The Origins of Christmas Legends and Traditions We Didn’t Know

The humble beginnings of the Christmas card can be traced back to 1843 England, with the first official card bearing the heartfelt greeting, “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You.” This novel concept of sending holiday cheer through the mail gradually gained traction in both Britain and the United States.

In 1915, the Hall Brothers, later known as Hallmark, in Kansas City, revolutionized the tradition by introducing a folded card accompanied by an envelope. Fast forward to today, and the holiday card has become an integral part of festive celebrations, with over 1.6 billion cards sold annually, according to the Greeting Card Association.