Greeting cards are now an integral part of the holiday culture in many countries around the world. But when and how did the tradition of giving postcards to loved ones on the occasion of a birthday, New Year or other holiday appear? Let's look at the history of this touching tradition.The origin of the tradition in Europe The first greeting cards appeared in Europe at the end of the XV century. These were woodcuts depicting various festive subjects - Christmas, New Year, Easter. They were sent out as invitations for the holidays or simply given to loved ones to congratulate them on the upcoming celebration.The earliest extant examples of such engravings date back to the end of the 15th century. These are German New Year cards that date back to about 1480-1490. They had simple subjects, such as an image of a raised goblet with wishes for happiness.The advent of lithography and the heyday of postcards, the real heyday of the tradition falls on the 19th century, when the technology of lithography was invented. This made it possible to replicate images on paper in large quantities.The first lithographic New Year's card was published in England in 1843 by a certain William Mason. And in the late 1840s, Christmas cards appeared. Gradually, greeting cards became widespread in Europe and America.The invention of lithography made it possible to make postcards more detailed and colorful. The artists decorated them with intricate patterns, drawings of children in festive outfits, symbols of Christmas and New Year - Christmas trees, snowmen, reindeer, and angels.The appearance of postcards in Russiathe Russian tradition of greeting cards came from Europe at the end of the 19th century. The first Russian New Year's cards were lithographically printed around 1870. The active production of postcards in Russia began in the late 1890s.Russian postcards were distinguished by original plots with elements of Slavic mythology and folk motifs. Famous artists of that time - Bilibin, Bakst, Somov, Kustodiev - also turned to creating sketches for Christmas and New Year cards.Transformation of tradition in the 20th centuryin the 20th century, the tradition of sending greeting cards continued to actively develop and transform. In addition to New Year's Eve and Christmas, birthday, Easter, and Valentine's Day cards have become popular.Hallmark Cards, founded in 1910, has made a huge contribution to the popularization of postcards. She has started mass production of postcards for all holidays and dates.With the advent of the Internet and social networks, postcards have also moved to digital format - today many people prefer to send greetings online. Nevertheless, the tradition of giving paper postcards is alive and still brings joy to people.Thus, the history of greeting cards dates back several centuries. During this time, they have firmly entered the culture of many countries and have become an integral part of such joyful holidays as New Year, Christmas or birthday. And today it is still very pleasant to receive a postcard from a loved one. Comparing offers side-by-side saves time and money. Instead of opening 20 tabs, you can use our ranking to compare sportsbook bonus terms instantly. We look at the deposit match percentage, the maximum amount, and the expiry time. We also highlight which bonuses apply to specific sports like football or tennis. This structured comparison helps you pick the right fit for your betting style and your available schedule for wagering.