THE HISTORY OF GREETING CARDS

The first greeting card ‘senders’ were ancient Egyptians who gave handwritten messages to their friends and loved ones for the New Year. The symbolic gift of presenting these messages was the first representation of the greeting card.

In Europe, they also had similar customs. By the end of the Middle Ages, and at the start of the Renaissance, people wished good luck to each other for the future in their own handwritten notes. In fact, the oldest known greeting card from the German speaking area was made in the year 1493.

Once book printing was invented, royals from France and Austria had printed what were known as visit cards. These greeting cards were handed over when visiting somebody. The quantity of received cards was a measure of how popular someone was in the community.

Later, cards were delivered to homes of friends and family on special occasions like Christmas and New Year. This custom developed into the actual habit of sending greeting cards during special events.

In more recent times, greeting card sending evolved into other occasions like birthday wishes, offering sympathy, celebrating anniversaries and other events and milestones. However, the most popular of all is birthday greeting cards. Almost half of all cards are delivered for someone’s special day.

MAKE SOMEONE HAPPY !

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