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!

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

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[jwfiv]

Just too beautiful, Billie ... good grief, so lovely and perfectly Christmassy ... I'm sure that Santa caught this one, so be ready for extra goodies in your stocking ... )

Merry Christmas to our Hostesses and Host ... may God bless you all with His abundant Love ... thank you for making our days so Fine.

[The Mayor]

Thank you my friend!

Merry Christmas and God Bless!

[Billie]

I'll be back after lunch to catch up with my pings. Stay off the icy roads, everyone!

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

We need more Hollywood actors like this guy:

041222-N-0357S-002 San Diego, Calif. (Dec. 22, 2004) – Actor and former Marine R. Lee Ermey, well known for his role as Gunnery Sgt. Hartman in the film “Full Metal Jacket” and the television show “Mail Call”, shares a laugh with Lance Cpl. Luke Connally at Naval Medical Center San Diego, Calif. Ermey came to the medical center to speak with wounded Marines and personally thank them for their service and sacrifice that they have made during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and the Global War on Terrorism. U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 1st Class Joshua Smith (RELEASED)

[dansangel]

A Blessed and Merry Christmas to all of my FReeper FRiends and to Everyone at the Finest

[RaceBannon]

Big Merry Christmas to YOU, Miss!

[Gabz]

Hubby promised to fix the bolts when he gets back later this afternoon.

[Gabz]

A Blessed and Merry Christmas to you as well.

[dansangel]

Thank you ((((((Gabz))))))

Stay warm and safe!

[austingirl]

Christmas greetings to all from cold Austin, Texas. I am praying for our troops around the globe.

[backhoe]

Merry Christmas to you and Dan, and your families.

[dansangel]

Missed seeing you guys this past Fall. Looking forward to having the opportunity this coming year ((((backhoe and Em and Taffy))))))

[Pippin]

KIeep him to that promise! :o)

[Gabz]

LOL!!!!

Keeping hubby to promises is not a job I have to take on very often!

In fact he just called me, double checking that he hadn't forgotten anything on my list for him while he was keeping the yung'un out of the house so I could finish my sewing.

I just called the seafood market to make sure they had oysters, because if they didn't it would be a wasted trip for him. Phone calls like that remind me why I enjoy living here so much. I've gotten to know the family that owns the market so I don't hesitate to call. It's a good thing I called - because technically they are not open but she does have oysters that came in from Chincoteague less than an hour ago!!!! and she told me to tell hubby to go to the house instead of the store because that's where she'll be!!!!

I love the folks around here!

[jwfiv]

I put on my winter coat just to say Merry Christmas, Mr. Wolf.

May this Christmas Day find a cool electric train set, a rocking horse, some army guys, an airplane and a rocketship under your tree.

Thanks for taking such good care of all the Finest babes ... you're my hero ... )

[Pippin]

Sounds like you and your husband live in a great place. I hear the Eastern Shore (of Maryland) is wonderful and the fo9lks there are really nice. I sa the ES of Maryland because I think, if my geography serves me right, that Virginia's ES is in the same area, (we call it DelMarVa)

[phancypants]

Thanks, Billie!
Same to you and your family.

[506trooper]

Merry Christmas. Have a safe and joyous Holiday.

[phancypants]

I am blessed today to have warmth and safety.
So many others in my own city do not and my thoughts are with them.
I think a quick nap might be in order!

[Gabz]

We call it DelMarVa also. We've only lived here 18 months, but my husband grew up in Delaware and I lived there for 21 years.

There is a portion of Delaware not considered part of DelMarVA - the northern part above the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. Unfortunately that is also where the majority of the population is located, and it has taken on a decidely BLUE nature, much to the detriment of the rest of the state which is, for the most part, solidly red.

That's why we're where we are.

The ES of Maryland is just as great a place, I worked at a radio station in Caroline County, and now I actually spend a bunch of time there because I'm only 8 miles or so from the state line and it tends to be convenient for shopping purposes, particularly the large chains (Lowe's, Wal-Mart, etc) which aren't here.