Bible Verses To Include In Your Christmas Cards
History of Christmas Cards
Take a guess at what year the first-ever recorded Christmas cards were sent.
Do you have your guess?
Are you ready for the answer?
In 1611, the Prince of Wales, Henry Frederick, received the first-ever recorded Christmas cards!
Were you close to guessing 1611? Even though Christmas cards were sent in the early 1600s, it wasn’t until 232 years later that the first commercial Christmas cards were put into production. This card had a picture of a family raising a toast on the cover. There were 1000 of these cards made, and Queen Victoria was the first sender of this card.
By 1860, sending Christmas cards was a common practice throughout England.
Here is the first official Christmas card:
Even though Christmas cards had been sent to residents in America in the 1840s, Christmas cards weren’t in production until Louis Prang, a Prussian immigrant, made the journey to the United States. He opened a print shop in Boston and in 1875 he introduced the Christmas card manufacturer to the United States; producing the first Christmas card in America. This card featured a simple flower and read, “Merry Christmas”.
Sending Season’s Greetings swept the nation, and in 1910, the Hall brothers opened the doors to the ever-famous Hallmark company.
From 1948-1957, artist Norman Rockwell designed 32 Christmas cards for Hallmark. In 1963, Jackie Kennedy designed two Christmas Cards for Hallmark.
Hallmark published a Christmas card in 1977 that featured three cherubs, two of which were humble in prayer while the third was gazing up, her doe-eyes peering from under her halo. This card is still in production and is the most popular selling Christmas card in history.
Today, Hallmark is still family owned and operated, but there are many different companies that manufacture Christmas cards. Additionally, the Christmas card of today is versatile in appearance. Many families today opt to send photo cards. Others choose to send a postcard, and some choose to send a letter along with the card, giving updates and sharing news about their life over the past year. Even though there is a multitude of Christmas cards to choose from, sometimes it can be fun to create your own cards.
Why Send Christmas Cards?
The convenience of technology would make sending a Christmas greeting more simple, but there is something truly special and personal about a handwritten message. The tradition of sending Christmas cards has been able to withstand the growth of technology. Sending Christmas cards is a great way to let your loved ones and acquaintances know that you are thinking of them and remind them that they are important. By sending a Christmas card, you are showing the receiver that you are grateful for them in your life. Spreading holiday cheer, and sending Christmas cards is another way to make the Christmas season a little sweeter, a little kinder, and a whole lot more special.
National Christmas Card Day
December 9th is National Christmas Card Day. This day serves to remind you to get your cards ready, purchase stamps, and send off your warm wishes in order to have them arrive in time for Christmas.
Bible Verses for Christmas Cards
Here are some meaningful and significant verses you can include in your Christmas cards. These verses focus on the birth of the Savior and capture the true meaning of the season.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
-John 3:16
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Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
-Zechariah 9:9
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…God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
-Luke 1:26-35
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
-Isaiah 9:6
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When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
-Matthew 2:10-11
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
-John 1:9
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But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
-Matthew 1:20-23
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
-2 Corinthians 9:15
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God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins.
-Acts 5:31
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
-Luke 2:11
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But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.
-Galatians 4:4-5
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Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
-Isaiah 7:14
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
-James 1:17
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A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
-Isaiah 11:1
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But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.
-Luke 1:30-31
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
-Luke 2:14
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The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
-John 1:14
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Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
-Philippians 2:6-11
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
-Romans 15:13
Last But Not Least
Sending Christmas cards is a remarkable way to remind others that you care for them as well as spread the holiday spirit. By adding in your favorite Bible verse, you are including the all-important reminder that this season should be focused on Christ, and effectively sharing your testimony of Him.
-Torrance Church of Christ