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A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....12-23,24,25,26-04...Let Us Rejoice (Our Christmas Thread)
Billie
Posted on 12/23/2004 5:37:33 AM PST by 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. |
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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! |
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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. |
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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. |
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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". |
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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.
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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
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TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Political Humor/Cartoons
KEYWORDS: christmas; freepers; fun; merrychristmas; military; patriotic; surprises; veterans
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To: Billie
To: deadhead
Merry Christmas to you too, Colleen.
To: Dubya
LOL!
Merry Christmas, Dubya!
163
posted on
12/23/2004 6:50:56 PM PST
by
Billie
(wishing each and every one a Christmas filled with love and good will)
To: Victoria Delsoul
164
posted on
12/23/2004 6:51:06 PM PST
by
deadhead
(God Bless Our Troops and Veterans Bush/Cheney '04)
To: Victoria Delsoul
Beautiful graphic, Victoria. I am just going through the thread now
165
posted on
12/23/2004 6:53:27 PM PST
by
deadhead
(God Bless Our Troops and Veterans Bush/Cheney '04)
To: LUV W
166
posted on
12/23/2004 6:53:41 PM PST
by
Dubya
(Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,but by me)
To: deadhead
Thanks, Colleen. Glad you liked it.
To: Kitty Mittens
"Have a Beautiful and Blessed Christmas"Thank You, the same to you and yours.
168
posted on
12/23/2004 6:55:03 PM PST
by
deadhead
(God Bless Our Troops and Veterans Bush/Cheney '04)
To: LadyX
Thank you, dear Maggie. Hope your Christmas is as special as you are. That is a beautiful nativity graphic.
169
posted on
12/23/2004 6:55:03 PM PST
by
Billie
(wishing each and every one a Christmas filled with love and good will)
To: Mama_Bear
Merry Christmas! Hope you got your tree back up and are able to relax now. Enjoy your company
170
posted on
12/23/2004 6:56:25 PM PST
by
deadhead
(God Bless Our Troops and Veterans Bush/Cheney '04)
To: LadyX; The Mayor
(((((((((((((Rus))))))))))))
(((((((((((((Maggie))))))))))
171
posted on
12/23/2004 6:56:46 PM PST
by
Billie
(wishing each and every one a Christmas filled with love and good will)
To: Jersey Republican Biker Chick
I'm so glad the troops are enjoying the WWE - thanks for reporting on it!
172
posted on
12/23/2004 6:58:24 PM PST
by
Billie
(wishing each and every one a Christmas filled with love and good will)
To: LadyX; Billie; All
I have been hanging out all day either in bed or in front of this computer.
I went to the doctor yesterday and she said I have pneumonia.
Never had that before, so needless to say I am not feeling well.
I hope to feel well enough to go to the inlaws tomorrow night for the big Christmas celebration.
Thanks for the hugs Billie, they felt good.... : )
173
posted on
12/23/2004 7:03:29 PM PST
by
The Mayor
(let the wisdom of God check our thoughts before they leave our tongue)
To: deadhead
Thank you, Colleen. The merriest of Christmases to you - hope you're feeling better! (P.S. I LOVE lasagna!)
174
posted on
12/23/2004 7:06:35 PM PST
by
Billie
(wishing each and every one a Christmas filled with love and good will)
To: Billie
Try spooning a little blackberry sauce on it and add ice cream!
That sounds wonderful!
175
posted on
12/23/2004 7:12:28 PM PST
by
visualops
(It's easier to build a child than repair an adult.)
To: The Mayor
Oh, no! pneumonia....I hate to hear that. Please take care and don't go out and back to work too soon. (Mr. B makes great hot toddies!) :)
Technicolor Hug - if B&W feels good, color must feel even better! :)
((((((((((((RUS))))))))))))
176
posted on
12/23/2004 7:12:41 PM PST
by
Billie
(wishing each and every one a Christmas filled with love and good will)
To: visualops
It is, really! I had to go to the grocery store today for fresh strawberries and salad greens for Saturday dinner, and they had fresh blackberries, too. Brought them home and made a sauce with the blackberries - sooooooo good with that cake! :)
177
posted on
12/23/2004 7:14:37 PM PST
by
Billie
(wishing each and every one a Christmas filled with love and good will)
To: Billie
I am now officially drooling at the thought of homemade blackberry sauce!
LOL now you've got me thinking about pancakes and waffles
178
posted on
12/23/2004 7:16:08 PM PST
by
visualops
(It's easier to build a child than repair an adult.)
To: mista science
>> Where'd you get your name?
I made it up :-) It's not a misspelling of "twit." That's all I'm going to tell you :-)
179
posted on
12/23/2004 7:18:17 PM PST
by
T'wit
(Not knowing right from wrong is [a] liberal philosophy and [b] the definition of criminal insanity.)
To: ST.LOUIE1
Haven't seen you yet, but I saved this one for you....thank you. :)
180
posted on
12/23/2004 7:19:24 PM PST
by
Billie
(wishing each and every one a Christmas filled with love and good will)
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