Let’s say that you’re on your way to your uncle’s 125th birthday or to your best buddy’s 3rd wedding (3rd time’s the charm, right?), but you were rushing and accidentally picked out a card congratulating someone on their successful spinal surgery. Well, it’s not like you can return the card and pick out a new one, right? Imagine how embarrassing that would be. Not to mention you’d have to drive all the way back to the store. Ugh. It’s far easier to grab a pen and make some creative changes to the card using the power of your imagination.

The history of greeting cards is surprisingly ancient. The Greeting Card Association explains how the origins of the greeting card lie way back in ancient China, where people exchanged “messages of goodwill” to celebrate the New Year, and in ancient Egypt, where papyrus scrolls were used to send greetings.

The earliest origins of the greeting card in the West, as we know them, lie in the 1400s, when Europeans sold and exchanged handmade cards. And among them were Valentine’s Day cards!

It took another 400 years for Valentine’s Day cards to become popular and affordable. And it was in 1843 that Sir Henry Cole hired artist John Calcott Horsley to design a holiday card for his friends: the card was the first known instance of a Christmas card.

So, dear Readers, what are your thoughts about edited greeting cards? Would you give somebody one of those? Would you want one in return? What are you asking Santa for Christmas this year? Share your thoughts and insights with us in the comments.