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.

[Billie]

God bless you U.S. Military in Iraq/Afghanistan!

Yes, most definitely may God bless them. And God bless you for your own service in the Gulf War. Thank you!

I am a newbie here for FR's Finest..Hello! Thank you for finding us - we're so happy to have you! Would love to add you to our ping list if you'd like. Hope your Christmas holidays are wonderful. And, again, Welcome to the Finest, GulfWar1Vet.

[SpookBrat]

I hate to make a big deal of this, but my grandpa was such a great American , I had to share this with you all. He passed away early Christmas morning at 12:20 A.M. He was married to my grandmother almost 55 years, his highschool sweet heart, his "one and only" as he liked to call her. He has been heart sick with grief for 5 years, since she died. He has wanted to die, sadly. I'm happy he is with God now.

My grandmother taught him the gospel and he became a Christian. Funny story is, she invited him to church and he said he would go for a kiss. :) That was their first kiss. He was a Biology professor at Harding University in AR for 30+ years. He and my grandmother also raised 3 grandchildren in their elderly years.

The kids and I will be driving to Searcy, AR for the funeral. It will be a military funeral, since he served on P.T. Boats in the pacific, "avenging Pearl Harbor", (his own words). He served with JFK and always had nice things to say about him. Imagine that! LOL Then he was in the National Guard forever. After some time in AR, we will be going on down to Texas to see grandmas, uncles, aunts and cousins.

I covet your prayers for safe driving. The weather sometimes gets bad this time of year. I CANNOT and WILL NOT drive on even the smallest amount of ice or snow.

The good thing is, I get to have dinner with Meek and meet his new bride. (If you guys ever get to Dallas, you have to meet Meek. He is on my top 10 list of the nicest people I've ever known). I hope to meet Donaeus too and attend church with her, since we are both members of the same church. I have to drive through Houston to get home, so I hope to find Texas Cowboy.

I need to go. I have a lot of crisis cleaning and packing to do. Hope you all had a wonderful holiday. It was nice and quiet here. I wasn't too sad because my grandpa was out of pain and he got the best gift anyone could ever get...heaven.

This is a picture of my Grandpa and his Dorothy Belle.

Dr. George Woodruff and Dorothy Belle

[MeekOneGOP]

Yum ! I hear a lot of folks around this time of year complaining about being tired of turkey, but I can eat turkey sandwiches until the buzzards come home (hehe !). I really love it.

Oh, yeah. Hot oil on human flesh would not be too happy alright ! Yikes !

One other note regarding him cooking the fried buzzard. He cooked it a good while and figured it was done and he brought it in. His wife checked it out and sent back to him saying it wasn't done. He couldn't believe it but when he saw it, he took it back out and cooked it some more. She sent it back once more and then it was perfect ! Yum !

[knighthawk]

Mine was great, thanks.

[MEG33]

I am sad for the loss of your dear Grandfather. May God comfort you and your family in your grief.Take care and have a safe journey.

[firewalk]

Thank you Billie
(this thread is wonderful)

[MeekOneGOP]

So sorry about your Grampa, Miss SpookBrat ! Nice picture of them both.

Look forward to seeing you again next month. Drive carefully.

My Aunt and Uncle used to live in Rogers, Arkansas. That's near where the first Wal-Mart store was built (Bentonville, I think ?). My Aunt was a waitress for the Holiday Inn and has waited on Sam Walton too. She said he was nice man too. She moved to Florida a couple of years ago though. My uncle died and my aunt didn't have much reason to stay and moving to Florida where it is warm all year suited her just fine. My Dad will go there next month to visit her and bring back some fresh oranges and grapefruit too !

[Billie]

Billie, this is the MOST beautiful thread. Thank you!!

Sons are home for the week, and between them, the activities, and my husband on vacation, I'm just not online much, but thinking of you and all you do and mean to me & FR.

Molly, thank you, and hope that you're enjoying your holidays with your sons, and vacation, and all the activities that go with the season. (I'm coming in and out today, going from room to room taking down swags and lights and decorations) :)

[Billie]

Being Christmas, I'll just pretend to have never seen it (or better yet blame it on Billie, hehe).

But of course. You wouldn't be you if you didn't. :)

[Billie]

Billie, I'm sorry I was unable to show up for dinner.

Ok, that's not completely true. I was able but was afraid you'd drop one of those mushroom-shaped cookies on my plate. :-)

tagline: (I tried so hard to be nice to you this Christmas but just couldn't make it.)

And there you have it! LOL! T Man, don't ever change. We love you just the way you are - after all, with all the nice, sweet, pleasant, polite FReepers we have, you stand out like the grouch you are, challenging me and the rest of our sweet hostesses to be nice in spite of your annoying, nitpicking ways.

:)

[The Mayor]

My Heart felt Prayers are with you and your family.
I always say a Prayer before I start up the van to go on a long drive,
I have been kept safe knowing that God is my co-pilot.
I have driven 30,000 miles over this past year.

What a thrill to be able to meet fellow freepers.
Have a safe trip and hopefully we will see you here during your journey.

[Temple Owl]

This was the best one ever. I can only hope that your Christmas was as wonderful as mine. I wish you a happy new year.

[Billie]

Billie, the thread posting is simply beautiful! Thank you .. you have such a gift and it is wonderful that you share it with us all. God Bless & have a great weekend! (and like the rest of us, prolly need to fast for a day or so !)

Dolly, thank you, I'm so glad you are here and that you enjoyed it. (Yes, I'm sick of looking at all this food - the goodies, especially! I think I want a hamburger for dinner tonight!)

[Billie]

Good morning, Mo - thank you so much for your Christmas wishes; I've been thinking of you. ((((((((((((Mo))))))))))))

[Billie]

Good morning, Pip! What a wonderful surprise to see you got to stop in for a little while - didn't expect to see you until after the New Year. Hope your Christmas Day was really wonderful.

[Billie]

Good morning, Rus - it's good to see your morning coffee and devotional the day after Christmas.

[Billie]

Thank you, Spookie, for sharing that story about your beloved Grandfather (and his love for his wife - now they are together again, and that's a wonderful thing)

Prayers for a safe trip both to and from the funeral, and hope you get to meet Cob, and so nice you'll get to meet "Mrs" Meekie this trip. Hugs to all.

[Billie]

Thank you Billie
(this thread is wonderful)

(((((((((BIS)))))))))

[Billie]

It has been a wonderful Christmas. We are truly blessed. Thank you, Temple.

[dixie sass]

Thank you FTH, the calendar arrived in great shape and I got to pop bubble wrap! I'm addicted to popping it, lol. It drives FRank crazy though when I do it.

I hope that your Christmas Day was, as the kids were saying yesterday morning after opening all their gifts "thebesteverChristmaseverinthewholewideworld" !

Can't wait to see the Washington Gang in January at CPAC!