The changing face of Christmas cards
When Christmas cards were first used the predominant colour was green. This reflected evergreen plants such as Holly, Ivy and Mistletoe. The plants were used to decorate and brighten up buildings during the long dark winter.
In the mid-1800s, green was replaced, with the ever popular robin gracing the front of cards. This change was a result of the bright red waistcoat that Royal Mail’s postmen and women wore. The striking uniform resulted in postmen being referred to as ‘robin redbreasts’ and the robin being introduced to Christmas cards as a symbol of the postmen who delivered the cards.
