Thursday 12 December 2013

The first Christmas card

 
This design, showing a family celebrating Christmas, was produced in 1843 in Britain, just after the introduction of the postal service. Only 2,000 of the hand-coloured cards were printed, which may explain their high price of one shilling (about £5 today).
 
Since then sending cards has become a popular feature of the Christmas holiday in many countries, since they allow people to make contact with friends and relations who they may not have seen all year. Today, however, the quantity of cards sent is declining, since e-cards can be sent electronically at little or no cost.
 
In December many students find they have to spend the holidays away from their homes and families for the first time. This may be a difficult experience, but it also gives the chance to rest and relax after a busy term, and maybe catch up with some good movies!
 
I would like to wish all readers of this blog a Happy Christmas and a Successful New Year!