A brief history of (weird and wonderful) Victorian Christmas cards | V&A
Victoria and Albert Museum・2 minutes read
Victorian Christmas cards were the first of their kind, featuring traditional imagery and encouraging widespread sending, leading to the popularization of many Christmas traditions we know today. Despite a decline in sending physical cards, modern Christmas cards continue to innovate and emphasize the importance of expressing love and celebrating the holiday season through creative designs and thoughtful messages.
Insights
- The Victorian era introduced Christmas cards, ranging from inexpensive to lavish designs, popularizing the tradition of sending greetings during the festive season.
- Victorian Christmas cards featured a mix of traditional symbols like robins and modern elements such as humorous or surreal scenes, reflecting societal access to luxury foods and blending religious and secular themes, shaping the foundation for modern-day innovation in card designs.
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Recent questions
When were Christmas cards first sent?
1843
What are some common Victorian Christmas card designs?
Robins, snow, holly, Father Christmas
How did Victorian Christmas cards reflect society's access to luxury foods?
Pineapple, champagne
What were some popular elements in Victorian humorous Christmas cards?
Human-faced Christmas puddings
How did Victorian Christmas cards contribute to the popularization of Christmas traditions?
Christmas tree, Christmas crackers
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