Hug A Greeting Card Writer Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Holiday Cards

Let’s give back to the authors who give us the words to express these emotions… Celebrate Hug A Greeting Card Writer Day with us! This day is celebrated annually on September 18 to recognise the extraordinary talents of these authors. Even though we do not know who created this day, we are all for celebrating it.

The background of Hug A Greeting Card Writer Day

The practise of exchanging congratulatory cards dates back to ancient times. According to historical records, the Ancient Chinese exchanged messages of benevolence during the New Year. Even papyrus scrolls were used as greeting cards by ancient Egyptians.

Paper greeting cards, including the valentine, the earliest greeting card, were produced in Europe by 1400, and Germans were sending woodcut cards. A century later, greeting cards with inscriptions were introduced, and by the 1800s, hand-painted copper plates were in high demand. Multiple advancements in printing during the same time period made the salutation extremely popular and accessible. The commercial production of greeting cards began in 1860, and the very first cards (with affixed Christmas ornaments and verses) were, of course, Valentines. Around this time, German immigrant Louis Prang, also known as the “father of the American Christmas card,” settled in Boston and launched a printing business, causing the greeting card industry to flourish. Before creating seasonal greetings in 1875, he began with simple album cards of plants, birds, and animals, to which he later added. His cards were immensely popular in America and around the world. Even in 1880, he initiated design competitions, a tradition continued by Hallmark with the Hallmark Cards Art awards. Prior to the introduction of economical greeting cards by European manufacturers, he dominated the market for greeting cards. From 1900 until World War I, Germany monopolised the greeting card industry. The American-made playing cards returned with a bang in 1910 and acquired momentum during both World Wars. They then adopted the practise of exchanging cards on seasonal and regular occasions, and U.S. manufacturers of greeting cards assumed the global leadership position.

Among them was the card company Hall Brothers, later renamed Hallmark, which originally produced image postcards. The card company founded by Joyce Clyde Hall and his sibling in Kansas City had a successful run for approximately five years before sales began to decline. Then, they turned to making greeting cards, and chose the term ‘hallmark’ as it was used by goldsmiths to define a “mark of quality.” Hallmark was the first company to exhibit cards standing up on shelves. Previously, they were placed in cabinets. Currently, the world is transitioning to a paperless society, but greeting cards are still popular in many countries, including the United States.

National Cheeseburger Day 2023: Date, History, Activities

Global Company Culture Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Workplace

National First Love Day 2023: Date, History, Facts, Activities

5 AMUSING FACTS ABOUT HOLIDAY CARDS

According to a survey conducted by the American Animal Hospital Association, 70% of individuals include their pet’s name on greeting cards.

Since 1988, the International Greeting Cards Award Competition, also known as the Louies and named after Louis Prang, has recognised the finest cards annually.

In 1927, President Calvin Coolidge sent out the first official Christmas card from the White House, a tradition that has persisted ever since.

In 2010, a survey revealed that approximately 170 billion greeting cards were sent annually in the United States.

Gilded Age Greetings sells greeting cards with prices between $395 and $4,995; some are even embroidered with actual gold!

HUG A GREETING CARD WRITER DAY DATES

Year	Date	Day
2023	September 18	Monday
2024	September 18	Wednesday
2025	September 18	Thursday
2026	September 18	Friday
2027	September 18	Saturday