The post office says check your mailbox on Dec. 17

Christmas card season is here. We break down the numbers.

Istockphoto

The first Christmas card in December 1843.Getty Images

CHRISTMAS CARDS: A HISTORY

1843 — British illustrator John Callcott Horsley creates the world's first commercial Christmas card for Sir Henry Cole of London. Many disliked the image of drinking and merriment — especially the Puritans.

1875 — Boston lithographer Louis Prang publishes the first American Christmas card, consisting of an inoffensive flower design and the simple words "Merry Christmas."

1915 — The first Christmas cards are produced by Hallmark, which now offers more than 2,700 designs for Christmas alone.

BREAKING DOWN THE 6.5 BILLION GREETING CARDS AMERICANS BUY ANNUALLY

Christmas — 1.6 billion

Valentine's Day — 145 million (not including classroom valentines)

Mother's Day — 133 million

Father's Day — 90 million

Graduation — 67 million

Easter — 57 million

Halloween — 21 million

Thanksgiving — 15 million

St. Patrick's Day — 7 million

WATCH YOUR MAILBOXES: The US Postal Service expects Wednesday, December 17, will be its busiest delivery day for cards and letters.

145,000 — Estimated number of seasonal workers UPS and FedEx combined are hiring to handle increased shipping — and avoid the missed deliveries of Christmas 2013

BUSIEST DAY OF THE YEAR:

UPS — Monday, December 22

FedEx — Monday, December 15

US Postal Service — Monday, December 15

PIECES DELIVERED OR PROCESSED THAT DAY:

UPS — 34 million packages delivered worldwide

FedEx — 22.6 million packages delivered worldwide

US Postal Service — 640 million cards, letters, and packages processed in the US

PIECES EXPECTED TO BE DELIVERED DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON:

UPS — more than 585 million packages during the month of December

FedEx — 290 million packages between Black Friday and Christmas Eve

US Postal Service — 15.5 billion cards, letters, and packages between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve

SHIPPING DEADLINES FOR CHRISTMAS EVE ARRIVAL:

UPS — December 22 for 2d Day Air and December 23 for Next Day Air

FedEx — It depends on where you live. Consult fedex.com/us/holiday.

US Postal Service — December 15 for domestic Standard Post, December 20 for First-Class and Priority Mail, and December 23 for Priority Mail Express

Related coverage:

- Holidays come early for greeting card designer

- More from the Magazine

---

SOURCES: Greeting Card Association; Hallmark; UPS; US Postal Service; FedEx