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12/20/20 01:30 PM #9418    

David Brock

Marvin,  Good looking project.  On a good day, given a straight edge I can sometimes make a straight line.  You certainly a patient, talented person.


12/21/20 08:46 PM #9419    

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Marv:

I need your email address again, please.  I have a photo of a sphere that my son-in-law made with popsicle sticks that you might enjoy.  (He is also a Mechanical Engineer, designer, and inventor).

Linda


12/23/20 12:48 PM #9420    

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Hi:

I'm going to try to paste this Christmas Trivia.  Here's hoping someone will enjoy this trivia.  Love to all, Linda

Kelly Allen
 
 
Photo credit: Pool BASSIGNAC/REGLAIN - Getty Images
Photo credit: Pool BASSIGNAC/REGLAIN - Getty Images

From House Beautiful

When you’re not quite ready to watch another Christmas movie but still want to engage in a family activity, trivia is always a solid game to turn to. Who doesn’t love a little friendly competition, right? We’ve rounded up some questions to test your family members on so that you can spend more time playing the game than creating it.

How did red and green become Christmas colors?

We mostly have holly and Coca-Cola to thank for the rise of red and green as Christmas colors. Holly, obviously, has bright red berries and dark green leaves. It was used long ago by the ancient Celts for winter solstice celebrations as a symbol of protection and good luck. Coca-Cola’s role in making the colors a widespread combo for the holiday began in 1931 with ads featuring Santa Claus in a red and white suit surrounded by a green background and accents.

Photo credit: Library of Congress - Getty Images
Photo credit: Library of Congress - Getty Images
 

What’s the most successful Christmas movie ever?

With a whopping $286 million at box office, 1990’s Home Alone is the highest-grossing Christmas movie ever. Coming in second is How the Grinch Stole Christmas, released in 2000 with a box office of $260 million, according to Forbes.

How many packages does the USPS deliver during the holidays?

In 2019, the USPS projected 800 million package deliveries between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. The postal service hasn’t specifically said how many packages are being delivered this year, but the package volume is at an all time high because of the pandemic.

True or false: "Jingle Bells" was written to be a Christmas song.

False! The song wasn’t intended to be attached to the holiday. Some historical reports say it was first performed at a Thanksgiving church service. In any case, the lyrics don’t mention any holiday at all.

When was the first tree put up at the Rockefeller Center?

Technically, the first Christmas tree was put up in 1931 when construction workers building the site decided to buy one to lift their spirits during the Great Depression. In 1933, it became a tradition with the first official lighting ceremony.

Photo credit: MATT CAMPBELL - Getty Images
Photo credit: MATT CAMPBELL - Getty Images

Has Christmas ever been illegal to celebrate?

Yes. The Massachusetts-Bay Colony ordinance of 1659 made Christmas illegal to celebrate in that specific colony. The law was repealed in 1681. Christmas didn’t become a state holiday in Massachusetts until 1856, though.

When was the term “Xmas” first used?

The term was first used in the mid-1950s. It comes from the Greek letter chi, the first letter in the word Χριστός, which means Christ.

What are two other names for Santa Claus?

Saint Nick and Kris Kringle.

How many Americans use artificial Christmas trees?

survey conducted by Nielsen for the American Christmas Tree Association found that nearly 94 million U.S. households will display a Christmas tree this year. Of those, 85 percent are artificial.

What department store sold $50,000 chocolate advent calendars in 2007?

Harrods sold a 4-foot, Christmas-tree shaped advent calendar carved from wood that had compartments filled with organic chocolate. The proceeds from the calendars went to cocoa farmers in Belize.

Name the eight original reindeer.

Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen.

How much do Americans spend on holiday shopping?

The National Retail Federation reports that Americans plan to spend an average of about $998 this year on holiday shopping. That’s down from last year’s average of around $1,048.

True or false: People no longer send out Christmas cards.

False! The rate of sending any greeting card has gone down over the years, but this year especially, people are sending holiday cards as a way to connect with others during the pandemic.

Photo credit: Francis Dean - Getty Images
Photo credit: Francis Dean - Getty Images

Why is kissing under mistletoe a tradition?

The start of the tradition is up for debate, but many ancient cultures believed mistletoe to have healing properties—from potentially protecting against poisons to restoring fertility. There’s also a myth that mistletoe was used to kill the god Baldur, and his mother Frigg used its berries to bring him back to life. She then declared the plant a symbol of love and promised to kiss anyone who went underneath it.

Why are stockings hung?

The most popular legend tells of a poor man who was worried his three impoverished daughters wouldn’t have enough status to marry. St. Nicholas heard of his situation and wanted to help but knew the man wouldn’t take charity. Instead of directly handing him money, St. Nicholas put gold coins in the daughters’ stockings that were drying by the fire and disappeared.


12/24/20 08:26 AM #9421    

 

Steve Frankeberger

Just want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  Next year has to be better.


12/24/20 10:35 AM #9422    

 

Melvin (Mel) Theobald


12/24/20 10:37 AM #9423    

 

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Go, Fight, Win. Go Raiders!!! To a great cheerleader...


12/25/20 12:39 AM #9424    

 

James (Jim) Rookus

Wishing everyone a joyous Christmas as we celebrate the birth of  Jesus Christ our Lord !   From our home to yours ... Merry Christmas and best wishes for a Happy New Year !!!   Jim & Carol


12/25/20 10:19 AM #9425    

 

Marvin Theobald

Merry Christmas to all! It has been a very strange year to say the least. Thanks to Dave Long, those of us that participated and those that were just observers were treated to a very special series of Message Forum posts that brought us closer together during the year. It has been one the highlights of my year to enjoy getting to know many of you better. Hopefully we will continue staying in touch. Best wishes on this special day.

Jim - Beautiful tree! I guess a big family requires a big tree. Very nice.

Linda - I enjoyed the Christmas trivia and learned several things I did not previously know. I was most surprised by the fact that Jingle Bells was not originally a Christmas song. I recently heard a radio program on song writer Johnny Marks who made his living writing Christmas songs and found it interesting that this one man wrote Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, A Holly Jolly Christmas, Silver and Gold, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day and Run Rudolph Run.

Max - Are you hinting that you would like some of the scraps if I messed up on some the icosahedron parts  Maybe I can put together a Picasso version sad.

Sandy - Sorry if I worried you, but my hip has done exceptionally well and I am able to comfortably do anything I did before the surgery and more. I will post some more pictures of my wood craft projects after Judy opens her Christmas presents.


12/25/20 10:37 AM #9426    

 

Joan Pease (Clark)

Kevin joins me in wishing you all a safe and serene Christmas - followed by a very welcome thriving New Year!


12/25/20 12:38 PM #9427    

 

Melvin (Mel) Theobald


12/25/20 08:11 PM #9428    

 

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Wishing everyone a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

In my new world this year there are no holiday decorations save a wreath on the front door and a leg lamp on the living room table (think "A Christmas Story"). But I did get to spend a little time with my daughter and granddaughter yesterday. We had a beautiful visit, opened presents, and shared lots of stories. To cap it off, my son is on his way over tonight. All in all, those are the things that matter most. I feel very lucky.

Photo from yesterday.


12/27/20 03:02 PM #9429    

 

Melvin (Mel) Theobald


12/27/20 07:56 PM #9430    

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Mickey:

I see that you're on the website!  Nice to see you here.

I look forward to seeing you communicating with our 3rd grade class.  You'll be surprised how many remember you.

For those who don't know, Mickey lived next door to Suzy Probasco and went to Washington Street School with Jack Keefe, Sally Fox, Jane Wettaw, Linda Keller, Lynn Bishop, Terry Baxter, Nancy Prillaman, Dave Uban, Ron Shillington, John Shambach, Gary Tool, Paul Todd, Dennis Alexander, Tony Beich, me, etc.

Happy New Year everyone!

Love to all, Linda


12/29/20 11:14 AM #9431    

 

Melvin (Mel) Theobald


12/30/20 10:33 AM #9432    

 

Gail Hempstead (Uphoff)

Linda

What was the teachers name?  I can remember 4th grade was Mrs Holcomb, 5th was Mrs Miller and 6th Mrs Bane but I can't remeber 3rd grade.  It was my first year at Washington.  Weren't Norma Graen and Mary Eisenberg also at Washington then?

Happy New Year ,


12/30/20 11:28 AM #9433    

Mary Eisenberg (Mullins)

Hello Gail

3rd grade was Mrs Kay Kuchan.  I stayed in touch with her through church and was even a Church Senior High Advisor for her son.

2nd grade, I think was Mrs Thomas and 1st grade was Mrs. Ringer.  For Kindersgarten, we went to Oakland School and the teacher's name was Mrs Hertman (she got married during the school year)

Yes, Nancy Prillaman was with us!

 


12/30/20 11:31 AM #9434    

Mary Eisenberg (Mullins)

Ooops, my mistake.  You weren't asking about Nancy, but Norma Graen.  I am not sure how far back she was with us,but definitely for some of grade school.  


12/30/20 12:00 PM #9435    

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Hi Gail and Mary:

Sorry, I couldn't remember all of the names off the top of my head.  I also did not include Paula Mueller, Gene Fuller, Carol Teagle, Diane Gardner, and both of you.  I do remember that we had 30 in our class at the beginning of the year.  I heard Mrs. Kuchen tell Mrs. Ringer.

Norma came to our class just after the beginning of 4th grade.  She might be in our 4th grade photo.

Jack: Class photos had been taken  for a few decades before us.  Even my father, who was born 1900, had a school class photo when he was 8 years old.

Mrs. Kuchen, during the beginning of our 3rd grade class made a comment that I have always remembered: 'all of you should be living in the year 2000.  Who knows, by then you might be driving space ships.'

In the 1990's I took a photo of my van and sent it to her with the caption 'my space ship'.  She had retained photos from the newspaper that had anything to do with her students.  She sent clippings, to me, of me and my horse, and my father and 2 of his horses.

Mrs. Kuchen asked me to play Mary in our Nativity for class.  I asked why she chose me.  She said because I was olive complected like Mary would have been.  That was the first time that I became aware of my skin.

She was a wonderful teacher.

Blessings to you both!

Love ya, Linda


01/01/21 04:11 PM #9436    

 

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR AWESOME CLASSMATES.

MAY YOUR 2021 BE FILLED WITH HOPE AND GOOD CHEER.


01/01/21 06:03 PM #9437    

 

James (Jim) Rookus

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all and best wishes for many blessings  in your lives in 2021!!!  Stay safe and COVID free!

It has been a real joy getting to know many of you the past year as we spent so much time on our site and especially posting such wonderful photos which really did help to see into the lives and homes of our classmates.  Press on in 2021  with more of the same!


01/02/21 04:43 PM #9438    

 

David Long

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE - Wishing you, Health, Safety, and Happiness in the coming year.


01/02/21 04:53 PM #9439    

 

David Long

Here's a link that every music aficionado may enjoy - groovin'' to the sounds we graduated with.....

http://thenostalgiamachine.com/y/#1964


01/02/21 04:57 PM #9440    

 

David Long

Anyone remember any teachers from Lincoln Grade School?  I don't....


01/02/21 05:19 PM #9441    

 

Terry (Max) Maxwell

HAPPY NEW YEAR to one and all.  Looking forward to a much better 2021 than last year... which shouldn't take much.

Dave... Lincoln School teachers... I don't remember K through 2 but the upper grades were...  3rd: Mrs. Hubble,  4th: Miss Gottachalk(sp), 5th: Miss Ayers,  6th: Mrs. Mauer.  Maybe somebody else knows the K-2 teachers' names.

 

 


01/04/21 02:50 PM #9442    

 

David Long

Thanks for the reminder Max, 3rd, 4th, and 6th are now clear - but still don't remember 5th...must be slipping after 60+ years.

 

 

 

 

 


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