Vintage Fourth of July -- Ready for Fireworks?

Happy Independence Day to readers in the U.S.... Did you know John Adams thought that Americans would celebrate on July 2nd -- the day the Continental Congress actually declared independence in 1776 -- forever after?
On July 4th, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was officially approved by Congress, and that became "the day we celebrate" as the Victorian postcard by Ellen Clapsaddle above proclaims.  Here's for a "Glorious Fourth"!

Happy Memorial Day: Patriotic Digital Collage Sheets

I hope everyone here in the U.S is having a wonderful fun and safe Memorial Day weekend.  Many consider this the first day of summer, and with the HOT weather here and the kids out of school, it sure feels like it!  But I still consider it Spring until the "official" date on the Summer Solstice -- about three more weeks.

Just in time for July 4th crafts, I've created the two NEW digital collage sheets above -- "Lady Liberty" and "Patriotic Ephemera."  Lovely vintage images featuring plenty of Red White and Blue, cute kids and courageous and elegant ladies.

And below are two "oldies but goodies" -- "Patriotic Posters" featuring Uncle Sam and great vintage military recruiting posters and Red Cross posters and "4th of July" featuring charming Victorian children from antique postcards.  And of course American flags on both, including two fabulous flag bunting frames, great for cards, invites, scrapbook pages, etc.  

See them at LUNAGIRL.COM.

Fete Nationale (Bastille Day) July 14

You can celebrate Bastille Day, the French national holiday, with our vintage French patriotic postcards on Lunagirl Victorian Holidays Volume Three.

 Le Quatorze Juillet (the 14^th of July) commemorates the successful storming of the Bastille fortress in 1789 by French citizen-soldiers and revolutionaries.

The people of Paris, fearing an attack by the French royal military, attacked the Bastille in search of ammunition. The Bastille was a symbol of the oppressive rule of the aristocracy, because the king used the Bastille as a prison to hold people indefinitely without trial or appeal.

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While the French aristocracy enjoyed fabulous wealth and power, common people experienced increasing difficulty supporting themselves and their families, and writers who dared to criticize the government were jailed.

We like to identify with the elegance of the French aristocratic ladies, but the fact is most of us would have had more in common with the citizens of Paris and the French countryside. 

One of the first protests beginning the French Revolution was led by mothers who had no bread to feed their families. 
A famous story (probably fiction) says that Marie Antoinette, sheltered in her world of fancy parties and powdered wigs, asked why the common people were angry. When told, “Because they are starving and have no bread,” she is said to have replied, “Well then let them eat cake.” A remark quite witty and amusing to her rich friends, but not so funny to the hungry Parisian commoners!

 Marie Antoinette was a fashionable and influential woman but apparently not a very nice queen. Although she was popular at first, her sometimes arrogant behavior and extravagant lifestyle contributed to the decline of the French monarchy. As a footnote, this woman who is often considered the epitome of 'Frenchness' was actually an Austrian princess!

We have a lovely small collection of authentic French patriotic cards on our Holidays CD #3. They were printed during World War I, when France was again in struggle. They show symbols of France including the tricolor flag and Joan of Arc, as well as French soldiers and women, with slogans that speak of faith and hope.

If you can’t get to Paris, they also celebrate Le Quatorze Juillet in the French Quarter in New Orleans!

July 4th Card by Michele

I really wish I had posted this sooner, but it is still Fourth of July weekend for a few more hours, right?  This is a card created by Michele Storms using the free July 4th image I posted a few days ago.  Beautiful work as always, Michele!  Great angel image.

The Day We Celebrate... Happy July 4th, er 2nd?

Did you know that the Continental Congress actually declared independence on JULY SECOND 1776?
John Adams predicted that the 2nd of July would be celebrated by Americans forever after!

July 4th, 1776, is the date that the Declaration of Independence was officially approved by the Congress, and the dates just got combined over time. The Fourth of July became a popular American holiday after the War of 1812, when patriotism swept the young nation. (I've been reading early American History lately!)

In times past, communities would read the Declaration of Independence in the town square, in addition to celebrating with fireworks and parades.

Here are a couple of our favorite Fourth of July postcards. Click on them to see details of our Victorian Holidays Volume Three collection on CD, with pictures for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Birthdays as well as patriotic occasions (even some French patriotic cards for Bastille Day!)

Memorial Day Card

Ellen Clapsaddle painted quite a few lovely illustrations for Memorial Day (Decoration Day) and July 4th postcards. Here is a nice one for today.