A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....12-23,24,25,26-04...Let Us Rejoice (Our Christmas Thread)

Billie

[Billie]

(The following excerpts are from Better Homes & Gardens 1993
"Holiday Celebrations"; information & Christmas Cards furnished
by Hallmark Cards, Inc.)

Although the Christmas season has been celebrated for centuries, it wasn't until the last half of the 19th century that printed cards were widely exchanged. Until that time, only a few people sent hand-written Christmas messages - those who could read and write, and afford to pay a messenger. This changed in the mid-1800s, when many people were learning to read and write through free public schools.

The passage of the Penny Postage Act in England in 1840 finally put the price of mailing letters within almost everyone's reach.

The idea of Christmas cards came only three years after England's postal reform. Henry Cole, a London businessman, originated the practice in 1843 when he asked John Calcott Horsley, an artist in the Royal Academy, to design a card conveying his Christmas wishes. The card is believed to be the first commercially-printed Christmas card.

The first-known Christmas card, designed in 1843 by British
artist John Horsley. Only a dozen specimens of the first card
are known to exist. Two of these, including one that has never
been used, are part of the Hallmark Historical Collection in
Kansas City, Missouri.

Several of England's early greeting card companies were established in the 1860s. Cards manufactured from 1860 theough the 1890s by Publisher Charles Goodall & Son and other English competitors - Marcus Ward & Co., De La Rue & Co., and Raphael Tuck & Co. (later called Raphael Tuck & Sons) - are highly sought by collectors because of their limited availability. These cars were exported to the United States and are usually as easy to find here as the domestic cards of the same period.

Sending holiday greeting cards was slow to spread to America. For more than 30 years, the only ones available in this country were imported. Then in 1875, German immigrant Louis Prang, of Boston, began publishing an American version of the popular English missives. By 1881, only six years after the production of his first Christmas cards, Prang was printing 5 million cards a year - most of them Christmas cards. In order to acquire excellent designs, he sponsored contests for artists, with prizes up to $4,000!

Louis Prang, the "father of the American Christmas card",
published this sweet child gracing the cover of a collection
of hymns in 1888.

Prang is credited with establishing card designs with which
we're familiar today. His cards were works of art, often
incorporating as many as 20 different colors.

In the 1890s, the penny-postcard craze hit America, and soon inexpensive German-made postcards flooded the market. Although the cards were crude, the price was right. Until World War I, Germany monopolized the business.

This penny postcard, published in Germany in 1909, features
robins - popular because, according to legend, a small brown
bird fanned a fire to keep the Christ child warm. During the
vigil, the bird's breast was seared scarlet.

The modern greeting card industry began in the early 1900s with the birth of such companies as Hallmark Cards (then known as Hall brothers, Inc.), Rustcraft, Buzza, and American Greetings. Even during the Depression, printed greetings were popular. Money was scarce, so many people sent cards instead of gifts.

World War II shortages curtailed the paper supply. Giltter became more scarce than gold, but still greeting cards survived. The cards became very patriotic - the use of the flag was popular, and even often carried by Santa. Special cards were created for soldiers overseas. "Across the miles" and "Missing you" sentiments reflected the somber reality of the day.

The American flag and the Statute of Liberty are united
for freedom in this inspiring 1942 greeting card.

The Christmas card custom has weathered war, economic turmoil, and social changes spanning well over a century. It serves the timeless human need to stay close, to share special thoughts with friends far and near during our most cherished holiday seasons.

Cards have come a long way since 1843. Designs are more sophisticated; production processes have been refined. But the message on that first Christmas card is as relevant today as it was then ..... "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you".

From all of us to all of you, it is our wish that this Christmas is your best one yet; that your blessings are many; your loved ones are with you; and most of all, that Christ is in your heart.

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 12-20-04 Military Monday 12-21-04 Welcome Home, Allegra 12-22-04 Deck The Finest Halls!

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[Eaker]

Merry

* Christmas *

[Gabz]

How beautiful.

Merry Christmas to all the Finest!!!!!!

[Gabz]

Merry Christmas, dear Sir.

And Happy Birthday to our Savior.

[Billie]

Good morning, daybreakcoming (your screenname is really beautiful); I heard that you are having a wedding anniversary tomorrow, and your husband can't be with you because he is in Iraq. I know it must be a terribly lonely Christmas AND anniversary without him right there with you, but hope you have a lovely Christmas with family this year. I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and an Anniversary wish you can save for February when he gets home. :)

[Texagirl4W]

So very beautiful, Billie. My wish for everyone is that you have a very blessed, happy, safe CHRISTmas. I will be leaving shortly for vacation and might not be back here until Tuesday. Lots of catching up to do then.

[MEG33]

"From all of us to all of you, it is our wish that this Christmas is your best one yet; that your blessings are many; your loved ones are with you; and most of all, that Christ is in your heart."

Lovely sentiments, beautiful thread!..I loved the history of Christmas card,too!

Wishing all of the Finest a blessed Christmas

[phancypants]

Franklin and Delaware county (where I work and live respectively) were under level 3 emergencies when I woke up. My boss called and said not to bother coming in! So it's a delightfully unexpected 4-day-weekend!
My mom lives about 10 miles south of me, and she has no power. THANK GOD we didn't lose ours.
A friend of mine is shoveling for me since I have such a bad back and the ice is too heavy. Plus, it's a big driveway...
I feel so bad for the people I see on the news who are trying to get a flight home for Christmas. If we were allowed to drive in our city, I would love to go down to the airport and try to help them out. My grandparents are the kind of people who would always take in strangers for Christmas who had no where to go and make them feel welcome. I want to be like them!

[DollyCali]

I hope you keep your power. I feel happy to have roof over head, power, heat & a lot of food to fall back on . If power goes out, will cuddle with my pooch & take a long nap

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

God Bless Our Troops and Merry Christmas to all of the brave soldiers.

Tonight on WWE Smackdown, they are showing the wrestling from Iraq. The WWE wrestlers went to perform for the troops to boost their moral for the holidays. It airs 8:00 p.m. EST. I watched last year and is was uplifting to see the smiles on the troops faces when interacting with the wrestlers. They really enjoyed the show. There was some great behind the scenes footage as well. Even if you are not a wrestling fan, it may be worth watching.

[Darksheare]

I'm here.
Merry Christmas.

We've got a line of rain, and some thunderstorms coming.
And tonight's low temp will be 27F.

Icy conditions tonight.

[Pippin]

It's coming to Maryland too, ugh!

[Darksheare]

Saw that on the 1200 mile radar.
UGH.

No, that should rightly be "UNNNGH!"

[MeekOneGOP]

Merry Christmas!!

[Pippin]

I think it's already started!

We are getting rain right now.

[MEG33]

My son in law got caught in the Dallas snow and sleet on his trip there this week...Brrrr it's cold outside.

[Gabz]

it's currently 61, but overcast in my little corner of Virginia (Eastern shore) but the bottome is supposed to start falling out of the temps overnight.

Schools were cancelled here on Monday because of icy roads.

[luvie]

What a cheery thread to keep us company during the last few days till Christmas! Hope Santa gets to everyone's homes without problems!

[Billie]

Thanks for posting this information, Race.

[Darksheare]

Rain here as well, since sometime this morning before 6.

[Billie]

Good morning, SheLion, I love that kitty! What a face. :)

Happy Holidays!