A Brief History of All Wrapping Paper
It’s estimated that we use about 8,000 metric tons of wrapping paper each annual holiday season, which shows us that wrapping paper is as much of a holiday staple as gifts themselves. But, when did this tradition begin, and how has the concept of gift-wrapping evolved with each passing decade?
It All Began a Century Ago
The history of holiday wrapping paper dates back to 1917, with a story that has become something of a legend over the years. Brothers J.C. and Rollie Hall ran a stationary shop in Kansas City, Missouri at the time, and sold what was then the traditional means for wrapping holiday gifts: tissue paper in the colors red, white and green. When they ran out that year, they grabbed the heavy, embellished French paper used to line envelopes, and sold it by the roll as an alternative to the standard tissue paper, which became an overnight success. Two years later, they were producing what we now consider to be holiday wrapping paper, and turned it into a massive empire. They named their company Hallmark.
Wrapping Gifts is an Older Tradition Than You May Think
Wrapping gifts wasn’t something new at the time of their innovation. Evidence shows that gifts have been wrapped since the 1300s, with evidence of wrapping paper being used widely throughout Japan in a highly decorative way known as “Furoshiki” in the 17th Century. And, in the 19th Century, celebrated wallpaper designer William Morris launched wrapping paper that featured his distinctive motifs.
Of course, the earliest forms of wrapping paper looked quite different from what we have now. The paper was made from natural materials, and typically had less detailed and vivid designs due to the high cost of ink up until the last century. Still, it proves that there’s something timeless about the excitement and anticipation of opening a gift concealed in wrapping, along with the enjoyment of decorating a gift to make it extra special for the recipient.
The first instance of wrapping holiday gifts in recorded history takes us to the 14th century in Korea, when gifts were wrapped in fabric during the Three Kingdoms Period. It was believed that by wrapping gifts, the recipient would receive good luck and protection from harm.
By the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, Western tradition was to wrap gifts in colored tissue paper – the same tissue paper being sold by the company that would become Hallmark, the greatest commercial wrapping paper manufacturer in history.
The Evolution of Wrapping Paper Material
Hallmark’s wrapping paper was most likely made from wood pulp, which is simply a form of paper that’s thicker than that which we write on. But, over the years, companies have found ways to cut down on manufacturing costs by incorporating synthetics like polyethylene and various laminates into their wrapping paper formulas, which are much cheaper to source. As a result, much of the late 20th century and early 21st century wrapping paper has been nonrecyclable, leading to a whole lot of waste.
Eco-Friendly Wrapping Paper: A New Era
Thankfully, an influx of consumers are seeking out eco-friendly wrapping paper in order to do their part to protect the environment. Companies like Waterleaf Paper use strictly recyclable, ethically and sustainably sourced wrapping paper materials that are fully biodegradable to leave behind zero waste. We believe that this will become the new standard as time goes on, as we realize that the use of these synthetics is irresponsible, especially when we consider the amount of wrapping paper that’s used each and every year to wrap holiday gifts for our loved ones.
