Are you a big fan of writing greeting cards, whether to wish someone a happy birthday or to say thank you to them? If you are, you’ll be glad to know that there’s a day dedicated just for people like you!
It’s called World Card Making Day, which takes place every year in October. For 2020, the occasion falls on October 3rd, and it is celebrated to remind everyone that there’s no need to rely on store-bought cards to send beautiful and thoughtful messages.
With that said, you might be wondering just the idea of greeting cards started and why they’re so popular today. Here’s a brief history lesson on their origin and evolution:
How it all started
No one knows for sure when or how greeting cards started. Some people believe that the early Egyptians started the idea, as early records show that they used scrolls made of papyrus to send letters and notes to one another.
Others think that it was the ancient Chinese who started using cards to exchange greetings and other messages during certain celebrations, such as the New Year.
Those early greeting cards were more practical than they were beautiful, and it was only later in the 1400s when more intricate designs became more common. Across Europe, messages were carved into wooden blocks that were then used to print the greetings onto paper. In Italy, the cards themselves were embellished with the use of filigrees.
Greeting cards were relatively pricey due to the painstaking amount of work involved in making them. As such, only the wealthy could afford to purchase one, making greeting cards all the more special.
The boom in fame
Greeting cards experienced a boom in popularity due to several factors, and the biggest one was the introduction of postage stamps. This removed the need to hand-deliver greeting cards to their recipients, so it became more convenient for people to start sending well wishes and messages of gratitude to one another.
Naturally, this meant that the appeal of greeting cards grew. Advances in technology also made mass production possible, which made the cards more affordable and even more attractive.
Later on in the 1900s, colour printing and humour were introduced to the design and content of greeting cards, further increasing their popularity.
The greeting card today
Today, greeting cards are extremely affordable, thanks to further advances in technology. Many people now send cards for almost any occasion and to multiple recipients at the same time. You can find them almost anywhere, and while they might be cheap, the industry is now worth billions of dollars every year.
Conclusion
Now that you have an extremely summarised history of the greeting card, we hope you now appreciate more World Card Making Day!
That said, even if that day has yet to arrive, there is nothing wrong with sitting down and writing different cards, especially if you enjoy it. Plus, you’ll never know when you might need one, and having these cards at the ready can be very helpful.
However, if you feel like you barely have any time to write a greeting card, let alone design one, do not feel guilty purchasing pre-made cards! After all, there are plenty out there that are just as stunning, and you can always add your own personal little touch to make it unique.
Whether you’re looking to purchase funny engagement cards or a rude breakup card in the UK, You Said It has got you covered. From birthday cards to new baby cards, we’ve got what you need to leave a lasting impression. Check out what we have to offer!