Corporate Christmas cards are a long tradition, dating back to the 19th century. In England, a gentleman named Sir Henry Cole is credited with inventing the Christmas card. Sir Henry was the founder and director of what is now called the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the world’s largest museum of decorative art and design.

Every year Sir Henry wrote annual Christmas letters to all his friends and business associates. In 1843, he found it impossible to maintain this tradition and he called in a designer named John Callcott Horsley to help him. Mr. Horsley designed the first Christmas card, adding color to each one by hand. The image was of a family toasting to a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Controversially, a small boy included in the scene is shown drinking a glass of wine.

In 1873, Louis Prang, a German immigrant to the United States, began commercially printing cards for sale in England. The following year, the Christmas card made its American debut. Cards with images of flowers and fairies were more in tune with the arrival of spring than the snowy scenes and religious illustrations normally seen today.

Christmas card printing was seen as an art form and the illustrations became more and more complex. The World Wars saw the addition of patriotic cards with humorous cards appearing in the 1950s. In 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first official White House Christmas card, a custom that continues today. The 2007 card sent by President George Bush sparked controversy as the message it contained was of a religious nature.

Consumers send greetings that often include images of family members, particularly young children. A Christmas letter is often included recounting the events of the past year, some interesting and some you really would rather not have known about!

Charities use Christmas cards as an opportunity to thank those who have helped them throughout the year and for fundraising efforts.

Today, companies large and small send corporate Christmas cards as a way of thanking their customers for their business and building loyalty. The cards nurture relationships and convey emotional messages that serve to strengthen business partnerships. More appreciated than an emailed Christmas wish, the corporate Christmas card is a marketing tool as well as a gesture of appreciation and warmth that clearly says that you are special.