Card Reading Day

A Celebration of Sentimental Scribbles and Forgotten Messages

Every February 21st, people around the world take a moment to dig through old shoeboxes, desk drawers, and memory albums in honor of Card Reading Day. Unlike holidays that focus on sending or receiving greeting cards, this day is all about revisiting the ones you’ve saved—those sentimental notes, cheesy birthday wishes, and cryptic signatures from long-lost relatives.

Cards have been a staple of human communication for centuries, from the elaborate, hand-painted valentines of the Victorian era to the modern-day, glitter-covered, musical greeting cards that startle unsuspecting recipients. Whether heartfelt, humorous, or downright questionable, cards have an uncanny ability to transport us back to the exact moment we received them. So, dust off that old pile of correspondence and prepare to be hit with a wave of nostalgia, laughter, and possibly some mild confusion.

A Brief History of Greeting Cards

The tradition of sending written greetings dates back thousands of years, but the first recognizable greeting cards as we know them today emerged in 15th-century Europe. Handmade and often painted with intricate designs, these early cards were a luxury reserved for the wealthy.

By the 19th century, thanks to advances in printing technology, greeting cards became more widely available. The Penny Post in England allowed people to send cards affordably, and soon, holidays like Christmas and Valentine’s Day were practically synonymous with sending heartfelt (or cheeky) notes.

In the 20th century, greeting cards evolved to fit every possible occasion—birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and even oddly specific ones like “Happy Divorce” and “Congrats on Your New Pet Lizard.” Companies like Hallmark revolutionized the industry, introducing pre-written sentiments, mass production, and eventually, those notorious singing cards that continue to haunt junk drawers everywhere.

Today, digital greetings and e-cards compete with traditional paper cards, but there’s something irreplaceable about a tangible note. A handwritten message on cardstock carries a charm that emojis just can’t replicate.

The Joy (and Mystery) of Card Reading

Card Reading Day is all about reminiscing—and sometimes, deciphering the mysteries left behind in our old correspondence. Here’s what you’re likely to encounter when you revisit your collection:

1. Sentimental Treasures: You might find an old birthday card from a grandparent, complete with a heartfelt message and possibly a few crisp dollar bills that got wedged between the pages. These cards remind us of the relationships that shaped us, filled with warm wishes and well-meaning advice.
2. The Illegible Scribbles: Ever received a card from a distant relative whose handwriting looks like a secret code? If you’re lucky, the message might be decipherable with enough patience—or you can just assume it was a lovely note and move on.
3. The Over-the-Top Humor Cards: That ridiculously corny joke card from your uncle? Still funny. Maybe even funnier now. Puns and dad jokes age like fine wine, which is to say, questionably, but with undeniable charm.
4. Mystery Signatures: There’s always that one card signed by “Aunt Patty & Uncle Jim”, and for the life of you, you cannot recall having an Aunt Patty or an Uncle Jim. Were they long-lost relatives? Family friends? Did they just sign the wrong card? The world may never know.
5. The Passive-Aggressive Holiday Notes: You might stumble upon an old Christmas letter filled with suspiciously specific bragging about a cousin’s achievements ("Jeremy just got promoted…again. But of course, we’re just so happy for him!"). These gems are a reminder that some things never change, including the art of the subtle humblebrag.
6. The Cards That Still Make You Cry: Some cards carry more than just words—they carry memories. A note from a loved one who’s no longer around, a letter from an old friend, or even just a sweet message that meant the world to you at the time. These cards remind us of the connections that matter most.

How to Celebrate Card Reading Day

Since this isn’t a day about sending or receiving cards, the focus is on revisiting and appreciating the ones you already have. Here are some great ways to observe the day:

1. Dig Through Old Cards
Go ahead, open that old box of birthday cards, flip through your childhood scrapbooks, or finally organize the stack of holiday greetings collecting dust. You never know what forgotten treasures you’ll find.
2. Share Your Favorites
Got a hilarious, touching, or completely bizarre card? Share it! Post it on social media, text a picture to the sender, or read a few to your family for a trip down memory lane.
3. Display Special Cards
If you have a particularly meaningful card, consider framing it or placing it somewhere special. A heartfelt note from a loved one can be a daily reminder of the people who care about you.
4. Send a Thank You
If you find a card that still makes you smile, why not send a quick message to the person who gave it to you? A simple “Hey, I just re-read your birthday card from five years ago, and it still made my day!” is a great way to reconnect.
5. Start a Card-Saving Tradition
If you’re not already saving your greeting cards, today is a great day to start. You’ll thank yourself years down the road when you stumble upon a gem from the past.

Fun Facts About Greeting Cards

• The Oldest Valentine’s Card – The oldest known Valentine’s Day card dates back to 1415 and was written by the Duke of Orleans while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London.
• Hallmark’s Beginnings – Hallmark was founded in 1910 by Joyce Clyde Hall, who started by selling postcards before expanding into greeting cards.
• Musical Cards Were an Accident – The first musical greeting cards were created by mistake when a manufacturer found that inserting tiny sound chips made them more appealing. Now, they haunt desk drawers everywhere.
• Pop-Up Cards Are Over 100 Years Old – The first known pop-up greeting cards appeared in the late 19th century, proving that people have always loved a little extra flair in their messages.
• There’s a Card for That – You can find greeting cards for almost anything, from "Congratulations on Your New Boat" to "Sorry I Forgot Our Anniversary (Again)."

Reading old cards is a little like opening a time capsule—except instead of buried treasures, you’re greeted with glitter explosions and surprisingly philosophical birthday wishes. You might find a toddler-level crayon drawing you once received that was supposed to be a cat but looks more like an abstract tornado. You might uncover a card from an old crush and momentarily relive the drama of teenage romance.

And let’s not forget the undeniable truth about holiday cards: for every heartfelt note, there’s one where the sender just wrote their name. Nothing says "Merry Christmas" like a hastily scribbled "From, Steve."

At the end of the day, Card Reading Day is a celebration of the small but meaningful ways we connect with each other. Whether your collection is full of tear-jerking sentiments or laugh-out-loud disasters, take a moment to appreciate the people behind the ink. And if you find an old card with money still inside? Well, consider it a belated gift from the past—you deserve it.

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