The History Of Creepy Victorian Christmas Cards

Despite the widespread use of mobile phones and electronic communications, more than two billion Christmas cards are expected to be sent this year. Believe it or not, the postmaster who created this custom did so to increase Christmas sales.

The Card That Started It All

The History Of Creepy Victorian Christmas Cards

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Sir Henry Cole made the first Christmas cards in 1843. He made a thousand Christmas cards and sold them for a shilling. People always had strong feelings about the first Christmas card because it showed a holiday controversy.

Some thought the card encouraged people to get drunk and criticised it for giving wine to children. While three generations of the same family drink to their health at a table, the sides of the picture show them feeding and clothing the homeless.

The History Of Creepy Victorian Christmas Cards

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It took a few years for the idea to catch on. Around 1870, the practice became very popular when sending cards with a half-penny stamp became possible.

People had nothing to write about in their Christmas cards at the time. Hallmark wouldn’t be made until 1910, and images of Santa Claus weren’t used for business until much later. Without any rules to follow, people made some bizarre and creepy Christmas cards.

Have Yourself A Creepy Little Christmas

The History Of Creepy Victorian Christmas Cards

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Santa Claus and reindeer have been replaced by turnip-men, killer frogs, and savage polar bears in another universe. Because Christmas was still a relatively new custom, artists came up with wacky imagery and situations to wish people a good Christmas without the regimented pantheon are accustomed to now.

A few themes emerged, even though many cards seemed random one-offs. A common theme in these cards was the inclusion of dead birds, which served as a metaphor for the plight of the poor, who were often left to die in the bitter winter weather.

The History Of Creepy Victorian Christmas Cards

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When it comes to bizarre things like cats and frogs, they were popular in the Victorian era because they were amusing. It was typical to observe burials taking place every day in Victorian England when life expectancy was low. It’s much simpler to relate to the Christmas spirits’ fondness of cat photographs now that portrayals of death are absent.

jamie