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Showing posts from December, 2012

Through the Happy New Years

In honor of the turning of the year, let's time travel back through the ages to look at New Years depictions of the past! In the 1940s celebrations could be a little sexier than in previous eras, and indeed most of the time images are of pretty young women. No Father Times or Baby New Years here! In the 20s prohibition didn't stop people from having a swinging good time, as with the Sam Bonner band, seen here. The early 1900s were a little more tame, but dramatic nonetheless; as this beauty with her very, ahem, timely costume can attest. This print from Harper's Weekly 1864, on the other hand, speaks clealry of strife and division, since the American Civil War was still raging. A family from the North is seen celebrating in wholesome comfort, while a family from the South mourns their lost loved one in cold misery. I wonder what side the artist was on? Happily the Regency toasts the New Year more merrily, with family members old and young and a wealth o...

Trivia!

Last time the question was:- "Requisitioned during WWII and unavailable to most women, when this item was back in stock and available to the public it caused riots as women scrambled to stock up." Banker Chick chimed in with the correct answer, which was "Nylons". Yes, I have trouble explaining to my students sometimes why women went so crazy over nylon stockings, and they think the images of girls painting seams into the back of their legs are very funny. Come to think of it, I find that amusing as well. This week I'm asking:- What is a morgengifu ? (Hint: It's an anglo-saxon word)