The first plea to "Post Early for Christmas" was in 1880.
The Victorians loved scrapbooks and albums and soon cards became larger and more colourful so they could be fixed into their albums and shown to visitors during the year.
My first Christmas card arrived on Thursday of last week. It was from my cousin in Felixstowe, the first card is always from my cousin............... even when they were up north in Chesterfield.
And yes! it had a robin, and a postbox and snow - all my favourite things for a card.
I must get on with card writing and posting them out. I have letters to put with some which always slows things down. I'm so bad at letter writing now I have the blog.
Back Tomorrow
Sue
I love a snowy scene on a Christmas card, even though we very rarely get snow here for the day itself.
ReplyDeleteI am going to join you in writing my cards this week. X
I'm still not getting on with card writing!
DeleteI'm not great at cards and do prefer sending Jacquie Lawson cards via the Internet anyway. I make a donation to charity instead. This year it'll probably be the Alzheimers Society.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, I send a few, usually home made, but I do love robins on cards.
Oh, dear, reading the above makes me sound a right show off - it's not meant like that, sorry.
xx
I love getting Christmas cards - always have, so love sending them too
DeleteIt's not really surprising that they were a failure in 1840 if they cost 1/- each.
ReplyDeleteI'm another robin and postbox fan.
A shilling was a lot of money then, and they were just a small postcard too. Thank goodness they are cheaper now - especially in the January sales!
DeleteI love your card a typical Christmas one which I really love. I posted i lot on Saturday, my daughter gave me hers for family and my son is going to give me his tomorrow and then I send they all in one envelope.
ReplyDeleteI have a few more to make but will be hand posted.
It looks like it's going to be a nice day.
Hazel c uk
I've had a couple more now, including another robin/postbox - must be popular this year.
DeleteI love Robins too on cards. I spent most of the weekend trying to find some with my mum for her to send as she had not bought enough - problem then I couldn't stop her buying more and more as each time she bought a pack she would forget and think she still had to buy some more - we now have many packs of assorted Robins and postboxes!
ReplyDeletethat is so kind of your mum!
DeleteWhen my dads house was cleared we found about a dozen rolls of Christmas wrapping paper - it lasted me for ages!
DeleteI absolutely love sending and receiving cards! I'm on my own at Christmas so having them to look at is my visual reminder that I am cared for. It's very easy to feel alone when you're single with no family, and a cheerful mantelpiece of cards is a real mood-booster! I hated the year when black & metallic cards were in vogue (1999/2000?); don't know who thought they were a good idea! Nativity scenes, snow, robins, stars -bring it on!!
ReplyDeleteI would love to send you a card Gillian but I am not sure how can I send it without sending my address to everyone.
DeleteHazel c uk
My pet hate for cards is penguins or tartan dogs and suchlike!
DeleteJust think of the happiness each person gets each time she or he reads the card! I pray for those people as I do do and through the year. I love the cards!!!! Love your blog!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love receiving cards so love sending them too - just very bad at writing a note to go with them
DeleteVery pretty card.
ReplyDeleteI never enjoyed writing them, so years ago, I stopped. -smile- It make this season, so much more relaxed for me.
I bemoan the passing of 'snail mail.' But not, of card sending. But that is just me. Some people _love_ doing it.
"Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way..."
♬ 🎶 ♫
Christmas cards are my only way with keeping in touch with some distant relations and friends
DeleteI also love sending and receiving cards but I think it's down to about a third of what we used to send and receive years ago. I think with the internet and the price of postage people are not sending as many as they used to.
ReplyDeleteYes my list has shrunk too, not many to post and just a few to hand deliver
DeleteWe still have a 'traditional Christmas here,carols and church Christmas Eve,roast meat,plum pudding,on the day and I still love the more traditional cards,but in Australia it is probably more appropriate to have cards picturing what many have now,seafood and pavlova on the beach,as it's often very hot!
ReplyDeleteI loved reading the history of the Christmas Card. On my next trip to England I want to visit the V&A. I’m a lover of arts and crafts.
ReplyDeleteHere in America it is more common to have cardinals on Christmas cards. I’m in the homestretch writing my cards. Every year fewer arrive in the mail, Sadly.
I'm behind on my cards too! This is a lovely post! (And I adore the V&A!)
ReplyDeleteI need to get to work and get my cards mailed to m relatives in England!
ReplyDelete