Varied Reception for the First Christmas Card

Alice MacDonnell, a descendant of the individual credited with sending the inaugural Christmas card, reports receiving varied responses from people upon sharing this information. She occasionally encounters the remark, “Ah, so he’s the one to blame,” when disclosing that her great, great, great, great grandfather is recognized for originating the first holiday greeting. According to Marsha Walton, curator at Shere Museum, Sir Henry Cole, a resident of Shere, Surrey, found himself with “piling up” unanswered correspondence as Christmas 1843 approached. Ms. Walton informed Secret Surrey that “His invention was really borne out of necessity because he was never going to be able to write all of those letters to everybody he knew.” Ms. Walton stated that Sir Henry commissioned a friend to create the card’s design. This design depicts three generations of the family partaking in their Christmas lunch. She further noted, “Most people today would not recognise it particularly as a Christmassy scene.” Ms. MacDonnell mentioned that the card caused displeasure among members of the temperance movement, an organization that actively opposed the sale and consumption of alcohol during that period. This reaction stemmed from the depiction of the family, including children, consuming wine within the image. She quoted, “The temperance society were quite upset by this and Henry Cole was not on their Christmas card list.” She also noted that the card’s creation coincided with “a huge push for a British Christmas” and the publication of Charles Dickens’ Christmas Carol. Ms. Walton expressed her sentiment towards Sir Henry, stating she thinks of him “with thanks.” She remarked, “I do still like to send Christmas cards,” adding, “But also to live in a village at Christmas time is just a beautiful thing.” Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, and on X. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.