If there was ever a year we needed Christmas cards, I’d say it’s 2020. Whether they’re funny, nostalgic, a family dressed alike, WHATEVER!…it has put me in a better mood each day. So where did this tradition of sending Christmas cards come from? Back in 1843, a London shop owner named Henry Cole realized he was running out of time to write Christmas letters to his family and friends, so he paid an artist and printer to create one Christmas greeting that he could give to all of them. And he liked his idea so much, he decided to have 1,000 more printed to sell in his store. How sweet! Well, not exactly…some folks were shocked and angry over his Christmas card because it had a holiday scene of people drinking alcohol! Hey, it was 1843. One newspaper wrote of Cole’s cards: “deliberately conceived to foster and promote the consumption of alcohol during the holiday season.” Oh, if they could only see some of TODAY’S Christmas cards~
