20 Christmas Card Designs That Were Game Changers
The evolution of Christmas card designs is a journey through history, art, and culture, showcasing how festive greetings transformed from heartfelt traditions to iconic symbols of holiday cheer.
- Alyana Aguja
- 7 min read
The history of Christmas card designs is an excellent tale of art, culture, and innovation, representing the changing spirit of holidays over time. From the first Victorian cards to modern eco-friendly and digital greetings, the designs have evolved to capture moments of joy, peace, and humor, resonating with each generation’s values. As timeless symbols of connection and creativity, these 20 Christmas cards unite people in celebration and inspire the season’s magic.
1. First Commercial Christmas Card (1843)
Lock & Whitfield from Wikipedia
Designed by Sir Henry Cole and illustrated by John Callcott Horsley, the first commercial Christmas card was a family scene with “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You.” The card was mass-produced and sold; from then on, it started a tradition. Its design popularized the idea of sending cards to celebrate Christmas.
2. Victorian Christmas Card (1850s)
Franz Xaver Winterhalter from Wikipedia
Victorian Christmas cards were extremely popular and featured finely detailed engraving, often of a religious theme, snow landscapes, and elaborate borders. They sent goodwill messages to friends and family and were highly collectible because of their artistic qualities. Victorians added the art aspect of how the card could evolve from a simple wish to a work of art.
3. “Happy Christmas” by Kate Greenaway (1880s)
Elliott & Fry from Wikipedia
Kate Greenaway, the illustrator, created some of the most popular Christmas cards from the late 19th century, known for their delicate childlike drawings. Greenaway’s cards often featured quaint scenes of children in Victorian clothing, evoking a sense of nostalgia. Her style became synonymous with the festive spirit, influencing Christmas card design for decades.
4. The Christmas Tree Card (1890s)
Daeun Kim from Unsplash
In the 1890s, a picture of an ornamented Christmas tree became a more common Christmas card image, representing family gatherings and merriment. This design was the first to move away from religious images and towards secular, family-oriented images. The Christmas tree card’s popularity helped establish the tree’s cultural importance during the holiday season.
5. “Silent Night” Card (1900s)
Kelly Sikkema from Wikipedia
This card was inspired by the famous Christmas carol “Silent Night. " It depicts a quiet, peaceful night with snowflakes and stars. The card conveys the serene, spiritual part of Christmas, which resonates well with the soothing nature of the song. Thus, it represents holiday peace and religiosity.
6. World War I Soldier Christmas Card (1914)
pure julia from Unsplash
During World War I, soldiers on both sides of the conflict exchanged Christmas cards as a symbol of moments of peace during the brutal war. Some of these cards featured images of soldiers with festive wishes or doves alongside them, bridging the gap between enemy lines. These cards became an enduring symbol of hope, humanity, and peace amidst conflict.
7. Art Deco Christmas Card (1920s)
Phill Brown from Unsplash
The Art Deco movement influenced Christmas cards with its sleek, geometric designs and glamorous aesthetic. Cards featured bold colors, metallic details, and stylized depictions of Christmas symbols like trees, wreaths, and snowflakes. The popularity of Art Deco cards reflected the opulence and modernity of the Roaring Twenties.
8. American Christmas Card with Santa Claus (1930s)
Mario Amaral from Wikipedia
In the 1930s, cards with Santa Claus were everywhere, and the jovial image of Saint Nick that Coca-Cola’s advertising had created became widespread. The cards portrayed Santa in his red suit, delivering presents to children around a Christmas tree. This design made Santa Claus a central figure in American Christmas traditions.
9. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” Card (1940s)
Annie Spratt from Unsplash
Inspired by the popular song from the movie Meet Me in St. Louis, this card design features soft colors and sentimental, heartwarming messages. The artwork often depicts families celebrating around a fireplace or tree, emphasizing togetherness. This design encapsulates the spirit of wartime Christmas celebrations, where messages of love and hope were significant.
10. Post-War Christmas Cards (1950s)
Image from Wikimedia Commons
The 1950s were the era of cheerful, colorful Christmas cards with slogans such as “Merry Christmas” and “Season’s Greetings.” Illustrations included snowmen, Santa, and children playing in the snow. The 1950s marked a return to exuberant, secular designs, reflecting post-war optimism and a booming consumer culture.
11. Pop Art Christmas Cards (1960s)
Walter Mori from Wikimedia Commons
The Pop Art movement influenced Christmas card designs in the 1960s. Bright, bold colors and graphic, comic-book-inspired elements dominated Christmas card designs. Famous artists like Andy Warhol made popular culture a dominant theme, leading to cards that combined holiday imagery with modern art techniques. These cards appealed to a younger, more contemporary audience and defined the new boundaries of Christmas card art.
12. “Merry Christmas” by Norman Rockwell (1940s-1970s)
Underwood & Underwood from Wikimedia Commons
Norman Rockwell’s America was represented in his Christmas card series, which featured wholesome scenes of American life, where family is everything. His art brought nostalgia to mid-century America, depicting heartwarming children, families, and Santa Claus. The cards symbolized the “ideal” American Christmas with innocence and warmth.
13. Frosty the Snowman Card (1950s)
Helgi Halldórsson from Wikimedia Commons
Shortly after the animated TV special in 1950 was made public, Frosty the Snowman emerged on Christmas cards. In his happy, fanciful pose, usually with children, Frosty was featured on cards. This type of design brought a more playful and animated character to the Christmas card tradition, which appealed more to a new, younger audience.
14. Minimalist Scandinavian Christmas Cards (1960s)
DrThneed from Wikimedia Commons
Christmas cards are created and inspired by Scandinavian designs; most embrace minimalism by showing clean lines, plain color usage, and nature-inspired motives. They mostly used the silhouette of animals such as reindeer or pine trees with stark white backgrounds. Such a design trend paved the way for a more modern, restrained approach to Christmas card art through its expression of elegance and simplicity.
15. “Do You Hear What I Hear?” Card (1962)
Image from Wikimedia Commons
Inspired by the popular Christmas song “Do You Hear What I Hear?” this card design features serene night skies and angels. And angels. The overall message is the peaceful annual message, embodying quiet reverence holidays. The design quickly became popular in church and religious circles of the in60s.
16. “Grumpy Cat” Christmas Card (2010s)
Gage Skidmore from Wikimedia Commons
In the 2010s, the viral internet sensation Grumpy Cat also appeared on Christmas cards. The card represents the side of humor in modern holiday culture, combining the cat’s legendary scowl with sarcastic holiday greetings. It caters to those who want an irreverent take on Christmas cheer. In this respect, the card represents a shift toward internet culture influencing traditional holiday designs.
17. LGBTQ+ Inclusive Christmas Card (2010s)
theodoranian from Wikimedia Commons
Christmas cards featuring inclusive themes about LGBTQ+ couples and families began gaining popularity recently. The designs provided a greater breadth of love and celebration of the holiday season. These are examples of how diverse families have become increasingly acknowledged and what “family” may now mean in a new-age holiday season.
18. Ecological Christmas Cards (1990s-Present)
Liquid 2003 from Wikimedia Commons
With increased environmental awareness in the 1990s, Christmas cards emerged with ecologically friendly designs, such as recycled paper and ecological themes. The cards featured nature-related themes, animals, and messages about nature and conservation. They suited people who wished to celebrate the holiday season but wanted to remain conscious of the environment.
19. Interactive Christmas Cards (2000s-Present)
Brdall from Wikimedia Commons
With the advancement of technology, interactive Christmas cards started to include features such as QR codes or augmented reality. Some cards allowed the recipients to scan the code and view a personalized video message or 3D animation. Such innovations gave the age-old tradition of festive greetings a modern twist.
20. Handmade Christmas Cards (Late 20th Century-Present)
Inacapo from Wikimedia Commons
Handmade Christmas cards have become popular as people want to personalize their greetings. Often made with cardstock, glitter, and ribbon, these cards allow creativity and individual expression. They became especially popular in the 1990s and beyond, with crafters sharing their designs in DIY communities and making the art of card-making a part of holiday traditions.