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Christmas cards often surprise us with their quirky connections to secret organizations, covert police missions, and sophisticated experiments. This unexpected side of the holiday tradition gives them a unique charm. However, some health professionals and astronomers aren't fans of the cards, while historians see them as a way to mark key moments in history, such as the assassination of JFK. On top of that, there are those who seriously need to reconsider taking family photos for their Christmas greetings.
10. The Moon Is Almost Always Off
It’s no surprise when observant experts point out mistakes, and this time, astronomers turned their attention to the Moon – not the one up in the sky, but the one depicted on various Christmas cards. After looking closely at these cards, they found that the phases and positions of the Moon were frequently inaccurate. This wasn’t limited to just cards, but also wrapped presents and Christmas-themed books. A study revealed that the Moons seen in these holiday items were often wrong.
The issue came to light when astronomer Peter Barthel noticed an error in the lunar depiction on a 2010 Unicef Christmas card and a widely circulated Advent calendar. Both images showed a crescent Moon, which was a scientific impossibility in the scenes presented. One card showed children decorating a Christmas tree, while the calendar depicted carolers, both scenes featuring a waning crescent Moon. The moon phase shown rises at three a.m., making it a curious choice for a time when families are more likely to be preparing for the festivities.
Barthel concentrated on the imagery from the United States and the Netherlands, two nations that had a significant influence on shaping the modern Christmas image. In these countries, up to 65 percent of the depictions of the Moon were inaccurate. While these errors may seem trivial, Barthel argues that artists need to step up, respect scientific facts, and accurately portray the proper lunar phases.
9. The First Ever Christmas Card
Christmas cards in their printed form are only 176 years old. The very first card was designed in 1843 and hand-colored. Priced at a shilling, it sparked the global card industry that we know today. A mere 1,000 copies were printed that year, with only 21 surviving to this day.
The card was designed by Henry Cole, with the illustration crafted by John Callcott Horsley. The image depicted a cheerful family sharing wine around a table, with the message 'A merry Christmas and a happy new year to you.' The original proof created by Cole is now held in a private collection, and one of the original cards, which was recently loaned to the Charles Dickens Museum in London, had been purchased and sent by a son to his parents.
1843 was a pivotal year for Christmas. Not only did the first Christmas card emerge, but Charles Dickens also published his timeless tale, A Christmas Carol. The story has since been adapted into numerous TV specials and films, becoming a December tradition. It was pure coincidence that the card and Dickens' novel debuted in the same year, with neither Cole nor Dickens aware of the massive cultural shift they were both about to contribute to.
8. The JFK Christmas Cards
In November of 1963, President John F. Kennedy and his wife Jacqueline were busy preparing for the holiday season. They had plans to spend Thanksgiving with his family in Massachusetts, and then head to Palm Beach for Christmas. However, before they could enjoy their festive plans, they needed to campaign across five cities, completely unaware that JFK would be assassinated in Dallas.
Before their departure, the Kennedys received their annual batch of Christmas cards, specially printed by Hallmark. The cover featured a photograph of the 18th-century Neapolitan creche from the East Room of the White House. Inside, an embossed seal conveyed best wishes for Christmas and the New Year. As was customary, the couple planned to send these cards to their friends and associates. They managed to sign about 75 cards, but left the rest to be completed once they returned from their Texas tour.
After JFK's assassination, the cards were never sent. Today, these rare presidential mementos are considered valuable, with one such card now on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
7. The Terrifying Fiore Family
To be fair, the Fiore family is relatively harmless, as long as you don't catch them off guard while armed. The time they took their 2015 Christmas photo was definitely not the best moment to pick a fight. Four generations stood together, posing with an arsenal that would make even Santa reconsider his midnight journey.
In the middle of the scene was Michele Fiore, a Republican assemblywoman from Nevada. Standing beside her, her 5-year-old grandson Jake completed his costume with a real Walther p22. Fiore’s mother, visibly tense, stood next to her, holding her Extar EXP556. Other family members were either armed or had weapons visibly strapped to them.
The Christmas card sparked quite a stir. Unfortunately for the Las Vegas Republican, the attention wasn't positive. However, Fiore remained unfazed, telling Fox News that giving and receiving firearms as Christmas presents was entirely reasonable. This response might not be surprising, given her previous remarks about shooting Syrian refugees and her support for students carrying guns on campus.
6. A Fossil Exchange Like No Other
When paleontologists swap Christmas cards, things tend to get a little odd. For decades, two colleagues have been sending each other festive greetings featuring tiny marine creatures. Edward Heron-Allen and Arthur Earland, both volunteers at the Natural History Museum in London, began this tradition long ago.
In the early 20th century, they meticulously cataloged and described ancient Foraminifera fossils. Their detailed studies of these microscopic organisms earned them widespread recognition among contemporary scientists. The collection of their microscope slides, showcasing a wide variety of species, remains highly regarded. However, it was their quirky tradition of using surplus Foraminifera fossils to create Christmas-themed slides for one another that truly made their story stand out. Indeed, their fossil-infused 'cards' are a one-of-a-kind creation.
For over 25 years, Earland and Heron-Allen shared their joy with one another through their fossil slides. While Heron-Allen was a distinguished lawyer and scholar, celebrated for his contributions to the study of Foraminifera, Earland’s contributions were equally impressive, yet he never received the same level of recognition or career advancements. To most, he was simply a postal worker. The shift in their relationship over the years can be traced through the slides. As time passed, their fossil cards became increasingly simpler, losing their former intricacy, until eventually, they ceased altogether.
5. They Will Endure the Digital Age
It's easy to assume that the Christmas card is a thing of the past. After all, there are thousands of free digital cards that can be sent with the click of a button. Who still takes the time to put a card in an envelope, seal it, affix a stamp, and mail it off like it's the Stone Age? It turns out, quite a few people still do.
The trend has shifted in a fascinating direction. While sales of inexpensive cards are declining, high-end cards remain popular. In fact, Christmas cards will continue to thrive in the digital era by becoming a luxury item. A survey conducted in 2016 revealed that 105 million cards were sold, each purchased as a premium gift, generating £184 million in sales in the United Kingdom alone.
There is a growing love for sending and receiving personalized cards. Artists create and sell their one-of-a-kind, handmade designs both online and in retail shops. Prices for these custom creations can climb to £18.95. This hefty price tag only adds to the appeal of these cards, which have evolved into a chic gift that is both deeply personal and highly valued. While digital cards are visually impressive, they can't match the charm of a handwritten message on real ink-and-paper.
4. The Santa Image That Disturbs Health Experts
In 2009, the inevitable happened. Health professionals took one look at Santa Claus' jolly demeanor and decided he wasn’t the best role model for children. One particularly outspoken critic was Dr. Nathan Grills from Australia. Though his points were grounded in logic, his proposals were a bit outlandish.
Grills accused Santa of endorsing an unhealthy lifestyle. He pointed to the figure's obesity and his penchant for speeding in his sleigh. Since many depictions show Santa with a pipe, Grills argued that Santa essentially became a walking tobacco advertisement. As if that weren’t enough, Santa is a drunk driver. Tradition has it that people leave him brandy as a gift, meaning that billions of homes equal billions of brandy servings. Santa’s blood alcohol level would probably set off a breathalyzer.
In Grills' view, this irresponsible portrayal encourages reckless behavior during the holiday season. However, he believed that the opposite could be true, suggesting that Santa could have a positive influence and improve countless lives. A study even found that millions of children take the red-suited figure very seriously. But Grills' proposal for Santa's makeover is unlikely to catch on. According to him, Santa should be reimagined as a slim figure on a treadmill.
3. The Only Photograph From A Secret Gathering
In 1938, a group of individuals arrived at a manor house in England. To the untrained eye, the 150 men and women were merely attending a casual weekend party at Bletchley Park. But beneath the light-hearted atmosphere and casual mingling lay a far more serious agenda. In truth, the gathering was made up of codebreakers from MI6 and the Government Code and Cypher School.
The purpose of this gathering was a critical mission: to break Italian naval codes. Their work before and during World War II was so vital that many historians believe the 'Captain Ridley’s shooting party' helped shorten the war by two years. Despite the significance of their contributions, the codebreakers were never publicly celebrated due to the classified nature of their operations.
For many years, no photographs of this secret meeting existed—until one Christmas card turned up. In recent years, the daughter of a female codebreaker discovered the card among her mother's belongings. The card was modest in design: simple blue paper with a photograph on the front showing people standing on the front lawn of Bletchley Park. The clichéd message read, 'Wishing you a very happy Christmas & New Year.'
Experts believe the simplicity of the card was intentional. To avoid drawing attention to the secretive group, it was sent by Lady Evelyn Sinclair, the sister of the head of MI6. The recipient was codebreaker Joan Wingfield, and the card served as a quiet yet heartfelt gesture of thanks for the team's work.
2. A Microscopic Holiday Greeting
If you gather 200 of the world’s tiniest Christmas cards, they would fit within the space of a postage stamp. This incredible creation comes from the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in the United Kingdom, and it’s measured in microns. To put this into perspective, a micron is one millionth of a meter. Crafted in 2017, the card is 15 microns wide (0.015 millimeters) and 20 microns tall (0.02 millimeters), making it thinner than a single human hair.
The card is so minuscule that it can only be seen through a microscope. It features an image of a smiling snowman along with the words 'Season’s Greetings.' Amazingly, the tiny card can even be opened. Inside, you’ll find the message 'From NPL.' To produce the card, researchers used a silicon nitride membrane coated with an extremely thin layer of platinum. An ion beam, composed of fast-moving particles, engraved the delicate design and text.
This wasn’t just a quirky lab project. The materials and techniques used to create the card were part of an effort to advance technologies at the micron scale. Miniaturization plays a critical role in improving fields like electronics and medicine. In this case, the creation of such a tiny card not only broke a world record but also helped push this fragile technology closer to widespread, practical applications.
1. Police Warn Shoplifters With Cards
Most people who send Christmas cards keep an address book where they list the names of friends and family who will receive a greeting. In Northern Ireland, the police department also maintains a special address book—but theirs serves a very different purpose for their festive cards.
Criminals, particularly shoplifters, thrive during the holiday season, drawn in by the many attractive sales. As expected, there is a noticeable rise in thefts from stores during this time. To counter this, the Irish police devised a unique strategy. In 2016, they launched Operation Nutmeg, which focused on discouraging individuals from sneaking items out in their long coats without paying.
The list in question contained the names and addresses of known offenders. The most frequent thieves received a Christmas card, but instead of a warm holiday message, the card delivered a warning: the police would be keeping an eye on them.
