Non e- Cards

The custom of sending greeting cards can be traced back to the ancient Chinese, who exchanged messages of good will to celebrate the New Year, and to the early Egyptians, who conveyed their greetings on papyrus scrolls.

The first known published Christmas card appeared in London in 1843, when Sir Henry Cole hired artist John Calcott Horsley to design a holiday card that he could send to his friends and acquaintances.

In the United States, the exchange of greeting cards is one of the most widely accepted and popular customs. Cards for virtually any occasion or relationship can be found in more than 100,000 retail outlets around the country. Approximately 7 billion greeting cards are purchased annually by U.S. consumers, generating an estimated $7.5 billion in retail sales. And here they are getting ready for Halloween, a US holiday celebrated on October 31st.

Me? I make my own cards to send via email, never buy any real cards any more, and I once in a blue moon receive real cards from "internet hater" friends, or the now very popular e-cards on my lucky days.