National Greeting Card Day – April 1, 2024

History of National Greeting Card Day

The custom of giving greeting cards dates back centuries. It began with the ancient Chinese, who would exchange messages of goodwill for the New Year. Early Egyptians exchanged greetings on papyrus scrolls, and soon after, handmade paper greeting cards were traded in Europe. The Germans were the first to print New Year’s greeting cards on woodcuts. By the mid-15th century, Europeans were also exchanging Valentine’s Day greeting cards. The oldest Valentine, in fact, may be discovered in the British Museum. It was written by Charles Duke of Orleans to his wife, Bonne of Armagnac, who was imprisoned in the Tower of London.

By the 1950s, the greeting card had changed from a handmade, expensive gift to an economical means of communication, thanks to advances in printing technology and lower shipping costs. This was followed by new trends such as Christmas cards, which were first made in London. Companies such as Marcus Ward & Co, Goodall, and Charles Bennett began mass-producing greeting cards and hired well-known artists like Kate Greenaway and Walter Crane as illustrators.

Since then, greeting cards have continued to evolve and become more accessible and easily available. They now come in a wide variety of styles, from electronic to musical. National Greeting Card Day is a day to honor these adorable little masterpieces that have become synonymous with sending greetings to loved ones.