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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[Victoria Delsoul]

You make such beautiful threads, Billie. Thanks.

Merry Christmas to you all.

[The Mayor]

How sweet!

Thank you Victoria.
God Bless you!

[Victoria Delsoul]

Same to you, Mayor.

[mista science]

Where'd you get your name? Never knew of it (twit?) being spelled that way except by me when reading something where it(twit) was used inappropriately, er..., t'wit, wrong place, wrong way, or wrong frequency.

[Billie]

How wonderful that we on Christmas morn,
Though centuries have passed since Christ was born,
May worship still the Living Lord of men,
Our Savior, Jesus, Babe of Bethlehem. —Hutchings

img src="http://members.aol.com/billiews2/Peace_on_earth.gif">

[The Mayor]

Thank you Billie!
Merry Christmas to you..

[snugs]

I hope that your back is not too bad and that your friend has managed to clear your driveway. I break up from work tomorrow and then am off until the 4th a lovely 10 day break.

[Billie]

Merry Christmas, Pippin. Have a blessed one.

Hope your Christmas is filled
with love and happy faces.

[Billie]

Be careful & Merry Christmas!

[Conspiracy Guy]

Merry Christmas to you Billie. I hope to find time to write for you graphics after the New Year. I have been so busy since dad passed away that I can't find time.

[Billie]

You find (or do you make them ?) the neatest graphics

Hi, Dolly - thank you. :) Actually, I make all my text 'headings' and 'do something to' most of the graphics I use (IN THE OPENING POSTS - not always or even usually in the comments) - even if it's just adding a drop shadow or changing a color or cutting someting out or pasting something in. Thanks for saying something about them.

[Billie]

A beautiful opening.

Thank you, kassie. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas.

[phancypants]

Hey, snugs! Sounds like a good vacation!
Well, I got brave and went out to help with the driveway.
We got halfway done and we're about to do some more before it gets dark. My back is starting to hurt but I'll live!
We've got over a foot of snow...no mail...no garbage pick-up...I went to the grocery store and it was like a ghost town, on the day before Christmas Eve! I wish shopping was always that easy.

[Billie]

OOPS! Thanks for fixing it for me! :) Funny what a difference just one little bitty bracket makes. :)

[Billie]

Good afternoon, Gail. Rain, then snow....I can imagine it's a bit messy there. Is it freezing, too? That's going to make it very dangerous to get out in.

Am thinking about you - know your Christmas this year will be sad without your husband.

[Billie]

Beautiful Post Billie. Love the Christmas tree with the signatures at the end, thanks for including mine.

Thank you, Sweet Sistah Susie, and thanks for all you mean to the rest of us, too. You are a blessing and a joy.

Thanks for playing the Mele Kalikimaka song again today!

[Billie]

Gabz, thank you, and hope that you and your family have a merry and bright and beautiful Christmas!

[MeekOneGOP]

Yep, it sure is cold. Gonna get colder too. 16 degrees tonight.

http://members.aol.com/LILAUTHOR1/fireplace.gif

[Billie]

I'm glad you stopped in before leaving for New Orleans. Hope your trip is safe! Have a wonderful long weekend, and we'll see you when you get back next week.

[Billie]

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

Thank you, Meg.

Hope that yours *is*
the best holiday yet.