A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....12-24,25,26-03 ~ Let Us Rejoice

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 12-22-03 Military Monday 12-23-03 Christmas Music

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

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me a FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

Click on the photo to view the album. To
submit your photo, please contact dansangel or .45Man
at
danbh59@yahoo.com
and include Freeper Photo Album in subject line.

[WVNan]

I know it's late, but I'm jumping in here finally to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. You are first Billie. Thank you for a year of fun, friends and memories. This Finest place means more to me than you know. From my heart I wish you a.....

[WVNan]

Mama_Bear, thank you for giving us such a wonderful view of these United States. We look forward to more of them in the coming year. I wish for you to...

[ST.LOUIE1]

Uh-Oh!! You're in trouble...

...you haven't given Wolfie his Christmas hug. Bad girl. : (

[JulieRNR21]

Merry Christmas to All the Finest FReepers from Georgio & me!</center?

[JulieRNR21]

OOPs...let me try that again:

Merry Christmas to All the Finest FReepers from Georgio & Julie

[WVNan]

Freezy, thank you for the many many laughs you have brought to us to lighten our hearts. May your childlike spirit know the joy and peace of Christmas.

[WVNan]

Aqua, thank you for all the beautiful music and lovely threads you created. Your loving heart shows through the images and the sounds. May the music of the soul of Christmas sound in your heart.

[WVNan]

dutchess,and Gizmo, thank you for all the wonderful interviews with the fuzzy folk. You have given us an insight into the hearts of God's "other" creatures. May you know the unconditional love that is the meaning of Christmas.

[LadyX]

Now we can say it truly *is* Christmas with you back among us, dear Louie - -

Yes - how close we feel to whoever and all others so precious in our lives who have gone to be with the Lord - Angelique and Lynne and several others...

The beauty is that they were a gift to us to enjoy and appreciate for a time, and are there rooting for us, anxious for us to join them in Paradise!

I suspect ofMagog awaits us, too, no one hearing again since he announced he was going in the hospital for thorough testing in March.
The only mail since was from his daughter asking we not ping him again, but no word per se.

At Christmas, we reflect on the joys of friends and fellowship, and most especially, those here among our Finest Family.

May God bless each and everyone seeing this - -

[WVNan]

Dansy, thank you for your dedication to providing us with interesting threads and for your devotion to the troops. May the hope of Christmas be realized in your heart.

[LadyX]

And to you, my dear Sistah of The Spirit, may God shower you and Jack with blessings in abundance today and always...I thank Him for so wonderfully enriching my life with the gift of you two!

[WVNan]

Jim, thank you and John for giving us the gift of Free Republic. It has become the lifeline of the Republic in more ways than even you can imagine. May the gift of the Babe of Bethlehem be yours this Christmas season.

[WVNan]

Merry Christmas DD.

[WVNan]

Valerie

[lonestar]

When I was in college many years ago, James Avery operated out of his garage. We would draw a primitive picture of what we wanted, he would make it in silver or gold, as ordered, and mail it with the cost and we would send him a check.

I helped to make James Avery, James Avery, LOL!

I have charm bracelets of James Avery "one of a kind."

[WVNan]

Have an uplifting Christmas flyboy.

[WVNan]

Merry Christmas to you from across the sea, knighthawk. May you be blessed.

[WVNan]

Meeky, have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS.

[Salvation]

A Message to Earth

A blessed Christmas to all of you. See you next year!

[WVNan]

Colleen, may you have a blessed Christmas.