West Kazakhstan Today wishes its readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Christmas Card Origin

Self-made cards with goodwill verses have been sent, by hand or by post, for centuries. The first that's recognizable as what we now think of as a Christmas card, i.e. a printed card sent by post, was sent at Christmas 1843.

Sir Henry Cole, the founder of the London's Victoria and Albert Museum, had sent many handwritten cards previously but that year he commissioned John Calcott Horsley to paint a card showing the feeding and clothing of the poor.

"A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You" was printed on the first Christmas card.

Christmas Sayings and Phrases by Classics

Here's a selection of the numerous verses and rhymes that have been used as source material by Christmas card writers:

A Christmas candle is a lovely thing; 
It makes no noise at all, 
But softly gives itself away; 
While quite unselfish, it grows small. - Eva K. Logue

A Christmas gambol oft could cheer 
The poor man's heart through half the year. – Sir Walter Scott

Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart. - Washington Irving

Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home! - Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers, 1836

Heap on the wood!-the wind is chill; 
But let it whistle as it will, 
We'll keep our Christmas merry still. - Sir Walter Scott

I do come home at Christmas. We all do, or we all should. We all come home, or ought to come home, for a short holiday - the longer, the better - from the great boarding school where we are forever working at our arithmetical slates, to take, and give a rest. - Charles Dickens

I heard the bells on Christmas Day Their old, familiar carols play,And wild and sweet The words repeat Of peace on earth, good-will to men! - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. - Charles Dickens

As the Holiday Season is upon us, we find ourselves reflecting on the past year and on those who have helped to shape our business in a most significant way. We value our relationship with you and look forward to working with you in the year to come. We wish you a very happy Holiday Season and a New Year filled with peace and prosperity.

WKT