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.

[firewalk]

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

so true...
Merry Christmas LadyX

[dutchess]

Oh yum Ms. Billie. We're on our way! (and Giz is bringing a special treat for Roscoe) Well...okay...we'll just enjoy the cyber version of your Christmas dinner!

BTW...can't wait to hear how the story when Mr. B's niece first meets her new donkey! How very special... Merry Christmas friend!

[MEG33]

I loved all your posts!God Bless!

[Aquamarine]

Did you make those pic's of the Christmas tree and Gizmo in the Photo Deluxe?!

[Aquamarine]

O Holy Night
by Celine

Click on the pic

[jkphoto]

Thank you for the dinner invitation. Sorry that we aren't able to make it this year. Menu sounds great!

May you and your family have a Very Merry Christmas!

[Victoria Delsoul]

Thanks Aqua! Gotta run now, dinner is ready. I love my mom's cooking, mmm mmm!

See you later.

[knighthawk]

It's 2nd Christmas day here now.

[TexasCowboy]

Thank you, Aqua.
I could listen to that song forever!

[TexasCowboy]

Dubya, I wish I could have said that.

Beautiful!

[TexasCowboy]

"What a beautiful, bautiful post, Dubya!"

Hummmm......

I know "beautiful" is a descriptive adjective for "bautiful", and "bautiful" is a descriptive adjective for "post". Now to find out what in the heck a "bautiful" is!)

At any rate, I agree, LadyX.
Beautiful!

[LadyX]

Thank you for coming here, BIS.
Still remembering and offering prayers for the needs of all those you hold dear - - -

{{{{{ BeforeISleep }}}}}

[LadyX]

Don't know if you remembered, but O Holy Night is my very favorite Christmas song!!

Thanks, Aqua, for all that you are and all you bring to us here...Loveya..:))

[LadyX]

WELL, BOSSY WELL BOSS.... harumphh...

If you were as alert as you are sharp-bladed, you'd have seen the two follow-up posts I made after and about that to The Thin Man..:))

'Twas the Terrible Letter Thief who comes here to plunder and distort and try to upset our apple carts and peace of mind, I tell ya....:))

[MeekOneGOP]

Mmmm !! Looks/sounds good !

I'm late ! Got any leftovers ? I love leftovers !!

We had lunch at my cousins today. He was cooking a fried turkey when we got there. He kept calling it 'buzzard'. He asked if I'd ever had buzzard before. I told him I hadn't but I was willing to try it ! (He's such a kidder!)

Fried Buzzard is REALLY good ! If ya get a chance, try it ! Mmmm !

Merry Christmas !

[MeekOneGOP]

It's 2nd Christmas day here now.

December 26th. In England, Boxing Day !!

[lonestar]

Thank you and I hope you have a good 2004.

I miss the "little mess" I called Weinie.

lonestar

It's California's loss.

Weinie

[knighthawk]

Hi Meek!

Merry Christmas!

[lonestar]

Love the Giz

I do! The picture is darling.

[GulfWar1Vet]

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas!