English Language workshop by 
Harmony Hannigan in Arenas de San Pedro

In Britain and other countries there is a very extended tradition of giving greeting cards for different occasions including Christmas, Easter, and Valentine's day. They are also sent for birthdays, to say thank you or to wish someone good luck. 

The history of greeting cards:

By the early 15th century, handmade paper greeting cards were being exchanged in Europe. The Germans are known to have printed New Year's greetings from woodcuts as early as 1400, and handmade paper Valentines were being exchanged in various parts of Europe in the early to mid-15th century, with the oldest Valentine in existence being in the British Museum. 

By the 1850s, the greeting card had been transformed from a relatively expensive, handmade and hand-delivered gift to a popular and affordable means of personal communication, due largely to advances in printing, mechanization, and a reduction in postal rates with the introduction of the postage stamp.

This was followed by new trends like Christmas cards, the first of which appeared in published form in London in 1843 when Sir Henry Cole hired an artist to design a holiday card that he could send to his friends and acquaintances

In the 1860s, companies began the mass production of greeting cards. They employed well-known artists as illustrators and card designers

Technical developments like colour lithography in 1930 propelled the manufactured greeting card industry forward. Humorous greeting cards, known as studio cards, became popular in the late 1940s and 1950s.

Hallmark is one of the biggest greeting card companies, based in America and founded in 1910.

There is a very large market for alternative and handmade greeting cards.

Types of greeting cards:

Thank you - Get well - Good luck in exams, driving tests … - 

Humorous (from witty to smutty) -

Birthday - Weddings and anniversaries - Christmas - 

Easter - Mother's day / Father's day - 

Valentine's day - New baby - New job - House-warming - 

Sympathy - Pop up cards   -   Blank cards 

Get well soon, we are all missing you!

Have a great birthday! I wish your dreams come true today!

Congratulations on your new job!

Good luck in your driving test!

Welcome to the new member of the family!

Congratulations for your wedding! May your future together bring you joy and fulfilment.

Happy Birthday! Wishing you all the best on your special day!

Happy Birthday! I used to think I was good at maths, and then I tried counting your candles.

Happy Anniversary! It has been a joy to be at your side these past years and I look forward to sharing my future with you.

Our heart-felt condolences over the loss of your dear father, may he rest in peace.

My most sincere condolences for the passing away of your mother.

Thank you for all your help and support, I am here for you when you need me

Thank you for the great birthday present, I will think of you every day that I wear it!

Wishing you happiness in your new home!

Wishing you a happy Christmas and a prosperous new year!

Happy birthday and don´t worry, now you can get the best seat on the bus!    

Grammar:

Imperative e.g. “Get well”

Exclamation e.g. “Congratulations!”

Gerund e.g. “Wishing”

Arenas de San Pedro 14 de abril de 2016