Jesus Christ and the Nativity are often represented on Christmas cards. But even practising Christians tend to prefer secular designs such as winter scenes, flowers or animals to religious imagery. This was as true in Victorian England as it is today. According to George Buday, author of the first truly exhaustive text on Christmas cards and their history (published in 1954), 'the explanation may be that the Christmas card from its beginning was more closely associated in the minds of the senders with the social aspect--the festivities connected with Christmas than with the religious function of the season.' Nevertheless, some publishers produced greetings crads like this example, which were specifically spiritual in subject matter, drawing upon images recalling Old Master paintings as well as creating more 'modern' illustrations.