Greeting Cards: How It Began
Greeting cards are so known for being our fallback when there are thoughts, emotions and feelings that we want to convey but cannot put in to words. Like with our moms (in the case of Mother’s Day), we want to be so eloquent in showing our appreciation that we take the time to scour bookstores around the area, or check various websites online for the perfect “thank you card.” Yes, we take advantage of the fact that these greeting cards are effective communication vehicles that do the talking for us. Ever wondered about their conception though? Where and when it all started? Who were the first to use them? A new learning is always a treasure. So let us take a peak of its dawning. It all began with the Chinese and Egyptian culture 500 years ago. It was a simple slip of papyrus exchanged by these two races as messages of goodwill and fortune. The Europeans managed to catch up sometime in the 1400s. However, their first greeting cards were excessively expensive that only the rich people could afford to enjoy them. The rest of the world was only able to send greeting cards when the postage stamp was invented in 1840. Then these cards hit mainstream. It also helped that the printers and manufactures were constantly perfecting their craft – experimenting with the printing methods and hiring artists – to make quality cards for both elite and lower class. Valentine from the 1400s is the oldest greeting card. In Europe, the Paper Valentines were given in exchange of gifts. And they became popular as well in England. How is that for some history? There are a lot of reasons why we send greetings and five of them are the following: Engagement/Wedding: We want to wish the couple a lifetime of happy togetherness. Holidays: There is always a warm greeting for every holiday we celebrate. The most popular of which is Christmas followed by Valentine’s Day. Anniversary: Another year, another milestone for a couple’s partnership. We want to show our admiration for their strong relationship. Birthday: A “happy birthday to you” card always invigorates our day and makes us feel very special. Thank You: It is always a nice gesture to show our gratitude for a gift that we just received, a job interview that was granted, or for being taken to a nice dinner. For some of us, we need not wait for an occasion to get greeting cards. Collecting them is one hobby that we can always enjoy. Or if a deserving situation arises, a greeting card can always come in handy. Like in the case of “Thank You” card, it is always good to keep a few as there is always a reason to express our profound gratitude to a friend or a loved one.
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