Victorian Christmas Cards
All around the world, sending cards to friends and family has been a December tradition for ages. These days, postcards usually feature happy families around a fireplace in matching pajamas or cozy winter scenes with bookshelves and a steaming cup of cocoa. But if you take a peek at the Christmas cards from the Victorian era, you’ll find some that are quirky, cool, and even downright creepy.
Let's talk history. Before the 1840s, sending cards of any kind by post in Britain wasn’t really a thing — it was just too expensive. Then came the Penny Post, which made sending a letter cost just one penny, and it was a total game changer.
In 1843, John Calcott Horsley designed the first-ever commercial Christmas card, which was sent by Henry Cole. It showed a cheerful family gathered around a table, with the message: “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you.” Classic, right?
to take a peek at – to look quickly or briefly.
to be downright creepy – to be extremely strange or scary.
to be a thing – to be common, popular, or widely recognized.
to be a total game changer – to make a big difference or completely change a situation.
Over time, though, the novelty of sending Christmas cards wore off, and card makers had to up their game. The competition got fierce, which led to some pretty fascinating and creative designs.
Animals were a huge hit — especially dogs, cats, and rabbits. They were often drawn doing festive, human-like activities, which honestly, sounds adorable.
for the novelty to wear off – for something to stop being exciting or interesting.
Some cards leaned into humor, with puns, hidden messages, or satirical little stories. Others went full-on weird, like showing “Christmas dinner” coming to life, where rebellious birds or even potatoes tried to escape being eaten.
to lean into humor – to embrace or focus on humor.
a pun – a joke using wordplay or double meanings.
to go full-on weird – to become completely strange or unusual.
Surprisingly, some of these cards even featured the Devil. Back then, he was thought to be a helper to St. Nicholas, tasked with sorting children into the “naughty” and “nice” lists.
Well, Christmas traditions at the time were still deeply rooted in English folklore. It was considered one of the spookiest times of the year, with families gathering around the hearth on long winter evenings to swap ghost stories and tales of the supernatural. Add to that the harsh living conditions for many, and themes like death and sickness often popped up as a way to inspire charitable giving. The holidays weren’t just about joy — they were a time to reflect on both the best and the darkest parts of life.
to feature somebody – to include or show someone as part of something.
“naughty” and “nice” lists – Santa's categories of bad or good behavior.
to be deeply rooted in – to be strongly connected to traditions or origins.
a hearth – the floor of a fireplace, often symbolizing warmth and family.
