Happy Returns - Christmas Comes But Once a Year
Christmas Card
ca. 1860-ca. 1880 (made)
ca. 1860-ca. 1880 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Robins and holly began to feature on Christmas cards from about the 1850s, but they have a long symbolic history. In Norse mythology the robin was associated with Thor, god of thunder, and ancient druids believed that holly would protect them against evil spirits. Medieval Christian traditions drew associations between the red berries of holly and the robin's red breast with the blood of Christ.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Happy Returns - Christmas Comes But Once a Year (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Colour lithograph, paper-lace, fabric appliqué, etc. |
| Brief description | Christmas card with an illustration of two robins, colour lithograph, English ca. 1860- ca. 1880. |
| Physical description | Christmas card with a colour illustration of two robin birds, one wearing a top hat and the other a bonnet. |
| Dimensions | No dimensions given in accession record. |
| Marks and inscriptions | 'A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year / Happy Returns - Christmas Comes But Once a Year.' (Lettered) |
| Credit line | Bequeathed by Guy Tristram Little |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Robins and holly began to feature on Christmas cards from about the 1850s, but they have a long symbolic history. In Norse mythology the robin was associated with Thor, god of thunder, and ancient druids believed that holly would protect them against evil spirits. Medieval Christian traditions drew associations between the red berries of holly and the robin's red breast with the blood of Christ. |
| Bibliographic reference | Victoria and Albert Museum Department of Prints and Drawings and Department of Paintings Accessions 1953 London: HMSO, 1963 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.2023-1953 |
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| Record created | June 30, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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