The custom of sending Christmas cards from the UK goes back to 1843 when Henry Cole and his friend John Horsley decided to print 1,000 cards and sell them for 1 shilling each. This first card was 3 panels: 2 outer ones showed people caring for the poor and the inner one was a picture of a family having a Christmas dinner. Christmas cards were produced in large numbers from about 1860 onwards.

Cards, as we know them today, have all sorts of pictures on them, but sadly the religious ones seem to be far and few between, which, although Christmas is not strictly a religious time, it has become one from kids at school playing in the Nativity to presents being given to people, as the 3 wise men brought presents to the baby Jesus.

The custom of filling a stocking with presents came from the story of St Nicholas who helped look after the poor. Children would leave out shoes with food in them for his donkeys and he would leave them small gifts in exchange.

Whatever your beliefs, it's a time for family and fun and giving, and it is not the over-commercialised spending spree the shops have made of it today.

And whatever you do, just remember to hang your stocking up on Christmas Eve. You may be surprised!

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