Greeting card

A greeting card is an illustrated card that is usually on special occasions such as birthdays, weddings or on holidays such as Christmas, sent to friends as a small token, together with gifts. Often these cards with symbols of good fortune, such as horseshoes, four-leaf clovers or ladybugs are printed. Sometimes it involves folding folded cards, which are usually delivered in a sealed envelope. There they are, however, in the form of one-piece, open -readable postcards. Cards specifically for birth, christening or wedding are usually folded cards are sent in the envelope.

The international professional association Greeting Card Association represents the interests of manufacturers of greeting cards. Members are here for the majority of U.S. manufacturers. In Germany manufacturers are represented by the Association of producers and publishers of greeting cards (AVG ).

Greeting cards, such as birthday cards are often handed over to the addressee in person. Then you usually serve as a complement to a gift, or a bouquet and give a personal touch. Today, greeting cards with the help of the computer can be personalized. Professional greeting may include extras like small stored melodies that are played during the opening, or vouchers for goods.

Electronic greeting cards ( e-cards ) to use the computer as a transfer agent. They are usually sent by e -mail. The recipient has to open the greeting card or pick from a provider. Such cards were often infected with viruses, so that acceptance is slightly decreased.

History

The custom of sending greeting cards, which should replace the usual personal visit for celebrations goes back far beyond the sending of postcards. Already in 1415 became the first Glückwunschkarte Europe, and sent the first Glückwunschkarte Germany in 1493. Graphical greeting small size with pictures, verses and small texts that belong to the opportunity graphics were, modern first in the high society in the 70s of the 18th century. They were produced in partially colored copper engravings, as lithography and chromolithography, and later also by means of photographic printing techniques. Cheap products were produced as woodcuts. In addition to simple, only ornamentally decorated cards were Luxuspapiere with embossed lettering, designs, etc. as folding and drawing cards as transparent and through hole cards, it developed cards and publishers for making your own industry. Were spread the cards on paper shops and street vendors. On these cards later culture latched seamlessly onto the greeting postcard.

Dissemination

Before the widespread telephony, the congratulatory postcards were a cross-layer, very popular form of ceremonial occasions or anniversaries to convey congratulations to scattered dwelling friends and relatives. The importance of greeting cards is great despite dominance of electronic means of communication. In a study of Swiss Post in particular the high personal character of the postal media was added as a reason for this. For Germany occupies a GfK study the sale of 637 million greeting in 2010. This corresponds to an average of 8.3 cards per person per year. In addition, women were more frequently and more than 60 -year-old buyer of greeting cards.