Happy 59th birthday to Sigourney Weaver. Also due to receive birthday cards today include A-list actor Matt Damon, Reverend Jesse Jackson, and gossip columnist Rona Barrett.
Month: October 2008
George Frederick Handel’s great Christmas oratorio, “The Messiah,” was first performed in 1742. Where did this first performance take place?
Handel’s most famous oratorio, “The Messiah,” was first performed in Dublin on April 13.
At the age seven, this musician performed for JFK and in 2001, her performed a duet with Condoleezza Rice. Who is this world-renown birthday performer?
It’s cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Also enjoying birthday celebrations today include American Idol season 5 winner Taylor Hicks, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, and six-time Grammy Award winner Toni Braxton.
“Yule Lads” are a traditional part of an Icelandic Christmas. What are Yule Lads?
The Yule Lads are 13 goblins who, in Icelandic past, were said to haunt and harass villagers and farmers during Christmas time but have since taken on a nicer gift-giving role, comparable to Santa Claus.
Personalized Holiday Cards and their Historic Roots
I frequently find myself pondering over the mysteries of life, like who was the first person to find that cow milk would be good for other creatures…namely humans. Who, indeed, coined the term “human?” Who searched for wax in trees and efficiently mixed it with sugar and other chemicals to form chewing gum?
And in the same fashion, do you ever wonder where personalized holiday cards first came from? Who imagined to inscribe something artistic on some form of canvas and then thought, “Let’s get creative this year. Instead of expressing to everyone best wishes for the holidays in person, why don’t I create something festive and write a note inside it. Auntie T. might appreciate it since I haven’t seen her in years. I wonder how her dog is.” It was in this regard that the very first custom holiday cards came to be…though this being on a very basic level.
Personalized Holiday cards actually first came around in the early 19th Century from where else, but Europe. Wouldn’t you know they would be the trend-setters of the day back then as well? The first technique was founded in 1796. Lithography, as the technique was called, could be used to reproduce large numbers of drawings first drawn on a finely-textured stone, starting the craze as we know it today.
The year 1843 marks the coming of the first Christmas card in England, produced by John Calcott Horsley for Sir Henry Cole. Americans didn’t catch up until the 1860s when a German Lithographer started producing the first colored cards, although custom Holiday cards around this era were primarily associated with New Year’s (and I would think this cut the hassle of going out the next day with a hangover). And as it were, roughly 20 years later these cards were replaced with the modern Christmas card as we know it today and the large-scale marketing frenzy for personalized Christmas cards began.
It’s funny how the mind works. One question leads to another and another, until finally I’ve determined the historical roots of personalized Holiday cards.
Whether she’s heading back to the future or leaving Las Vegas, this celebrity’s birthday is here today. Do you know who she is?
The answer is a shoe-in…it’s Elisabeth Shue. Also celebrating birthdays today include actress/musician Amy Jo Johnson and Swedish actress Britt Ekland.
According to Greek myth, malicious goblins called Kallikantzaros played troublesome pranks during Christmas time. What did the Greeks do to keep these lore-based creatures away?
It was said that Kallikantzaros came during Christmas time through the chimney or the front door. So to discourage these pranksters, the Greeks would leave a colander on their doorsteps to distract the Kallikantzaros and keep a fire burning all night to keep the little goblins from entering through the chimney.
Which British star, celebrating her 34th birthday today, is the youngest actress to have received 5 Academy Award nominations?
An honor of “titanic” proportions, birthday greetings are in store today for Kate Winslet. Also celebrating birthdays today include socialite and diva Nikki Hilton, retired ice hockey goaltender Patrick Roy, and the late comedian Bernie Mac.
Which well known author of fantasy fiction also wrote a book entitled “The Father Christmas Letters?”
In addition to his “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, J.R.R. Tolkien also authored “The Father Christmas Letters.”
A proud supporter of political and social issues, this birthday gal is an Academy Award winner who was also in a cult favorite movie that is often shown at midnight. Do you know who she is?
The talented Susan Sarandon will be receiving birthday cards today. Also enjoying birthday celebrations include 2006 World Champion figure skater Kimmie Meisner, actress Rachael Leigh Cook, and the late Charlton Heston.