Story: Public holidays

Christmas card (2nd of 2)

Christmas card

New Zealanders have long sent and received Christmas cards that evoke a northern-hemisphere Christmas, with images of snow and holly. Locally, however, some distinctively New Zealand cards were produced. This one from 1886 shows the famous White Terraces at Lake Rotomahana in the central North Island, which were buried in the eruption of Mt Tarawera that year. They are surrounded by sprays of blooming pōhutukawa, often called the New Zealand Christmas tree because its red flowers appear around Christmas.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: E-068-003

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, 'Public holidays - Easter, Christmas and New Year', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/ephemera/32459/christmas-card (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 20 Jun 2012, reviewed & revised 19 Apr 2023