Greeting cards are almost as old as paper. For generations it was traditional to send greeting cards to commemorate special family days such as: birthdays, anniversaries, Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Valentines Day, Holidays were occasions warranting greeting card recognition even beyond family members. Cards go out to friends and relatives at: Christmas, Hanukah Easter, St. Patricks Day, New Years Day and Thanksgiving.
Family notable events like graduations, weddings, baptisms, births and retirements are often recognized with greeting cards. Sickness, injury and death are acknowledged by greeting cards.
Greeting cards allow family and friends to share their joy, sadness, condolences and encouragement.
In North America companies like Hallmark and American Greetings produce cards that net over one billion dollars in revenue. Today many opt to send electronic greetings. It is easier, faster, less effort and these cards can be customized, animated and custom colored.
E-cards are also more environmentally friendly. However, paper cards still continue to be popular. Technology and the Internet have provided wider access and choices for greeting cards. Many greeting card companies have online cards as well as paper cards. A search of such sites as: http://myreviewsnow.net/party_hosting.html
Where did Greeting Cards Originate?
Greeting cards can be traced to Chinese and Egyptian empires of the early 1100s. The first greeting cards were messages of goodwill for the New Year. In the 1400s Germans distributed Valentines.
We usually think of a greeting card as a cover stock page 8 x 11 folded in half and opening like a book or like a calendar. The front has an eye-catching illustration and a title. Inside are a greeting or message and space to sign and write a customized message if desired.
Handmade cards and Christmas or Happy Holidays or Seasons Greetings or Happy Hanukah cards became popular over time as a way for people to keep in touch.
Greeting Card Innovations:
With digital cameras and high quality color printers becoming more affordable and more widely used, photo cards have grown in popularity and sophistication. Greeting cards also offer the option of inserting photos into cards.
With new software programs and excellent print quality computer users of all ages are creating personalized custom made greeting cards. Many computer users have used software programs to create printable greeting cards. For examples search such sites as: http://myreviewsnow.net/party_hosting.html
The option with e-card sites is to have the e-card provider personalize the card and then send it electronically.
Musical cards are also now available by using iPod products available from the Apple Apps store.
Whatever other occasions are commemorated by cards the tradition of sending Seasons Greetings, Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukah will always be a huge
greeting card occasion the world over. They are a way to keep in touch if only once a year!
