Victorian style Christmas card packs.

Depictions of dead birds on Christmas cards in Victorian times probably came from the bizarre old tradition of killing a wren or robin on St. Stephen's Day (Boxing Day) for good luck.

For centuries Christmas, not Halloween, was considered the spookiest time of year, and families spent the dark evenings gathered around the fire telling stories of death and the supernatural.

The dead birds evoked the bleakness and difficulty of winter and so may have been intended to move the recipient to charity or to remind them to be grateful for their own health and good fortune.

Maybe that’s a good thing to be reminded of this year!

Cards and tags come in packs of five.