Sending greeting cards at Christmas-time is a tradition which dates back to mid-nineteenth century England after the establishment of the penny post, and the coming of the postage stamp which made mailing items a common practice. In modern times, Christmas cards are one of the most well-known symbols of the festive season, and remain a cheap, convenient and popular means to keep in touch with friends and family. Designs range from the extremely elaborate to the simple and there are a number predominant themes which illustrators use to adorn the cards.
As Christmas is primarily a religious festival, many cards feature a Christian scene; often the baby Jesus in the manger surrounded by his parents, the animals in the barn and sometimes the visitors who came bearing gifts. Others show the shepherds in the fields or the three wise men following the star which led them to the baby. A heavily pregnant Mary on her way to Bethlehem atop a donkey is also a familiar image. The verse inside the card usually has a religious message or a passage from the bible describing the coming of the messiah.
Christmas is usually associated with winter, and many cards depict a wintry scene, often with a historical appearance such as a traditional village covered in snow with cottages adorned with decorations. A cozy living area with snow outside the window, a fire and a large Christmas tree is also common. In the southern hemisphere, a summer theme is popular, with pictures of Christmas at the beach or people celebrating with a barbecue. Sometimes there is a humorous twist, such as a picture of Father Christmas in shorts and a beach shirt, relaxing on a recliner chair, with a cold drink in his hand.
Christmas symbols, such as trees, bells, holly, candy canes, stockings and wreaths are often used, and these cards are usually quite simple with just one image on the front. A hugely popular figure is that of Father Christmas, who is sometimes shown flying across the sky in his sled pulled by reindeer, or coming out of a chimney with a huge sack of presents on his back. Santa's workshop, with his elves industriously creating new toys is another well-known scene.
While there is a variety of colors used, the non-religious type often favour the traditional Christmas colors of dark green and red. Gold and silver is another common choice. Some cards have a message front and almost all have one inside. Common phrases include "Season's Greetings," "Happy Holidays," and of course, "Merry Christmas!"
It is possible to buy cards individually or in a pack, usually of ten or twenty. Those sold separately are more expensive, larger and made from better quality materials. Bulk packets are smaller, made of thin cardboard and usually have the same picture on each. This is a good option for people with numerous cards to give out, or for children to give to classmates.
Some people choose to add their own personal touch by creating their own Christmas cards, sometimes with a family photo. Children may also illustrate cards for their grandparents and other family members. A modern invention is that of the e-card, whereby a card can be sent via email, downloaded and printed by the receiver.
Whatever form Christmas Cards take, they are a heart-warming sight when displayed on a mantelpiece or hung on the wall, and great means of conveying good wishes during the season of goodwill.
Aaron Kurszewski believes in creating personalized gifts, and making custom greeting cards is a snap with the online services offered today. All it takes to create custom photo Christmas cards, for example, is a digital camera, and a few minutes to upload your digital photographs and select the card you want. Printing is easy, too; custom cards can be picked up from a local camera shop in as little as an hour.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=A_Kurszewski
