year after year, and the phrase "to be off someone's Christmas card list" is often used to indicate a falling out between friends or family, you may want to be careful with that. Of course, there is always recycling. I read that during the first 70 years of the 19th century it was common for Christmas and other greeting cards to be recycled by women's service organizations that collected them and removed the pictures, to be pasted into scrap books for the entertainment of children in hospitals, orphanages, kindergartens and missions. Of course with children's picture books becoming cheaper and more readily available, this form of scrap-booking has almost disappeared. However the art of scrap-booking is still alive and well, so Scrap-bookers rejoice! But if you’re not into scrap booking, you could also reuse your Christmas cards for other kinds of crafts. There are a lot of really great ideas to be found on the internet. And really, who wouldn’t love a laminated ”Eilers family” coaster on their coffee table?
So there you have it folks! A short history of the Christmas card. And while I’m not expecting to get a Christmas card from the Obama’s this year, I would love to get one from you. And don’t worry. If you’re concerned about your carbon footprint, you can always send me an E-card. Whatever you’re decision, send em’ my way. “The more the merrier” I say. And I can brag to everyone that comes to visit this holiday season that I have a card from you, hanging in a place of honor for all to see, on my Christmas card holiday centerpiece.
So… whatever you do, and wherever you’re from, I wish you … Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année, Feliz Navidad y próspero Año Nuevo, Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo…and... A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!
Then there is the issue of ecology. Everyone is going green. I’ve been trying to go green for several years now, but have only been able to achieve a lighter shade of chartreuse. (Think Margaritas!) It is estimated that The 2.65 billion Christmas cards sold each year in the U.S. could fill a football field 10 stories high, and requires the harvesting of nearly 300,000 trees. Just think. If we each sent one card less, we'd save 50,000 cubic yards of paper. However, because Christmas cards are usually exchanged year after year, and the phrase "to be off someone's Christmas card list" is often used to indicate a falling out between friends or family, you may want to be careful with that. Of course, there is always recycling. I read that during the first 70 years of the 19th century it was common for Christmas and other greeting cards to be recycled by women's service organizations that collected them and removed the pictures, to be pasted into scrap books for the entertainment of children in hospitals, orphanages, kindergartens and missions. Of course with children's picture books becoming cheaper and more readily available, this form of scrap-booking has almost disappeared. However the art of scrap-booking is still alive and well, so Scrap-bookers rejoice! But if you’re not into scrap booking, you could also reuse your Christmas cards for other kinds of crafts. There are a lot of really great ideas to be found on the internet. And really, who wouldn’t love a laminated ”Eilers family” coaster on their coffee table?
So there you have it folks! A short history of the Christmas card. And while I’m not expecting to get a Christmas card from the Obama’s this year, I would love to get one from you. And don’t worry. If you’re concerned about your carbon footprint, you can always send me an E-card. Whatever you’re decision, send em’ my way. “The more the merrier” I say. And I can brag to everyone that comes to visit this holiday season that I have a card from you, hanging in a place of honor for all to see, on my Christmas card holiday centerpiece.
So… whatever you do, and wherever you’re from, I wish you … Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année, Feliz Navidad y próspero Año Nuevo, Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo…and... A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!
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