musings
ABOUT 95% OF AMERICAN FAMILIES exchange Christmas cards each year. On average, that's about 60-70 cards per household. A staggering four billion cards are mailed during the advent season. And that's not even counting e cards! How did this practice ever get started? I'm glad you asked Here's the answer.
Museum director Henry Cole during the mid-19th century used to write short notes to his friends at Christimas, wishing them a joyful holiday season. In 1843, he had no time to write and asked his artist friend John Horsely to design a printed greeting card. Inadvertently, he had invented the Christmas card.
I'm glad he did it, aren't you? I mean I like getting cards and sending them. They remind us of the reason for the season---even the ones that are not religious in nature, because it means that others are thinking of us. I especially like the personal notes that folks add to the verses. And if they sign their names in pencil, you can save them and send them out next year (just kidding).
By the way, who do you think sends out the most cards each year? You guessed it--the President of the U.S.
Can you imagine the size of his list?
Actually, this custom might soon disappear, what with the cost of cards and stamps. It is estimated that the White House sends out about 40,000 cards. Let's say an average card costs in the neighborhood of $4.00 and the stamp 40 cents. That's about $176,000. Hey, wait a minute! Is this my tax money? Is this YOUR tax money? What about G-mail?
ABOUT 95% OF AMERICAN FAMILIES exchange Christmas cards each year. On average, that's about 60-70 cards per household. A staggering four billion cards are mailed during the advent season. And that's not even counting e cards! How did this practice ever get started? I'm glad you asked Here's the answer.
Museum director Henry Cole during the mid-19th century used to write short notes to his friends at Christimas, wishing them a joyful holiday season. In 1843, he had no time to write and asked his artist friend John Horsely to design a printed greeting card. Inadvertently, he had invented the Christmas card.
I'm glad he did it, aren't you? I mean I like getting cards and sending them. They remind us of the reason for the season---even the ones that are not religious in nature, because it means that others are thinking of us. I especially like the personal notes that folks add to the verses. And if they sign their names in pencil, you can save them and send them out next year (just kidding).
By the way, who do you think sends out the most cards each year? You guessed it--the President of the U.S.
Can you imagine the size of his list?
Actually, this custom might soon disappear, what with the cost of cards and stamps. It is estimated that the White House sends out about 40,000 cards. Let's say an average card costs in the neighborhood of $4.00 and the stamp 40 cents. That's about $176,000. Hey, wait a minute! Is this my tax money? Is this YOUR tax money? What about G-mail?
posted by kazookid | 7:18 AM
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