Greeting card

A greeting card is a piece of card stock, usually with an illustration or photo on its front cover, made of high-quality paper featuring an expression of friendship, love, celebration, or other sentiment. Greeting cards are traditionally given on special occasions such as birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, baby showers, baptisms, and graduations, or during the holidays, including New Year's Day, Valentine's Day, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Greeting cards are usually packaged using an envelope and come in a variety of styles. There are both mass-produced and handmade versions available, and they may be distributed by hundreds of companies large and small. While typically inexpensive, more elaborate cards with die-cuts, pop-ups, sound elements, or glued-on decorations may be more expensive.

Hallmark Cards and American Greetings, both U.S.-based companies, are the two most commercially successful producers of greeting cards in the world today. In Western countries and increasingly in other societies, many people traditionally mail seasonally themed cards to their friends and relatives during holiday seasons, especially in December. Many service businesses also send cards to their customers in this season, typically with a universally acceptable non-religious message such as "happy holidays" or "season's greetings." People often include money or gift cards inside greeting cards as well.

Types

Greeting cards come in many different types, each with its own special features. Standard greeting cards are printed on high-quality paper, often with a picture or design on the front and a pre-printed message inside. They usually come with a matching envelope and sometimes have fancy materials like gold leaf, ribbons, or glitter.

Handmade cards include any cards that have a part made by hand, such as cards with applique, pop-up designs, or mixed materials. Photo cards feature a photograph chosen by the sender, either stuck to the card or printed directly on it. These are popular for sending holiday greetings like Christmas or for baby showers. Personalised cards let the sender add their own pictures or a recorded voice message. Some cards can even play music or sounds when opened, known as sound-based or musical cards.

Electronic greeting cards, also called e-cards, can be sent by email or through social media sites like Facebook. Quilling cards have designs made by rolling strips of paper into patterns. Pop-up cards surprise the reader with a picture that comes out when the card is opened. Printable cards can be downloaded and printed at home, and fabric cards, made from materials like khaki, have a long history dating back to the late 1800s.

History

The tradition of sending greeting cards dates back to ancient times. The ancient Chinese exchanged messages of good will to celebrate the New Year, and the early Egyptians wrote greetings on papyrus scrolls. By the 15th century, people in Europe were exchanging handmade paper greeting cards. The Germans printed New Year's greetings from woodcuts as early as 1400, and handmade Valentines were popular in Europe during the same period.

In the 1850s, greeting cards became more affordable and popular because of advances in printing and lower postal rates with the postage stamp. The first Christmas cards appeared in London in 1843, designed by artist John Calcott Horsley for Sir Henry Cole. In the 1860s, the Birthday card was invented. Companies began mass-producing greeting cards, using well-known artists for their designs. Over time, new styles and companies emerged, changing the look and variety of greeting cards available today.

Economic effects

In the United Kingdom, people spend about one billion pounds each year on greeting cards, with the average person sending around 55 cards a year. In the United States, nearly 6.5 billion greeting cards are bought every year, totaling over US$7 billion.

A single card in the U.S. usually costs between $2 and $4, while boxed sets of cards, often used for holidays like Christmas, are generally less expensive.

Greeting Card Association

The Greeting Card Association is a U.S. organization that supports companies that make greeting cards and stationery. It helps protect and promote the interests of these businesses. According to a former president of the association, greeting cards are wonderful ways to share important feelings with people we care about. He said that receiving an unexpected card in the mail makes anyone feel great, and that greeting cards help us connect with others through both pictures and words.

Louie Awards

Since 1988, the Greeting Card Association has held an annual award ceremony for the best greeting cards published each year. These awards are called Louies to honor Louis Prang, known as the Father of the American Christmas Card.

Postcards

Postcards are similar to greeting cards but are usually smaller and designed to be mailed without an additional envelope. They often feature scenic views, photographs, or special messages for occasions like vacations, holidays, or celebrations. People use postcards to send quick, friendly notes to friends and family around the world.

Just like greeting cards, postcards can carry messages of love, thanks, or well-wishes for special events such as birthdays, weddings, or holidays like Christmas and Valentine's Day. They are a fun and easy way to share a moment or a memory with someone special.