Happy Christmas Card Day: History, Tradition, and Why We Still Send Them in 2025
December, the calendar nudges us with a small but meaningful reminder: Christmas Card Day. It’s not about cars, not about shopping, but about the humble card. This day lands on December 9, a practical marker for mailing greetings so they arrive before the holiday rush. But it’s also a chance to pause and think about the history behind the tradition, how it grew from a Victorian experiment into a ritual that still carries weight in a digital age.
The History of the Christmas Card
The tradition has roots in England during the 1840s. Sir Henry Cole, a civil servant who believed communication should be more accessible, worked with artist J.C. Horsley to design the first printed card in 1843. The card showed a family gathered around a table, raising glasses in celebration, with side panels depicting charity. It was sold for a shilling, which made it affordable enough to spread. The timing was perfect, as the Penny Post system had just made mailing cheaper and easier.
From there, the practice became a cultural staple. Designs shifted with the times—Victorian florals, Edwardian landscapes, wartime messages, and eventually the glossy commercial prints of the 20th century. Each era left its mark, and each card carried more than ink. It carried a sense of connection, a reminder that someone thought enough to write, seal, and send.
Why Christmas Card Day Matters
Christmas Card Day isn’t just about deadlines. It’s about recognizing the history of this vessel of memory. Mailing a card is slower than sending a text, but that slowness is part of the fun. It forces intention.
- Cards are keepsakes. People tuck them into boxes, pin them to walls, or line them across mantels.
- Cards mark continuity. Families use them to show growth, change, and resilience year after year.
- Cards humanize the season. A handwritten note feels lived-in, imperfect, and real in ways digital greetings rarely match.
The Christmas Card in Modern Times
Even with email and social media, the tradition hasn’t disappeared. More than a billion are exchanged each year. Some are mass-produced, others handmade, but all carry the same thread of history. The act of writing one is a small rebellion against speed. It’s a way to say: I slowed down for you.
Designs today range from minimalist black-and-white prints to loud, glitter-heavy versions. Families often include photos, turning the card into a snapshot of the year. Businesses use them to maintain goodwill. Charities sell them to raise funds. The ritual adapts, but it doesn’t vanish.
Signed, Sealed and Stamped
Christmas Card Day is a reminder that history isn’t just in books. It’s in the small traditions we keep alive. This is one of those traditions—fragile, maybe, but still breathing. Sending one is more than checking a box. It’s participating in a ritual that stretches back nearly two centuries, a ritual that says connection matters even when the world moves too fast.
