Where everything old is news again

Kathy Vincenz, a children's writer with a fascination for the 1930s and 1940s and most anything not in color.  

[kathyvincenz]

Teddy Roosevelt banned Christmas trees from the White House because he wanted to preserve America's forest. Archie, his eight-year-old son, had other ideas and rigged up a Christmas tree in the closet with lights and presents 🎁 for his family. There were Christmas trees in the White House after that.

#christmastree #teddyroosevelt #adventcalendar #advent #whitehouse

[kathyvincenz]

Have you worn yours yet? I have one I bought in 1995, which some young person remarked was vintage.

[kathyvincenz]

Was this song in your Spotify Wrapped? Happy listening 🎶

[kathyvincenz]

In this song Snoopy and the Red Baron make a Christmas truce like the 1914 Christmas truce of WWI.

#wwi #redbaron #snoopy #adventcalendar #christmascountdown

[kathyvincenz]

This Ukranian song is titled Shchedryk, meaning generous one. It was written in 1916 when Ukrainian sovereignty was threatened by the Russian Revolution and WWI. Listen to it again in solidarity with the Ukrainian people.

#adventcalendar #advent #christmas #christmascountdown #carolofthebells #christmasmusic #ukraine

[kathyvincenz]

Lyricist Jay W. Johnson was having a bad day. He had to drive to the train station in the pouring rain in his broken-down car with a tear in the top. To keep the rain off, he propped up his umbrella. He realized most people were sad and lonely on Christmas so why not write a song to express those feelings. Blue Christmas was born.

[kathyvincenz]

Haven Gillespie scribbled the lyrics to Santa Claus is Comin' to Town on the back of an envelope while riding the New York subway in 1934. 1934 was one of the worst economic times in U.S. history. 17 million people were out of work, that's 21% of the workforce. A family really had to believe Santa Claus was coming to town to help.

[kathyvincenz]

Anyone remember these albums? In the 1960s and 1960, tire companies like Firestone and Goodyear, produced an LP of Christmas songs with popular singers such as Julie Andrews, Andy Williams, and Perry Como. The LPs only cost $1.00. A&P and Maxwell House coffee even got into the record business.

[kathyvincenz]

In honor of Larry the Squirrel's cousins, the chipmunks, we have to relate how the Chipmunk Song came to be. Ross Bagdasarian, Sr.was on vacation in Yosemite when a chipmunk would not get out of his way on a California bridge. It chattered and stood on its hind legs and Ross had to wait. From that encounter, he developed the character of Alvin who pestered for a toy.

[kathyvincenz]

Which one would you make?

[kathyvincenz]

Without using the red kiss, make some Peanut Butter Blossoms today, a Squirrels at the Door tradition: hersheyland.com/recipes/peanut-butter-blossoms.html

#hersheykisses #advent #adventcalendar #christmas #christmascountdown #wewishyouamerrychristmas

[kathyvincenz]

In America, there's always been a great divide between rich and poor but in 1910, it was at its peak of wealth and income inequality, a legacy of the Gilded Age.

Here Salvation Army volunteers hand out care packages of turkey for Christmas.

[kathyvincenz]

During WWII, the U.S. military gave nearly all soldiers a turkey dinner regardless of where they were stationed on Christmas day.

In this photo, a sergeant enjoys turkey in his machine gun position.

[kathyvincenz]

In America, turkey for Christmas dinner rose in popularity as well. However, those who could splurge on a turkey had to pick it up on the last possible day because most households didn't own a refrigerator.

In the 1940s, when only 85% of Americans owned one, it was considered a very good Christmas gift.

[kathyvincenz]

When the Spanish introduced turkey to the British, they said forget that peacock 🦚 we want turkey. To get turkeys and geese to the gentry in London, farmers and the birds walked up to three months. The farmers wrapped the turkey's feet in leather while they dipped the geese's feet in tar, making feet tires.

[kathyvincenz]

In Medieval times, the wealthy ate peacock 🦚 for Christmas dinner.

It was skinned so its feathers remained intact. After roasting, the peacock's plumage was reattached to create a spectacle on the serving plate, served by a comely maiden.

[kathyvincenz]