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.

[The Mayor]

I'll check it, but the addy should be right..

[WVNan]

Nope, they came back. Freepmail the right addy and I will try again.

[The Mayor]

You got mail, I'll have to update my profile..

[WVNan]

I tried again. I think I misread the L for an I.

[lonestar]

Not quite as cute as hanging on the clothes line. But really cute!

A+

[The Mayor]

I gotem! Thankyou..

[Billie]

A+

:) - well, I know you like the hind legs hanging on the clothesline, but the names and numbers of those hostesses are all wrong now. :)

[Billie]

Finest Friends, thank you all for your participation on our Christmas thread. I am going to bid you all a good night and will see you Monday as we pay tribute again to our Finest Military. Enjoy the rest of the weekend. It's beginning to *not* look a lot like Christmas around here as I'm 'unwrapping' my house. I swear I didn't put that many ornaments ON the tree! :)

[dixie sass]

Merry Christmas Lucy! You sure look purty. Tell your mom to scratch your chin for me!

[dixie sass]

Lol, I love all that stuff, especially chocolate, nuts, cookies, cakes, etc...

[dixie sass]

Special good FRiends are awfully nice, even when they object to the popping.

[dixie sass]

Goodness Billie, it's only about 7:30! You must be one tuckered out little girl! I love the gif. Sweet dreams and happy ones.

[The Mayor]

G'night Billie, see ya Monday early?

I tried to remove remnants of Christmas but i've been out numbered by the rest of the family that wants to keep them up.

Have a great weekend!

[Dubya]

Thank you COBI.

[LadyX]

Just received this, that will be appreciated by every true American here, especially every Veteran, and those with loved ones or friends serving in the military.

Lord - please take special care of every man and woman in our military, wherever they are serving, and bring them safely home.
Amen.

Absolutely beautiful...

A Different "Night Before Christmas"

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
my daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree, I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep
in perfect contentment, or so it would seem.
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eye when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
and I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A man, I puzzled, some twenty years old
Perhaps a Soldier, huddled here in the cold.

Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift
away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts,
to the window that danced with a warm fire's light
then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night"
"Its my duty to stand at the front of the line,
that separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
then he sighed, "that's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own sons in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, they've sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red white and blue... an American flag.

"I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home,
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat,
I can carry the weight of killing another
or lay down my life with my sisters and brothers
who stand at the front against any and all,
to insure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your sons."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone.
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
to know you remember we fought and we bled
is payment enough, and with that we will trust
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.

---

WE WILL REMEMBER THE PRICE OF FREEDOM, AND ALL THOSE WHO SOUGHT TO ENSURE IT ~ ~ ~

LadyX - USMC - Korean Conflict

[WVNan]

We will not forget the sacrifices that bought our freedoms.

<--click

[Victoria Delsoul]

See you Monday, dear Billie. And thanks again for this lovely thread.

[LadyX]

Good to see you, Sistah Nan. Gearing down slowly and enjoying the lull, and hope you are able to rest a little ...

Weather in the 60's looms ahead for several days - I can handle that..:))

[TexasCowboy]

Words seem so inadequate, LadyX.

Beautiful!

May God bless you for posting this, and may God bless all of those who guard our freedoms tonight in every corner of the globe and those who stood the watch before.

And may God bless those who wait with fear in their heart tempered by a pride and love like so many who have waited before.

Thank you for your service, sweet lady.

[LadyX]

Ah, Marine, you also are an important link in The Long Chain of those who were willing to give their all for America!

It matters not if you guarded pots and pans or pushed pencils or manned trenches under fire or flew bombers - every job is vital to the success of any military group.

To serve with honor is our privilege, and the source of tremendous satisfaction, as every veteran knows so well. It is not dependent upon recognition by others, but is an inner wondrous feeling, if done for a just cause rather than to wrest something belonging to others.

May Americans always have this vision and spirit and willingness to battle for the betterment of mankind.

Father God - we hold high The Torch in Your Name, and only in that will this nation find favor and survive and prosper...guide our President and leaders, Lord, to do Your will. Amen.