How can a simple act of extending festive wishes cause a scandal? That too when the festival brings the entire family together? But it did happen over the first commercially printed Christmas card more than 150 years ago.

Wishing our loved ones on Christmas, giving gifts and greeting cards is something that seems absolutely normal. But it wasn't so more than a century ago. Christmas was a festival celebrated with fervour, yes. But the idea of commercially printing Christmas greeting cards wasn't as widespread.

And incidentally, the very first such card created a controversy, so much so that a Christmas card could not be printed three years after that.

This card was printed in England. It was designed by Henry Cole and illustrated by John Callcott Horsley. It was printed in 1843, the same year 'A Christmas Carol' was published by Charles Dickens.

Just 1000 of these cards were printed. The card prominently featured a picture of a family happily celebrating Christmas. Puritans of the era were angry at the card.

Surely a family celebrating Christmas can't make anyone angry right?

Well, the reason for puritans' anger was in the picture itself. The picture depicted a young girl in the family playfully sipping wine from her parent's glass. If you take a look at the picture the girl is quite&nbsp;visible.

Although the depiction is enough to give an impression of innocence, the Christmas card angered the traditional set of the society. So much was the anger that such a card could not be printed for next three years.

What do you think? Was the anger justified?

How can a simple act of extending festive wishes cause a scandal? That too when the festival brings the entire family together? But it did happen over the first commercially printed Christmas card more than 150 years ago.

How can a simple act of extending festive wishes cause a scandal? That too when the festival brings the entire family together? But it did happen over the first commercially printed Christmas card more than 150 years ago. Wishing our loved ones on Christmas, giving gifts and greeting cards is something that seems absolutely normal. But it wasn't so more than a century ago. Christmas was a festival celebrated with fervour, yes. But the idea of commercially printing Christmas greeting cards wasn't as widespread. And incidentally, the very first such card created a controversy, so much so that a Christmas card could not be printed three years after that. This card was printed in England. It was designed by Henry Cole and illustrated by John Callcott Horsley. It was printed in 1843, the same year 'A Christmas Carol' was published by Charles Dickens. Just 1000 of these cards were printed. The card prominently featured a picture of a family happily celebrating Christmas. Puritans of the era were angry at the card. Surely a family celebrating Christmas can't make anyone angry right? Well, the reason for puritans' anger was in the picture itself. The picture depicted a young girl in the family playfully sipping wine from her parent's glass. If you take a look at the picture the girl is quite visible. Although the depiction is enough to give an impression of innocence, the Christmas card angered the traditional set of the society. So much was the anger that such a card could not be printed for next three years. What do you think? Was the anger justified?

Here's how first-ever commercially printed Christmas card started controversy

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-needs-to-do-more-to-stop-violence-resolve-problems-government-268621">Hong Kong</a> residents have been gathering across the city on weekends and in lunch breaks to write <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/migrants-gather-at-us-mexico-border-for-christmas-party-268529">Christmas</a> cards to injured protesters and those in detention as anti-government demonstrations grind on through the holiday season.

"I don't even want to celebrate because so many people are seriously injured," said office worker Felix Wong, 35, choking up in tears as she spoke.

"We didn't forget about them. We're not partying 'We can celebrate later, not now'," she said when asked what she had written in her cards.

Wong was one of a dozen office workers and residents who dropped by a central shopping area on Monday to drop off their Christmas cards.

Volunteers in black masks and baseball caps collected them in boxes as tourists walked by, passing shop windows decorated with gingerbread houses, Christmas presents, and tinsel.

Hong Kong has been embroiled in more than six months of anti-government protests which show no sign of abating. Police have arrested 6,060 people since the unrest began, with 977 charged with various offenses including unlawful assembly, common assault, and criminal damage, as of December&nbsp;12.

The ages of those arrested range from 11 to 84, according to police. Police do not say how many of them are in detention.

On the weekend, a line of people waited at the entrance of the train station in the Mong Kok district to drop off their cards at a booth manned by volunteers and equipped with screens showing videos of clashes with police.

Bonnie Lock, a 52-year old housewife, dropped off her card with a crowd of her neighbours.

"As Christmas and Chinese New Year approaches, I want to show some support, to let them know that we, the peaceful protesters miss them very much," Lock said.

"We hope they can feel some warmth and won't feel that lonely."

The protesters are angry about what they see as an encroachment by China on wide-ranging autonomy Hong Kong was guaranteed under a "one country, two systems" framework which governs the former British colony.

China has rejected the complaints.

Protests are scheduled to continue across the city through the rest of the week and into Christmas.

Hong Kong residents have been gathering across the city on weekends and in lunch breaks to write Christmas cards to injured protesters and those in detention as anti-government demonstrations grind on through the holiday season.

Hong Kong residents have been gathering across the city on weekends and in lunch breaks to write Christmas cards to injured protesters and those in detention as anti-government demonstrations grind on through the holiday season. "I don't even want to celebrate because so many people are seriously injured," said office worker Felix Wong, 35, choking up in tears as she spoke. "We didn't forget about them. We're not partying 'We can celebrate later, not now'," she said when asked what she had written in her cards. Wong was one of a dozen office workers and residents who dropped by a central shopping area on Monday to drop off their Christmas cards. Volunteers in black masks and baseball caps collected them in boxes as tourists walked by, passing shop windows decorated with gingerbread houses, Christmas presents, and tinsel. Hong Kong has been embroiled in more than six months of anti-government protests which show no sign of abating. Police have arrested 6,060 people since the unrest began, with 977 charged with various offenses including unlawful assembly, common assault, and criminal damage, as of December 12. The ages of those arrested range from 11 to 84, according to police. Police do not say how many of them are in detention. On the weekend, a line of people waited at the entrance of the train station in the Mong Kok district to drop off their cards at a booth manned by volunteers and equipped with screens showing videos of clashes with police. Bonnie Lock, a 52-year old housewife, dropped off her card with a crowd of her neighbours. "As Christmas and Chinese New Year approaches, I want to show some support, to let them know that we, the peaceful protesters miss them very much," Lock said. "We hope they can feel some warmth and won't feel that lonely." The protesters are angry about what they see as an encroachment by China on wide-ranging autonomy Hong Kong was guaranteed under a "one country, two systems" framework which governs the former British colony. China has rejected the complaints. Protests are scheduled to continue across the city through the rest of the week and into Christmas.

"We can celebrate later": Hong Kongers pen Christmas cards to protesters

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Here's how first-ever commercially printed Christmas card started controversy

"We can celebrate later": Hong Kongers pen Christmas cards to protesters