Story: Birthdays and wedding anniversaries

Birthday postcards

The practice of sending birthday cards began in the late 19th century and soon became popular.  Some, such as these, were in fact postcards, and the sender wrote a personal message on the back.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: Eph-A-CARDS-McLeod-Birthday-001; Eph-A-CARDS-McCarthy-011; Eph-A-CARDS-McCarthy-012

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Nancy Swarbrick, 'Birthdays and wedding anniversaries - Birthday rituals', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/interactive/38843/birthday-postcards (accessed 18 April 2024)

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 5 Sep 2013