20 Disturbing Vintage Holiday Cards

Ever since the Victorians invented the Christmas card, people have gotten creative—and a bit bizarre—with their holiday greetings. Forget serene woodland scenes or snapshots of a family decorating a tree beside a roaring fire. From dead birds to sinister snow people, these vintage holiday cards are more disturbing than delightful.

1. “Loving Christmas Greetings”

two children staring at a dead bird — TuckDB // Public Domain

Because nothing puts you in the holiday spirit like staring at a dead bird.

2. “Have a Cake”

a child eating a star-shaped cake that has another child's head in the center — TuckDB // Public Domain

A giant dessert with a child’s face baked inside it isn’t on most holiday menus.

3. “Thoughts of You”

a lion that has just eaten a man — TuckDB // Public Domain

Being eaten by a lion will ruin even the jolliest festivities.

4. “A Happy Christmas To You”

kids watching in horror as their snowman melts — TuckDB // Public Domain

The kids watching their snowman melt were probably not having a happy Christmas.

5. “A Happy Christmas”

santa throwing a child in a bag — TuckDB // Public Domain

No one told this Santa he’s supposed to leave presents, not take children.

6. “Merry Christmas Greetings”

pigs dancing around a terrifying pig snowman — TuckDB // Public Domain

A circle of beasts dancing around their icy overlord is what nightmares are made of.

7. “A Hearty Christmas Greeting”

a row of dead frogs fallen on ice — Nova Scotia Archives, Flickr // No Known Copyright Restrictions

The Victorians were into sending morbid holiday greetings that featured dead or injured animals.

8. “A Merry Christmas”

an egg teacher whacking an egg student with a stick while another egg kid looks on — TuckDB // Public Domain

An egg teacher threatening to strike her equally yolky students with a cane doesn’t exactly scream “Merry Christmas.”

9. “With Loving Christmas Greetings”

a witch luring hansel and gretel into her cottage — TuckDB // Public Domain

Anyone familiar with the tale of Hansel and Gretel knows that despite the witch’s festive attire and abundance of gingerbread, those kids were not actually in for a loving Christmas.