Learn more fun facts on the Christmas Card Day Video Page.
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- Every December 9
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- ✉️
Christmas Card Day arrives every December 9, encouraging everyone to embrace the tradition of sending festive greetings. Gather your family, choose your favorite designs, and personalize messages to connect with loved ones near and far. It’s the ideal moment to send out your annual holiday cards and share some joy.
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Expected Christmas Card Day Deals
While we await official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows that Christmas Card Day often brings enticing offers from major retailers and photo services. Look for discounts from brands like Hallmark, Shutterfly, and Minted on card packs, custom photo cards, and stationery supplies. Online services such as Zazzle and Postable may also offer special rates on personalized designs or mailing services. Even the USPS might highlight shipping deadlines. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as December 9 approaches.
Platform Guide for Christmas Card Day
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #ChristmasCardDay. Share your favorite card designs, behind-the-scenes of your card-writing process, or creative ways to display received cards.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #ChristmasCardDay. Post a photo of your family’s annual Christmas card or ask friends to share their favorite holiday card memories.
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #ChristmasCardDay. Create a short video showcasing your DIY card-making skills, a ‘day in the life’ of sending cards, or a humorous take on holiday card mishaps.
Christmas Card Day Hero
Sir Henry Cole
History of Christmas Card Day
Annual Christmas cards have become a popular and time-honored (or maybe family-mandated) tradition; a means of telling your friends and family, however distant, “Happy holidays, we’re thinking of you, and look how great we’re doing!” They’re a way of doing a yearly catch-up, and check in on how much the children have grown and what big moves so-and-so has made. And while they seem commonplace now, that wasn’t always the case.
Sir Henry Cole, a member of the British civil service, created the modern concept of the Christmas card along with his artist friend, John Horsley, in 1843, as a means to encourage more people to use the new British postal system. Their first card was sold for one shilling or about 24 U.S. cents. By the 1860s, the practice of sending Christmas cards was more or less in full swing in Britain thanks to the rise and advent of the printing press.
Christmas cards inevitably reached the USA in the 1840s, close to when the first ones were being printed. However, the expenses involved in their production rendered them a stagnant practice until 1875 when German printer Louis Prang started mass-producing the cards, making them affordable. It wasn’t until the Hall brothers opened Hallmark, however, in the early 20th century that the practice really took off in the U.S.
Today, Christmas cards have become a major part of the holiday tradition. And whether you take a family photo or create one out of construction paper, glue, and glitter, your Christmas cards are sure to make their recipients smile.
Christmas Card Day timeline
Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales receives cards from Michael Maier around Christmas time.
Sir Henry Cole makes the first commercial Christmas card showing a family raising a toast.
Prussian immigrant Louis Prang creates the USA’s first Christmas card at his Boston print shop.
The Hall brothers open Hallmark in Kansas City, launching the modern Christmas card with a new, 4 x 6-inch format.
How Businesses Can Celebrate Christmas Card Day
Local businesses can embrace Christmas Card Day by offering special discounts on holiday stationery, custom printing services, or festive postage. Coffee shops might host a ‘card writing happy hour’ with themed drinks, while gift shops could feature unique, locally designed cards. Encouraging customers to send cards can foster community spirit and support local artists and postal services.
Christmas Card Day FAQs
When is Christmas Card Day?
Christmas Card Day 2026 falls on Wednesday, December 9, making it the perfect mid-week reminder to get your holiday greetings in the mail.
Who sent the first Christmas card?
The first commercial Christmas card was commissioned in 1843 by Sir Henry Cole in the United Kingdom. He envisioned a simple way to send greetings, leading to artist John Calcott Horsley designing the iconic card.
How many Christmas cards are sent each year?
Millions of Christmas cards are sent annually across the globe. In the U.S. alone, estimates suggest over 1.3 billion holiday cards are exchanged each year, highlighting the enduring popularity of this tradition.
What is the history of Christmas cards?
The tradition of sending Christmas cards began in the mid-19th century in the UK, with the first commercial card appearing in 1843. It quickly spread to the US and became a popular way to share holiday cheer and personal updates.
How To Celebrate Christmas Card Day
Make and send your own Christmas cards
Who needs boxed cards anyway? You run the risk of giving and receiving the same card! Rather than spend your money in the greeting-card section, take the time to put scissors, glue, and pens to paper to send your loved ones an extra-special card that really says you care.
Put up a display of your favorite cards
Many of us tend to save particularly pretty or thoughtful Christmas cards from years past, so why not put them to good use! Grab a card holder, a corkboard and pushpins, or even some fridge magnets, and put your cards from previous years and this year on display for all to see! Shoot, you can even string them together to make a festive garland to celebrate the season.
Write thank yous for your Christmas cards
Everyone writes thank you notes for Christmas gifts, but what about Christmas cards? If you were thrilled to hear from your childhood friend or great-aunt, why not send them a note that says, “Thank you for thinking of me”.
5 Amazing Facts About Hallmark
It’s family-owned and operated
To this day, Hallmark is owned by the family of the Hall brothers who opened it in 1910.
J.C. Hall was a highschool dropout
Who says you need a degree to be successful?
They created wrapping paper
After running out of tissue paper one holiday season, the company needed a quick fix to wrap gifts elegantly so they taped French paper-envelope liners together.
They were closely associated with Disney
Founder J.C. Hall’s wife went to school with Walt Disney, helping Hallmark secure a licensing deal to showcase Disney’s classic characters.
They do more than sappy movies
Back in the day, the Hallmark channel was a TV-movie powerhouse and has 81 Emmys to its name.
We We Love Christmas Card Day
Christmas cards are a creative outlet during the holidays
Tired of the hustle and bustle of buying gifts and dashing from party to party? Take a break by making and sending Christmas cards! Throw a matching family photoshoot or get crafty and make customized cards to send to loved ones.
Christmas cards keep you connected to your loved ones
No matter how often you actually talk to your distant relatives, chances are you’ll get a Christmas card from them! Christmas cards are a great way to catch up on the year’s highlights if you haven’t had time to get in on all the details throughout the year.
There are whole museum exhibits dedicated to Christmas cards
Drop by the British Museum to see Queen Anne’s 1900 era collection. After that, hop on over to the Charles Dickens Museum in London to see the display of the first-ever Christmas Card, which was created the same year as Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”.
Christmas Card Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | December 9 | Wednesday |
| 2027 | December 9 | Thursday |
| 2028 | December 9 | Saturday |
| 2029 | December 9 | Sunday |
| 2030 | December 9 | Monday |
Social Media Tips for Christmas Card Day
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