A Guide to Christmas Card Imagery and What It Means

Christmas cards over the centuries have tended to showcase the figure of Santa Claus and the evergreen tree decorations, gifts and specialty foods associated with the observance of this religious and cultural holiday. Learn more about design features and images to include on personalized Christmas cards this holiday season.

Historical Christmas Cards

The earliest commercial Christmas cards were made in the mid-to-late nineteenth century. Cards made by Sir Henry Cole featured an illustration of a family celebrating the holiday at the dinner table surrounded by depictions of people helping the poor.

Historical Christmas cards featured a variety of similar designs. Many classic card covers feature Saint Nicholas, who would become popularly known as Santa Claus. Other common designs featured women and children trimming trees or engaging in other seasonal activities or observances

British Christmas cards often feature robins. The bold color of these red birds matches Royal Mail uniforms from back in the 1880s. Postmen were called “robins” and the cards and presents they brought often bore the likeness of birds of a similar, festive shade. Red birds stand out against the snow and are of a color frequently associated with the holiday, and so the popularity of cards that depict red birds has since spread around the world.

Christmas cards began being produced commercially in the United States during the late nineteenth century. The cards sold over the next century often had animated covers, though the introduction and improvement of photography equipment has also led to a rise in popularity of photo Christmas cards.

Modern Christmas Card Designs

Christmas cards with cartoon or drawn covers remain popular to this day. Contemporary printing also allows for a wide range of photo realistic and stylized designs that blend textures or have laser-cut features. Many of the cards feature the holiday and seasonal motifs that are similar to those featured on traditional cards for decades.

Photographic Christmas cards rose to popularity in the late twentieth century. This style of card is particularly appealing because it has a very personal touch and is unique. Recipients of photo cards are more likely to keep these cards than other designs, particularly when they feel a sentimental connection to the sender.

Imagery for Personalized Christmas Cards

Photo cards are the most personalized greeting cards. A photograph of the sender's choice is the main feature of these cards. Some card designs also feature festive borders. If you plan to take a photograph, consider a wintery backdrop or festive holiday props to convey a holiday theme to card recipients.

Other types of personalized cards may feature preset graphics. Select a design with the images that resonate with your holiday hopes for every recipient on your mailing list. Some professional senders prefer business holiday cards or cards that have a season’s greetings message, as the majority of recipients can appreciate these greetings.