The card industry is perhaps one of the foremost industries of today, in spite of the onslaught of the electronic greeting card sites... more popularly known as Ecards ! It is seen that most of us, unable to cope with the stressful, hectic lives that we lead today... have little time to send handwritten cards and letters to our near and dear ones. But a way of communication is necessary for those living in society, so to manage both time and effort, the easiest option was to go in for ecards.

But with all these modernization, there are some of us who still look forward to receive greeting cards, handwritten and hand delivered, specially during the holiday seasons such as Christmas. Though ecards are much faster and easy, there is a very special touch about paper cards that add a touch of nostalgia any time.

So, what is a Christmas card actually ? Well, we don't even have to answer this as we know that a Christmas card is a simple greeting card that is exchanged between two individuals, usually depicting scenes of Christmas. These cards had their origin in England about 150 years back. The concept of sending the first Christmas card came from Sir Henry Cole, who found it difficult to personalize numerous messages for his friends and family. He came up with the idea of sending a simple greeting wishing the cheer of the holiday season to all, thus giving birth to the first Christmas Card. These cards became very popular and over the years were modified and made elaborate, often having decorations of fringe, silk and satin. The cards were differently shaped too, resembling bells, birds, candles and some were even shaped like plum puddings ! This simple procedure triggered off a custom that still enjoys enormous popularity throughout the world.

But, what makes a Christmas card so special for every one ? Is it the anticipation of receiving one or the suspense of who is going to send one... is the timeless design or the decor or is it just the joy of simply sharing the spirit of Christmas ? There are many amongst us who welcome the thought of sending handmade cards too, for we know that something which is so tenderly made is bound to contain all the feelings and emotions that we may want to convey. A card may be traditional or contemporary adhering to the changes in tastes of the receivers and the senders. With the advent of sophisticated technology, the traditional motifs have undergone a major change. Though traditional cards depicting the nativity scenes, carolers singing in the snow and Christmas trees do well, people sending cards now-a-days are able to modify the content by placing their own family photographs or any other content, which they feel would be relevant for their message to get across. They may contain comics, jokes and funny verses. There are certain cards that are also used for business purposes and other commercial aspects. But no matter what, the basic essence of the card still remains the same... thoughts of love, commitment, happiness and togetherness that bind families, friends and sweethearts with each other.

Christmas is in the air and the card industry is all set to do a roaring business. Cards of various shapes and sizes are going to catch our attention as we browse card shops wrapped in our woollies. But, be rest assured that you are definitely going to pick the right card... as it's a Christmas card ! No matter what the association is, we are sure to send some to all and be merry. Enjoy the spirit of Christmas in all its glory and merriment with all your loved ones, friends and family and make sure others do the same too by visiting wonderful Christmas E card sites such as 123Greetings.com.