Card Reading Day

Card Reading Day is celebrated on February 21 every year. It is a chance for sentimental people to get their saved cards out for reading them.

History of Card Reading Day

On Card Reading Day, people will read the greeting cards they've been sent over the years. They sometimes give greeting cards on that day and thus may receive some cards from others that they can read. Some of this holiday speculation is about tarot cards, but most websites associate the holiday with greeting cards.

Greeting cards are usually sent by post. They can be given for holidays like Christmas, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day or Father's Day, or they can be everyday cards, such as those given for birthdays, weddings, and birthdays. Other everyday cards express emotions such as well wishes, thanks, sympathy, affection, or congratulations. They are mass-produced by companies large and small, or they can be homemade.

In ancient times, in Egypt, greetings were exchanged by writing on gifts. In the 15th century, woodblock prints were made for New Year's Day and Christmas, which worked similarly to the greeting cards of those holidays today. Valentine's Day, considered a precursor to greeting cards, dates back to the sixteenth century. When penny postage was introduced in England in 1840, sending Valentine's Day by mail increased. The first Christmas card was made in 1843 by John Callcott Horsley for Sir Henry Cole. Emotion cards were popular in the United States from the 1830s until the Civil War. In the 1860s, commercially produced greeting cards became popular. Early cards were love cards, as were visiting cards, similar to love cards.

During the 1890s, production of greeting cards in the United States and Great Britain dwindled, and Germany controlled the market until World War I. During World War I, the United States was one of the most prominent market. Across the United States, seasonal and daily cards became very popular after World War I. Hallmark became known worldwide and improved in their manufacturing techniques.

Today, there are more people exchange greeting cards in the United States than in any other country. Despite the rise of eCards and social media, greeting cards are still popular. During the 2010s, approximately 7 billion greeting cards were purchased annually in the United States. Christmas cards are most popular for seasonal cards, while birthday cards are most popular for everyday cards.

How to celebrate Card Reading Day

Why do not celebrate this day by reading greeting cards that you may have saved for years. Maybe you have birthday cards that were given to you when you were young, by loved ones who have passed away. Perhaps you saved a thank you card with a lovely message that still moves you today. Maybe you have an anniversary card or a Valentine's Day card from your lover that they gave you decades ago. Maybe all these cards are even more precious to you now than when you first read them! You can also celebrate by giving greeting cards to others. Maybe if someone is celebrating, they can send you a card and you'll have a new card to read over the holidays and add to your collection! You can even plan to swap cards with your friends!