Rebus Christmas Card

In 1930 Charles celebrated his first Christmas as a father. For the holiday, his sister, Adele Eleanor Franks, received this unconventional Christmas card from Catherine, Charles, and newborn Lucia. Charles designed the card to fold in on itself so that it could be easily mailed despite its long format. A long string of symbols make up the family’s cryptic greeting. Instead of relying on words, Charles devised a rebus, using a combination of pictures and individual letters to represent words and phrases. When Lucia was older, Charles would send her letters in rebus form as a kind of lighthearted secret message between father and daughter.

The translation for this rebus is: Marry (two people getting married) Christ Mass to you (stew) all (awl) and to all (wall) a good night. Catherine, Lucia, and Charles