There’s something timeless about opening a Christmas card — the soft rustle of paper, familiar handwriting, perhaps a touch of sparkle. In a world of instant messages, it’s a small ritual that still manages to feel deeply personal.
The tradition began in 1843, when Sir Henry Cole, a British civil servant, commissioned artist John Callcott Horsley to design the first Christmas card. The card featured a family gathered around a table and the words “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You.” It quickly became a beloved custom, spreading warmth across Victorian England and beyond.
Over the decades, Christmas cards evolved from elegant etchings to whimsical winter scenes, carrying not just holiday wishes but little glimpses into the sender’s world. Some were cherished for their beauty, others for the heartfelt words within — a bridge between hearts when distance kept people apart.
This year, I’ve been creating my own Christmas cards using Lavinia Stamps. Each design feels like a visit to the Wickwood garden — faeries nestled among evergreens, snowy toadstools, and twinkling lights. They remind me that creativity is another form of connection — a way to share love, beauty, and the quiet magick of the season.
Whether handwritten or hand-stamped, cards still matter because they make people feel seen. And perhaps that’s the real meaning behind them — not just to say “Merry Christmas,” but to say I’m thinking of you.
If you’d like to see the cards I’ve been creating this season, you’re very welcome to pop into the Wickwood Cottage shop. The cards aren’t listed on the website, but they’re available here in store – each one hand crafted, stamped with a little magick and ready to be shared with someone you love.
You’ll find the shop at:
16 Bennett Precinct, Longton Exchange Shopping Centre, Stoke on Trent, ST3 2JA