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    These Weird and Funny Victorian New Year’s Cards Prove People Have Always Been Weird

    We like to think we've cornered the market on being quirky, funny, and downright bizarre—like humor only became a thing in the age of memes. And sure, we've come a long way in terms of cat gifs and Photoshop battles, but let's not pretend people 200 years ago were all serious and boring. If anything, the Victorians had their own brand of weird, and it's on full display in these bizarre New Year's cards from the late 1800s.

    Apparently, the Victorians thought nothing said "Happy New Year!" like frogs riding lobsters, children wrestling oversized insects, or pigs doing… well, whatever pigs do. These cards are proof that people have always been wonderfully strange, and our modern-day memes might just be a continuation of a long-standing tradition of human absurdity. So, let's take a moment to appreciate the fact that weirdness isn't new—it's timeless.

    Author image for John Summers John Summers
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    • 01

      Hunting for a better year

      ISHING YOU A BRIGHT AND CLAD PEW YEAR
      via Vintage Everyday
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    • 02

      Somehow... the dinosaurs returned

      THE CO IMENS CON SEON IDEAL IMPRESSION OF A FUTURE GREATION DISCOVERED BY PROFESSORS ICHTHYOSAURUS, MEGALOSAURUS, &
      via Vintage Everyday
    • 03

      And we think we had a bad year

      Gout Catarrhe! 0 Rheumatiem! The Campliments of the Season!!! Buchay
      via Vintage Everyday
    • 04

      That's enough Victorian internet for today

      A-STRIKE Wishing you a Happy New Year.
      via Vintage Everyday
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    • 05

      I don't get it. Was it a leap year?

      HAPPY DEW YEAR
      via Vintage Everyday
    • 06

      Greetings from the devil

      I have come to Greet you
      via Vintage Everyday
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    • 07

      Happy new year, Hoping a bear eats you!

      A HAPPY CHRISTMAS A hearty Welcome
      via Vintage Everyday
    • 08

      Making soup out of the previous year. Somehow relatable

      HAPPY NEW YEAR 1890 SOUP
      via Vintage Everyday
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    • 09

      Nothing says happy new year like woodland creatures roasting a rat

      WITH THE COMPLIMENTS OF THE SEASON
      via Vintage Everyday
    • 10

      Oh look, more rats!

      WITH THE COMPLIMENTS OF THE SEASON
      via Vintage Everyday
    • 11

      Seems like they had a rat problem back then

      THE COMPLIMENTS OF THE SEASON.
      via Vintage Everyday
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    • 12

      Oh look, it's me

      YOU A WISH HAPPY NEW YEAR.
      via Vintage Everyday
    • 13

      This one feeds the past year to a spider-sun. alrighty then

      Happy New Year
      via Vintage Everyday
    • 14

      wow they really hated 1889

      1890 OBLIVION 1889 R-R HAPPY NEW YEAR
      via Vintage Everyday
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    • 15

      Carving Out New Year Wishes

      YNWYEAR
      via Ranker
    • 16

      Resolutions Are Like Bubbles

      A NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION CI Good Resolution Jan. 1 Each refolution that I make My conscience sorely troubles Because find they always break Soap Bubbles As easy ad
      via Ranker
    • 17

      Kicking The Old Year Into Oblivion

      OBLIVION 1890 Happy New Year
      via Ranker
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    • 18

      OMG, this is like one of them wholesome memes your grandma sends you on Facebook

      HAPPY NEW YEAR! Let's all turn over a new leaf and be good Dwig COPYRIGHTEDDY BAYR
      via Ranker
    • 19

      Baby New Year Making An Entrance

      HAPPY NEW YEAR 1890
      via Ranker
    • 20

      It's a baby on a butterfly

      ERAS I COME TO WISH YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR.
      via Ranker
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    • 21

      I don't know about the cussing

      NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION January 1 To Gossip Slang and Cuss-words Ibida lagt "Adieu" And place a bridle on my tongue And thoughtless actions, too!
      via Ranker
    • 22

      Is that god or the grim reaper?

      Happy New Yea 13189
      via Ranker
    • 23

      Oh look, cats!

      LAPPY NE EW YEAR! Avancir
      via Ranker
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    • 24

      Did the kids hatch out of the egg or did the chick?

      •Wishing you a Happy New Yea Par.
      via Ranker
    • 25

      Just naked babies drinking Champagne

      A bappy New Year to you.
      via Ranker
    • 26

      1889 sleeping with the fishes

      1890 HAPPY NEW YEAR
      via Ranker
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    • 27

      They seem up to no good

      IF E'ER YOU MAKE A LUCKY HIT MARCUS WARD & CO. - BE SURE YOU MAKE THE BEST OF IT A HAPPY NEW YEAR
      via Ranker
    • 28

      Maybe 2020 wasn't as bad as 1889

      4890 Happy New Year
      via Ranker

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