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.

[JohnHuang2]

Merry Christmas backatya, good buddy :-)

[The Mayor]

'Tis a Great Day that the Lord has made. How can we help but rejoice in it?

Amen!

[Billie]

Oh, what a tree, Dave! Stars and stripes planted prominently at the top! God Bless our troops and praying that they find some quiet time today to remember the Reason for the Season, even there, keeping on the lookout for more attacks against them.

You have mail, Dave. :)

Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to Billie; Mama_Bear; Dansangel; Dutchess; Aquamarine and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation’s leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OhioWfan........................son mystery-ak..........son, husband Gogrammy................grandson Inspectorette...................son Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..........................nephew anniegetyourgun...........nephew Diver Dave.......niece, nephew Pippin....niece,nephew,loved one Doug from Upland......son-in-law weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater..........cousin WaterDragon..son-in-law,grandson BeforeISleep...................son The Mayor........................niece LadyX.........................grandson fawn796.......................nephew Dubya............................nephew StarCMC......................brother kimmie7.....................brother ValerieUSA..................2 sons TexKat................son, step-son Spruce.....................daughter Warrior Nurse...........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne.........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty bkwells..................active duty LongCut..................active duty Trish.......................active duty ODC-GIRL.................active duty thumperusn.............active duty

Maigrey................cousin ladtx....................2 sons Mama_Bear.........2 nephews gator girl............husband severa.......husband, brother Hostel..................cousin MozartLover......son, nephew LBGA........................son cookcounty..............son SpookBrat...........nephew Himyar.....................son boxerblues............2 sons the piper...................son sheeza...............husband kemathen7...........husband Tiffee4Bob.......boyfriend deadhead................cousin JimRobinson.....2 nephews Armymarinemom.....3 sons Consort..2 daughters,son-in-law Darheel..................niece Donaeus...............nephew dixie sass.............nephew BeAllYouCanBe.........son AgThorn...............2 sons homeschoolmama.......nephew kneezles.................son Atomic Conspiracy..half-brother Atomic Conspiracy...nephew Atomic Conspiracy...niece visualops..cousin,adopted Marine

[Dubya]

We want to take this opportunity to wish you all a blessed Christmas - especially to those of you for whom Christmas brings a tinge or perhaps a bucket-full of sadness this year.

The sun will rise and set this Christmas day and things in the physical world will be no different than they would be on any other day. Yet, because of the special nature of Christmas celebrations in our hearts, traditions and memories, December 25th comes with buckets of hopes, dreams, and expectations.

Some of your buckets will be filled as expected - family will visit, meals will be shared, and happiness will flow. For others of you, your day will be less than all who love you, including myself, would wish for you. My heart goes out to all who face this Christmas without a loved one due to distance, imprisonment, family fighting, war, sickness, death, because they are missing, or any of the many other things that life throws our way.

Whatever your Christmas brings and wherever it finds you, it is my sincere hope and prayer to God that the inner light and peace that comes from personal faith in Jesus will be renewed in you again - or realized for the first time.

Jesus is the reason to celebrate Christmas - not just because we are happy but because God became man and was born of a virgin in Bethlehem. He did so to live a perfect life and ultimately die on the cross so we could be forgiven for our sins - the same sins that are in fact the source of humankind's sorrows at Christmas time and throughout the year.

And so whether your tears this Christmas are of happiness, of sorrow, or a mixture of both, may God's richest blessing be upon you all as you celebrate Jesus birth.

Your Friends,

Dub & Eve

[snippy_about_it]

Merry Christmas to you also DD. You are going to have fun with that camera. I've never heard of vibrating cats?

[SAMWolf]

Merry Christmas DD.

There is born unto you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:11

[LadyX]

Dear Finest Family - has there ever been a more wonderful
Christmastime than this one?!!

Our nation has a President who listens to our God rather than men of the world. He perceives we are firmly in the age old conflict of good versus evil, and is determined to lead us against evil wherever it is, no matter what the personal cost to him, or to America, founded for our Christan God those centuries ago.

Our military follows him and stands in the gap for America and all freedom-loving persons; warriors who are not deterred by the odds, but see the necessity of trying... May God be with each man and woman every step of their way.

We live in a land of prosperity and comfort, and we here at Free Republic enjoy a multitude of friends and families with similar values and ideals.

Jim Robinson, you have the eternal gratitude of the many who have been steered this way, and have our love as well. You and Sheila and the boys are examples of a God-driven life no matter what tribulations have beset you in this world.
Our gratitude knows no bounds, and we thank you, asking God to show you special favor.

Reading this thread, Billie, and seeing the exchanges among so many loving persons brings to mind the wonderful gifts God and you continue to give us all - the Finest indeed, week in and week out.
A heartfelt Thank You is due each Hostess and contributor.

This is the Best Christmas ever in my memory, acknowledging His Presence among us, and the love generated, on top of just having had two of my three children here and five of the grandchildren!

No matter what our personal situation, He is here, ready to extend blessings beyond our imaginings!!

To each of you, I add my exhortation TO REJOICE, as children of a living God - - -

[LadyX]

What a beautiful, bautiful post, Dubya!
It is typical of your loving heart for God, though, and why we so appreciate your presence among us. There are so many here like you, and we are strengthened and drawn closer to Our Father by your contributions.

A Special Merry Christmas to you and Eve.....

[LadyX]

CLOSE YOUR EYES, TMAN !!!

(do not see that I left out a measly old 'e' in the second beautiful..:(

[LadyX]

the letter thief should take Christmas Day off, at least...sheesh!

[MEG33]

I miss my kitty,Purty, this Christmas.I miss Weinie even though we never met!Good news about your friends surgeries.May God be with you this Christmas Day.

Good Tidings of Great Joy!

[dutchess]

From our house to yours....

[Diver Dave]

Re: post 321.

Reposting my comments from 321. The graphic I posted was a nightmare for dial-up connections. Billie was kind enough to reduce the graphic to a more suitable size in post #324. :)

Merry Christmas Greetings, dear FRiends.

'Tis a Great Day that the Lord has made. How can we help but rejoice in it?

'Fraid Mrs. Santa (Mrs. dd) has created a monster. She presented me with a digital camera. No more waiting to finish the roll of film or, for film processing to be completed.

Received a phone call from our daughter who is spending the holidays in England with her in-laws. Seems grandson Christian is very pleased with the family cat over there. He thinks it's really cool how the cat "vibrates" (purrs).

Our Christmas wish for y'all - Have a Blessed Day. Thank the Lord for the Gift of His Son.

[Libertina]

Merry Christmas
to all of
FR's Finest

[Victoria Delsoul]

His Mother's Joy

Little, I ween, did Mary guess,
As on her arm her baby lay,
What tides of joy would swell and beat,
Through ages long, on Christmas day.

And what if she had known it all,
The awful splendor of his fame?
The inmost heart of all her joy
Would still, methinks, have been the same:

The joy that every mother knows
Who feels her babe against her breast:
The voyage long is overpast,
And now is calm and peace and rest.
"Art thou the Christ?" The wonder came
As easy as her infant's breath:
But answer none. Enough for her,
That love had triumphed over death.

--John White Chadwick

[Victoria Delsoul]

Merry Christmas to you, too, Nan.

[Billie]

Gotta go for sure now! :)

Dinner will be served at 5:00. Please join us.

Eggnog
Fresh baby greens salad with strawberries,
sugar snap peas, sweet/sour dressing
Tiny steamed green beans with roasted almonds
Twice-baked potatoes
Homemade hot rolls
Grilled pork tenderloin
Danish Torte or Chocolate Mousse
Coffee

[Victoria Delsoul]

Oh wow, yummy! Looks really good, Billie.

[dutchess]

...a very special christmas blessing to all our FRPets...what a wonderful bond we share...Special blessings to those of us who are now at Rainbow Bridge including mom's namesake Dutchess...dear Weinie...and my sister Codee..plus those who have passed before....


Love - the Giz