9 Bizarre Christmas Cards from the 1800s

Getty Images
Getty Images / Getty Images

After the first Christmas card was sent in 1843, Victorians eagerly embraced the new tradition. Here are just a few of the wonderfully weird cards we tracked down.

1. Walking Robins


This card, circa 1870, shows "The Robin family" taking a stroll on Christmas morning. Victorians associated robins with Christmas, and often put them on their cards.

2. Snowball Fight

/

Getty Images

Why is Father Christmas in a giant snowball on this 1879 card? There's no telling, but it doesn't look like it's going to end well.

3. Race to the Finish

/

Getty Images

The Victorians loved natural history, which might explain why a mouse rides a lobster on this 1880 card, which wishes the recipient "Paix, Joie, Sante, Bonheur," or "Peace, Joy, Health and Happiness."

4. First Flight

/

Getty Images

Just a child riding on a butterfly in this card, circa 1883. (In 2011, The Rock would reenact this scene in Journey 2: The Mysterious Island.)

5. The Cat's Meow

/

Getty Images

This 1885 card shows that the trend of festive animal attire isn't a new thing. (Although I bet my cats wish the only thing I made them wear was a ribbon).

6. O Christmas Tree

/

Getty Images

Father Christmas gets an especially creepy rendering in this card, also from 1885.

7. Woof

/

Getty Images

This disembodied dog head, delivering a goodwill message in 1899, is totally not weird at all.

8. So Foxy

/

Getty Images

Foxes were cool way before The Fantastic Mr. Fox—at least if you're judging from this card, circa 1900.

9. Big Bird

/
Photo Courtesy of the

There's no date on this card, but we just had to include it anyway. Seems like Christmas in Australia could be very unpleasant—at least if there were emus running loose.