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A New Year card is a secular version of a Christmas card. It is mostly used by non-religious persons, who have no interest in referring to Christmas or using Christian symbols. A focus is given to the new year and to the wishes of "happiness", "health", "contentment" and "success" in the forthcoming year.
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Usage
New Year cards are often used by atheists, non-religious people, and people from mixed religious backgrounds. New Year cards are also popular in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Inscriptions
Following the tradition established by the New Year cards of Karel Chotek z Chotkova a Vojnína, the highest Burgrave of Bohemia (function roughly similar to a prime minister) between 1826 and 1843, Czechs and Slovaks still use the old French inscription pour féliciter, or "P.F.", together with the number of forthcoming year, standing for "be happy in the forthcoming year". The author of many Chotek's New Year Cards was Prague painter and engraver Josef Bergler.
Symbols
New Year cards are often, however not necessarily, free of Christian and Christmas symbols. Some of them are abstract, some depict nature or winter symbolics of snow and some are witty. Many New Years cards are home-made and therefore more related to the personality of the author. Some New Year cards are depict semi-secularised symbols of Christmas, like the Christmas tree.