The first true Christmas card was not produced until the 19th century. The card was designed by J.C. Horsley, a British academic painter of genre and historical scenes and illustrator, in 1843 after being commissioned by Sir Henry Cole, an English civil servant and inventor.
At first glance, the card does not look particularly Christmassy. However, a closer look reveals it is, indeed, very Christian.
The card is a triptych, a picture that has three panels next to each other. The two panels on the left and right give examples of two Christmas charities: feeding and clothing the poor. These charitable works are encouraged by Jesus. We read in Chapter 25 of Matthew, “for I was hungry, and you fed me, naked and you clothed me” (Mt. 25:35–37).
In the centre, a traditional upper-middle-class family is shown giving a toast to an absent family member or friend.
Part of the reality of Christmas, for Christian persons, is to dare to take the Christ child out of the comfort of the manger and let our world feed off him.