Page 2 Greeting cards have colorful, historic sources Each year researchers come up with more and more fascinating Information about the origins of Christinas and New Year greetings. Greeting cards are usually made of still paper or card board, but cloth, vellum, leather, celluloid, metal, wood, clay, cork, and new materials have been added to their designs. Cards and their messages vary in slse. In 1929 an inscribed grain of rice was presented as a Christmas greeting to the Prince of Wales, and in 1924, President Calvin Coolidge received a Christmas card that measured 21 x 33 inches! Ih ancient Egypt the New Year was celebrated by the exchange of symbolic presents such as scent bottles and scarabs Inscribed “an ab nab” ("all good luck”). The Ro mans exchanged strenae, originally Branches of laurel or olive, often coated with gold leaf. Symbols of seasonal good will, such as a Roman lamp and the figure of Victory surrounded by strenae, were combined on objects of baked day, with the inscription "Anno Novo faustum felix tlbl sit’ 1 (“May the New Year be happy and lucky for you”). The acknowledgment of the New Year with the exchanges of good will continued in Europe through the early days of Christianity. In the 15th century, master wood engravers produced inscribed prints which had the same intent as the modern Christmas and New Year cards. One of these shows the Christ Child with halo, before a cross holding a scroll on which appears "Ein gust sellg ior” (“A good and happy year"). During the 18th and early 19th centuries, copper {date engravers were producing prints and calendars for the New Year and greetings by merchants and tradesmen were common. Recognized as the first Christmas card is one designed in England by J. c. Horsley, in 1843 for his friend Bir Henry Cole. An edition of 1,000 copies was placed on sale at Felix Summerly’s Treasure House in London in 1846. They were printed by lithography on stiff cardboard, in dark sepia and hand colored. The design shows a family party in progress, beneath which is the greeting, “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You.” A similar card was designed by W. M. Egley of London and produced as an etching in 1848. While this card is more elaborate, its design suggests a relationship to the Cole-Horsley card. The same may be said of an American Christmas card of the same period, designed by R. H. Pease of Albany, N.Y., which bore the inscription, "Pease's Great Variety Store in The Temple of Fancy.” Sentiment cards were exchanged and collected in the united States from 1830 to the Civil War and many have survived . . . aboundaSa gladness your days this New Year, 0* 1 Our sincere thankSS BANK of » NORTH CAROLINA r?: N.A. u»mb*Fotc **Tis tli<- season lo be jolly, with ’* family ami dear friends together agam. In harmony and good 1 North side Auto Parts ■ 11 -,,,„. ■ o ii 11' ■ ■—>— among them an "expanding heart” Christmas present or greeting card in purse form, dating from about 1859. Today you can say Merry Christmas to Macedonian, Greek, Hungarian. any nt n tamruasas nlus Braille. There are greeting cards aypUable*m cnu polyglot nation in Polish, Spanish, Japaneaejtomenlan. Croatian, Chinese, Macedonian, Portuguese, oftek, Swedish, Norwegian. Hungarian. Lithuanian, to name Just a few. Distributed throughout the United States, many are produced in this countoy, others come from abroad. It was noted by one o t the manufacturers of these Christmas cards, that whenever there is turmoil or a revolution in a foreign country, the sales in that language soar. Since type faces in some languages are unavSfiable, many of the exotic messages are photographed from the originals. In the case of some Chinese messages, a waiter in a Chinese restaurant who is also an artist, wrote the greetings on a piece of paper from which they were pho tographed and reproduced. iFelices Navldades! Froliche Welhnachtenl To you all! SCENTED GIFT Pomander balls make beautiful gifts trimmed up with velvet ribbons, lace and pretty braid. Tie them prettily from bits and pieces you have tucked away in your sewing box. Their fra grance will last long after the holidays are gone. Christmas tree safety trimming Look for this new Christ mas tree trimming that has just begun to appear in the stores. A decorative rust colored star that is actually a battery-powered fire alarm! This bright orna ment sounds a loud buzzing noise that warns of fire. Tips for the tree The nicest Christmas present you can give your self and your family Is an easy-to-take-care-of, fresh and fragrant live cut Christmas tree. Be sure to start with a fresh tree. When shopping around, run these two simple checks. First, bend the needles on the tree; if they are pliant, the tree is fresh. Then, gently tap the base of the tree against the ground. A fresh tree will hold its needles fast; avoid one with cascading needles! When you get the tree home, keep it outdoors, if possible, until you’re ready to set it up for decorating. Immediately saw off about one inch on the diagonal from the tree trunk. This eliminates clotted resins that form at the base of the tree which could block it from absorbing water. Place the tree in a buck et of water mixed with Prolongs Christmas Tree Preserver the proper ratio is one capful Prolong to each cup (8 ounces) of water. Prolong increases the water absorption and “feeds” the tree necessary nutrients and carbohy drates. Spray the tree with water often. Once brought inside for decorating, the tree should be placed away from heat ers and out of traffic areas. Secure it in a water-hold ing stand and watch the water-Prolong level care fully. A tree may absorb as much as a gallon of water a day. One idea that will fur ther simplify the tree’s day-to-day upkeep: try to use unbreakable Christ mas bulbs, at least around the bottom of the tree. It will reduce the incidence of bulb breakage, prevent the children from getting scratched and keep the sweeping chores to a mini mum. THE CHOWAN HERALD CHRISTMAS WRAP Aluminum foil makes any gift special looking and is especially marvelous for wrapping those odd shaped things that never seem to fit into any box. Wrap and tie withbrightly colored yarn . . . several different colors at the same time! During the holiday season many household fires start from faulty wiring of tree lights. This colorful star could prove to be a real life saver as well as a handsome way to top your tree. v-. P.ffr'' u/eu-, weti - - ievvyii if t Ai*fr Many people once consid ered it bed luck to mention the name* of a king. Ith thanks Davis Jewelers • 41 iVlay our bright ujishes for a wonderful holiday season decorate oil your days. Byrum Implement & Truck Co. caf^ WilD JoOjrSMtaMhMU* We lead hearty Uuutks to ipirUed frlcad*. J^r? * fc. ' J -*!fejtL'^tflifi^ilinil *• Teresa's Beauty Selon CREATE PERSONAL GREETINGS FOR CHRISTMAS It’s no secret that you are more identifiable by your social security or credit card number than by your own name. As a result, you pay taxes, bills, deposit and withdraw money from the bank using numbered forma, which only employ your name as a secondary means of identification. None of this could have been possible without com puter science, probably the chief “science” that rules your life today. Luckily, most people take this new way of life in their stride. But since you are an original, not a carbon copy, there should be away to maintain the unique differ ence between you and the. rest of the world. One area that is especially yours is the sentiment (the love, friendship and emo tion) you express. At holiday time these sen timents become particularly important. But with the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season added to your everyday chores, many people tend to take the easy way out. How? By buying greeting cards imprinted with impersonal messages written by a professional “poet.” Most people take it for granted that a stranger’s words will wish friends and relatives a happy holiday. It doesn’t have to be that way, if you buy cards that are blank on the inside leaf. They’re not hard to find. What’s more you don’t \ » • > "\j » fWMlijKii *c 1 hßfe .If <^ TVy*.1......... CHRISTMAS Parker - Evans Hardware Co. Thursday, December 24, 1981