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.

[knighthawk]

A Merry Christmas to you and your family too!

[lonestar]

TWU--Speech/Hearing Therapy

[SpookBrat]

Merry Christmas Sir Meekness. Santa Claus came last night. I can't wait for the kids to wake up so I can play with their toys. :) Woohoo! Yippee!

[SpookBrat]

I went there too. My major was Psychology. Donaeus went there as well. I don't know where she is, but she's probably gone to be with family. When she gets back, we'll have to tell her.

[GailA]

Thank you, Merry CHRISTmas to you and yours.

[MEG33]

And he shall reign forever and ever!Blessed Christmas to the Finest.

[deadhead]

Presidential Message: Christmas 2003

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Luke 2:14

As families and friends gather to celebrate Christmas, we
remember all the blessings that fill our lives, beginning
with the great blessing that came on a holy night in
Bethlehem. For Christians around the world, the birth of
Jesus is a central religious event; an example of God's
profound love for humanity; and the pathway to hope and to
new life. Today, the Christmas story still speaks to every
generation.

This holiday season, as we share in the spirit of giving
and enjoy familiar Christmas traditions, we give thanks for
the wonder of God's love and rededicate ourselves to
helping those in need. We also pray for our brave men and
women in uniform, many of whom will spend the holidays far
from home. Their courage and dedication is helping keep us
safe and extending freedom and peace. We are grateful for
their service to our country, and for the support and
sacrifice of their families.

Laura joins me in wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy
New Year. May the peace and goodwill of the season fill
every heart and warm every home.

GEORGE W. BUSH

[MEG33]

Beautiful!Thank you for posting the picture of our wonderful President and First Lady and their Christmas message!

[deadhead]

You're Welcome, Meg :-)

Wishing you and yours a blessed and Merry Christmas.

Colleen

[TexasCowboy]

Good morning, Nan!

I missed this last night.
We were busy trying to find some more gas so everybody can stay warm.

I hope you're having a wonderful and blessed Merry Christmas!

[Libertina]

Merry Christmas Meg! May you and yours have a blessed 2004! And don't forget to weigh in on ALL I NEEDED TO KNOW IN LIFE I LEARNED ON FREE REPUBLIC :)

[deadhead]

Lovely Christmas photo. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

[deadhead]

Thank You Nan and Wolfie, your Christmas graphics are beautiful

Merry Christmas!

[MEG33]

Looks like Texas Christmas tree!May your Christmas be blessed...even at work on the rig!

[Billie]

Answer to your question, Amy - about changing the words on an animation: It can be done in a GIF building software program - animations are multiple frames, one right after another, put together, and viewed as one. There is a 'free' gif editing program ( GIFWORKS)that you can add names, etc to, and do some editing, but I'm not sure if you can successfully remove those words there or not. I could probably do it in my software - if I had time. :( At any rate, save that link, and it may come in handy for you to use sometime, okay? Merry Christmas DAY!

[Billie]

Precious kids, Spookie. Thanks for sharing your Christmas Card with us.

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin' ! Merry Christmas.

hehe ! I remember when my brother and me would be up at the crack of dawn ! In fact, one morning when we were 11 and 9 YO, we got up around 4:30 and snuck downstairs to check it out ! Santa had come. We had a blast and then woke the folks up with the noise. Mom woke Dad up:

Dad: What ? What is it?

Mom: Those da** kids are up already !

haha !

[Billie]

Thank you for 'fixing' that graphic for her, visualops - I should have read further before jumping back in where I left off yesterday. :)

Merry Christmas to you - appreciate very much you being here, and your messages of support and love for the troops.

[MeekOneGOP]

Headin' to my cousins house in about 20 minutes or so. It's about 1.3 hours drive and we're gonna have lunch with them. Going to meet my Dad and his brother and wife there too. Looks like a good Christmas starting off.

Made it to D/FW Airport this morning and back taking my SIL's son and friends to catch a plane to Las Vegas. Not many cars out early this morning. So it was a fast and easy drive.

See ya'll later on this afternoon/evening sometime ...

[Billie]

What a sweet looking donkey. Now that's one original gift. :)

You should have seen how her eyes lit up last night when she got the picture and realized it was real! Don't think she can wait until we have dinner this evening before she makes someone bring her out to see him! (She wants to brush him!)