But... where does the greeting card come from?
Imagine yourself in England in the early 19th century. The people are friendly, but sending greetings and greetings is mostly done by handwritten letters. The problem is... not everyone is a great writer. As a result, writing letters can be complicated, time-consuming, and ultimately quite tedious.
That's when a guy named Sir Henry Cole (did you know him? I didn't!) came into the picture. He was a British government official, and he had a brilliant idea: to create a ready-made card with a nice message for any occasion.
To bring his genius idea to life, he teamed up with a certain (you know? Not me!) John Horsley, a talented artist, to create the very first greeting card. The year was 1843. It featured three panels, one with a seasonal illustration and space for a message.
This first card was designed for the end-of-year holidays, but it paved the way for a whole range of cards for all kinds of occasions: birthdays, weddings, congratulations, thank yous, births, and many more!
So, the next time you're choosing a pretty card for a birthday or special occasion, spare a thought for dear Sir Henry Cole who literally revolutionized the way we express our feelings.