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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[Billie]

Billie! I am shocked! This is all quite politically incorrect and beautiful. Even as I write, if you look out your window, you will see Scrooge, Mr. Grinch and the ACLU demonstrating on your front lawn and chanting, "No more Christmas!"

LOL as I thank you for your compliment! Let's see if I can find a graphic that meets with *their* approval. :)

[luvie]

This from West Texas: we had snow yesterday, and it looks like some more snow is creeping down from the Amarillo area and might be here by this afternoon. Now, we don't get a White Christmas very often, so it could be kinda nice--if everyone will stay safe!

[Billie]

Good morning Billie!! This is a Beautiful page this morning for a Wonderful subject..........

Thank you, Dan - we try to do the real meaning of Christmas as our last Christmas thread for the year, after cute snowmen and Santas and stuff. :) Hope you and Dansy have the very best Christmas back in Florida this year and that next year will see good things fall in place one after the other.

[Pippin]

erch!

[lysie]

Beautiful, Billie.

[Billie]

Thank you, Dansy, for being part of our sistahhood since 'almost' the beginning! And thanks for the "Wow".... :)

This is mostly a repost from last Christmas, but like Lori did with her Thanksgiving thread, I changed a background and updated the *signatures* at the end of the opening post.

[The Mayor]

Hi Gabz

Merry Christmas to you!
and Thank you!

[Billie]

Thank you, Eaker! And Merry Christmas!

[Gabz]

You're excused..................LOL!!!

[Billie]

Merry Christmas to everyone's favorite owl. :)

[Gabz]

No, Thank you for your beautiful inspirationals.

As fun as this is, I must get back to my sewing, before hubby has enough daddy/daughter time and they arrive back on the front step after their shopping expedition!!!

Be back later!

[Pippin]

LOL!

Thanks!

But here in Baltimore and in AAco. it's supposed to be 57 degrees but it's supposed to be rainy and getting colder, tonight it's supposed to get down into the 20's.

[Billie]

It is a winter wonderland...just in time to celebrate Christmas.

Merry Christmas, phancy!

[SheLion]

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

heh heh! Looks like she had too much egg nog. LOL!

[The Mayor]

Hi Pippin

Merry Christmas to you..

[Gabz]

even though the temperature is up at the moment, the wind is really wicked. there is a loose bolt in one of the window awnings and with each gust it bangs against the side of the house and gets the dogs going.

sheesh.

[Pippin]

Same to you, (((TM)))!

[Pippin]

sounds like mom and dad's place.

[Billie]

Good morning, Other Sistah D! Thank you, too, for being our sistah, and thank you for never failing to support and compliment the others. Wishing you a Merry Christmas from my heart.

We're snowed in...our county is declared a level 3 emergency which means its illegal to be on the roads except in emergencies. But we have electricity, food, water, and it is very beautiful. Will try to post some pictures later.

Oh, would love to see some of your snow pictures! Stay warm!

[dansangel]

I guess because I'm usually out of town and on slow dial-up at Christmas, I must not have remembered the Christmas card story. I can recall being very frustrated trying to access FR, and especially the Finest, from Mom's computer and dreadfully slow ISP. :-)

This year I'm seeing things differently from the comfort of my own computer. So, it's definitely not a rerun for me.

We made it back home from going out for a couple of hours with our sanity intact. It's getting crazy out there as last-minute shoppers make their way to the stores!