History of New Year Greeting Cards

The earliest recorded New Year celebrations can be traced back to 2000 BCE in Mesopotamia. The concept was prevalent in most cultures in one way or the other but the common thought was to observe a day that marked the difference between Winter Solstice and Vernal Equinox. In most cases these festivities were closely linked to agricultural events. January 1 became the norm much later when the Gregorian calendar was introduced and accepted.

Speaking of the New Year greeting cards the first recorded mention of one can be traced back to ancient China. The ancient Egyptians and Chinese are known to have exchanged ‘good will messages’ on New Year through papyrus scrolls.

AS far as printed greeting cards are concerned, the Germans take credit. Woodcut prints were common in 1400’s. The printing and mechanization revolutions changed everything in the 1850’s. Greeting cards became affordable ways for sending personalized messages on occasions.

Companies like Marcus Ward & Co, Goodall and Charles Bennett started producing greeting cards on a large scale by the 1860’s. Naturally people resorted to buying these instead of presents. They were affordable options for expressing gratitude and good cheer towards fellowmen.