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Christmas Time at the Lighthouse

 

A Beacon of Light In A Dark World

Lighthouses are a traditional symbol for Christmas cards, a beacon of light and hope in a dark world. If you are looking for something meaningful and symbolic of peace and hope, there can be none better than this icon that guided sailors to a safe harbor. Below I give some information on lighthouses, their increasing popularity as Christmas symbols, and a selection of lighthouse Christmas cards.

The Symbolism of Lighthouses For Christmas

I love lighthouses, and find in them a symbol of the light of peace and hope. When sailors went on ships on the ancient seas, they had little to guide them to their destination. Lighthouses became those landmarks that kept them headed in the right direction to a safe harbor. As such, they’ve become that sort of guide for many of us in our daily lives. Many people look upon them as the light of Christ shining through the darkness, an appropriate meaning for Christmastime. Lighthouse cards with this symbol are popular and easier to find these days. 

The first Christmas cards….and beyond

In 1843, an English civil servant and inventor named Henry Cole, devised the first commercial Christmas card greeting. The illustrator for these Christmas cards was John Callcott Horsley. Together that year, the men produced and sold 2,050 cards for one shilling each. In 1875 Louis Prang printed the first Christmas cards in America but was eventually driven out of business by cheaper-made imitations. When postcards were first initiated, lavish Victorian style cards became less popular. Then, in the 1920s cards with envelopes regained popularity. In World Wars I and II, patriotic themes dominated the market. Cartoon illustrations and risque humor caught on in the 1950s. Nostalgic, sentimental and religious cards have never lost their popularity.

Presidents Send Christmas Cards

The first Christmas card sent by a sitting President was during the administration of Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953. He was an amateur artist and consulted with the Hallmark Card company on the design. During the John F. Kennedy years in the White House, the 1963 Christmas card featured Jacqueline Kennedy’s artwork, and was a fund-raiser for the Kennedy National Center For The Performing Arts. Since Eisenhower, every President has carried on the tradition of sending Christmas Cards.

A Well Decorated Lighthouse

More Christmas Card History

The Hallmark Card Company began creating cards reflecting African American culture in the 1960s. In 1962, the first Christmas postage stamp was issued, and created an uproar among those who felt the stamp violated separation of church and state because it depicted the reason for the season.

Online Cards Popularity

Technological advances of the past 25 years have caused a decline in sales and in the sending of Christmas cards through regular mail. Online ecards are becoming more popular as the years go by. I prefer the old-fashioned ones because it warms my heart to know that my loved ones are holding a card in their hand that I chose especially for them.

Want Lighthouse Christmas cards this year? Here’s a good selection of them from Amazon. Order quickly and you’ll have time to send them to those you love for this beautiful season.