Victorian Santa Christmas Wishes Greeting Card, 1890s

With one hand raised to his lips in a coy finger-to-mouth gesture, Santa has apparently decided to take a little *rest* mid-delivery, plopping himself down in the snow to strike a pose that can only be described as 'seductive woodland hermit,' his big burlap sack slumping against him like a disappointed spouse. He's clutching holly sprigs with the energy of a man who deeply regrets his career choices, while a second bag of holly and bells has simply been abandoned in the snow nearby — because apparently even Santa rage-quits sometimes. The picturesque snowy village with its charming church steeple glows innocently in the background, completely unaware that their gift-deliverer has given up and gone feral in the woods. 'Best Xmas Wishes,' declares the ornate gold-and-red lettering, which feels aspirational given that Santa looks like he's about 45 minutes into a breakdown.