In today's collection of postcards from the past: some very vintage Christmas cards! While reviewing these with a colleague, I was reminded how often postcards were often used as a way to say, "Hey, I've sent you [a package/letter/etc] as well, so be on the lookout for it," as they were most likely to arrive before whatever other thing. I can also think of many times in more recent years where folks have also sent a text to tell me they sent me an email. Technology may change, but humanity is always the same!

We had a few cards that were omitted, for this year at least, as they were a little depressing. If you'd like to see those included anyway in future collections (there's always next year), please post a comment on our Facebook post for this story. Today's cards mostly make the cut either for imagery or poetry, the messaging will be fairly consistent from the senders.

Gentle reminder: if you haven't yet sent your Christmas cards, as shown by the proximity of postmarks-to-Christmas in the years these were sent, you still have time!

NOTE: The FreshWater Cleveland PostCard Archives Team does its best to transcribe the very old (often more than 100 years) script writing, that can often be faded, written in pencil, tiny, etc., and, at times, in other languages. When we cannot determine a word, it is replaced with "[???]." When we make a guess, the word itself will be followed with "[?]."

Christmas poem (ca 1924)Flip OverPostmark: DEC 22 1924 2PM
Card Front: A snowy water color village with the poem:

All up and down the world today
The same glad tidings find their way
And may they mean for you
Good Cheer and Merry Christmas

Card Back:
Written Text:

I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Orabelle

Christmas poem (ca 1913)Flip OverPostmark: DEC 24 1913 10AM
Card Front: A image of a girl opening a door to find a doll, bordered by holly wreaths and candles. There's a yellow bar/stain on the left side, likely from tape that was used to hold the card up somewhere. It has the poem:

Christmas with its birth of joy
Brings to all a gift supreme
In the memory of that long ago
When we were children of the dream.

Christmas poem (ca 1916)Flip OverPostmark: DEC 23 1916 4PM
Card Front: Literally, a fiery death for Santa Claus. There are large stockings either side of an actively burning fire in a fireplace, but, make no mistake, Santa is stepping into a nightmare in this art... and the poem:

As these stockings overflow
With gay, mirth-giving toys
I hope, my friend, you heart overflows
With countless Yule-tide Joys.

Card Back:
Written Text:

My dear Mary, I wish you a most merry Christmas, and happy New Year

Christmas Greetings (ca 1910)Flip OverPostmark: DEC 21 1910 9PM
Card Front: A red-bordered image of a very much pre-Coca-Cola-style Santa Claus, holding a sack, and knocking on the front door as a deer with a lantern around its neck looks on. At the bottom, 'Christmas Greetings' is written in calligraphy.

Card Back:
Written Text:

[top left corner]From Aunt Inah[?]

Dear Babe, I will send you this card and have sent a little book[?] with it and you let me no(sic) if you get it and if it is all right. I sent Paul's picture in Grandma's [???] to you so when you go up there [???] Merry, merry Xmas, Aunt Inah[?]

Merry Christmas (ca 1911)Flip OverPostmark: DEC 23, 1911 5PM
Card Front: A festive bell with a branch of holly and a bow, with a picture of a winter scene with a fieldhouse with a steeple and the words, 'Merry Christmas' along the bottom.

Card Back:
Written Text:

Dear Friend, Received your card. I am so very busy at present. We will have a big time here Xmas. I will write you all the news after Xmas rush is over. With love and best wishes for Merry Xmas.