Monday, December 28, 2015

Bringing in the New Year

Hello everyone, I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. For this post I am creating some vignettes using antique New Year's ephemera and bringing out the symbolism of each one. Postcards and trade cards can always tell a story if you look at the detail.


This first staging is with top hats, and I must admit I'm not sure what the symbolism is there. Just the popularity of the top hat during the Victorian era I suppose. (for an explanation of the top hat, see Ruth's comment at the bottom. Thanks Ruth!)
These two cards are advertising trade cards, not sure why the children have booze though, but they sure are cute! Maybe instead of a cup of good cheer, it's a top hat of good cheer? For father?


Speaking of good cheer, in the postcard below to the right, the party gal is giving a cup of good cheer to Old Father Time, the hour glass has been turned over to start off a New Year.  The card reads "May Welcome warm the heart of time, to speed a New Year."
The card to the left is a Diamond Dye's card, the children are depicting the 12 months of the year in their newly dyed clothing and Father Time has dyed his drab old brown cloak as well.

So, out with the OLD...



And in with the NEW...



In Victorian folklore, pigs were a symbol of good health, happiness and prosperity-sentiments associated with Christmas and the New Year. Also pigs were emblems of good luck. Which is ironic, because those poor things don't have good luck at all! :)



A wishbone is also a good luck symbol, but only if you get the longer half right? lol
The silver plated pieces also have the wishbone for good luck. The egg cup reads "Best Wishes".
Notice the bright cheery flowers, as well as the snow scene. Christmas and New Year's cards often had sunny scenes of flowers, birds and their nests, etc. as a reminder that Spring would be coming.



Horse shoes are a good luck symbol too. And again, these cards have the flowers of Spring and Summer. Notice the card on the right has violets shaped into a horse shoe.
In the background is my plush photo box with a horse shoe framing the mirror.



A forget-me-not wishing well with 4 leaf clovers, both symbols of good luck. There is also a white dove on the crank of the well, you have to look hard for it.
Then there's a ship steering wheel, to guide us into a New Year. And a bouquet of roses
In between the two postcards is an antique ink well and mother of pearl pen.



Ring in the New Year with these sweet little butterfly winged fairies. The one fairy is ringing the church tower bell and the other is offering up a cup of good cheer.


So with that, here's wishing you and yours a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Thank you so much for reading my blog this past year and for those of you who leave me comments thank you so much, I have really enjoyed getting to know you through those comments.

I want to thank Sandi over at NO PLACE LIKE HOME for featuring my "Christmas in the Dining Room" post.
And to Kathy over at HOME AND GARDEN THURSDAY for featuring my "Who was/is Jesus" post.

I am linking up to the following parties...
BERNIDEEN'S TEA TIME, COTTAGE AND GARDEN with Bernideen
TUESDAY CUPPA TEA with Ruth
TUESDAYS AT OUR HOME with Maria Elena
LET'S TALK VINTAGE with Jillian
NO PLACE LIKE HOME with Sandi
WHAT'S IT WEDNESDAY with Patti
SHARE YOUR CUP THURSDAY with Jann
HOME AND GARDEN THURSDAY with Kathy
HOME SWEET HOME with Sherry
FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY with Courtney
SHOW AND TELL FRIDAY with Cindy
AMAZE ME MONDAY with Cindy


29 comments:

  1. Happy New Year, Gina! Thank you for sharing the Victorians' interesting New Year traditions.

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  2. Happy New Year Gina
    I hope 2016 is as good to me as 2015 has been.
    Your top hat items are real cute the little naked doll with his hat on.
    I had never heard about the piggies being good luck I only knew about the horseshoe and wishbone.

    I have one New Year's day card and I just seen it the other day someplace?
    here's to us in the New Year finding wonderful items for our houses, like a side board for you and matching large wood oval frames and me vintage Louis Vuitton

    Your friend Janice







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  3. Dear Gina:
    I love Your New Year's displays! These are adorable. Happy New Year to you and your family!

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  4. Hi Gina: I always love to visit here. Your home is so amazing. Wishing you a blessed New Year! Hugs, Martha

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  5. Gina,
    What a wonderful post!! I LOVE all your New Year's ephemera!! Interesting about the pig i must say!! LOL!
    Wishing you a Happy New Year!!

    Hugs,
    Deb

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  6. What a fun and lovely post! I forget about the lucky pig. I must remember -- it would be fun to start looking for pig ornaments for the kids ... a new tradition! I do love vintage and reproduction postcards for the holidays. Happy New Year!

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  7. Hi Gina...the top hat is from the British tradition of First Footing...I'll be posting on New Years about it...and the idea that the First Footer began as a chimney sweep sweeping away the bad luck from the old year to be ready for the new good luck! I love your display. So pretty! I do love old postcards! Thanks so much for linking to Tuesday Cuppa Tea!
    Ruth

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  8. Another great post! Your posts bring happiness thank you

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  9. Hi Gina,
    You have so much knowledge about vintage items. I realize that I should have added the information that you shared on my blog about my Santa Claus teacup. Your good luck pics are all so intriguing. I do love the Victorian era and the cards were so elegant. Have a Wonderful New Year Dear Gina! Blessings, Karen

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  10. Love all the symbolism. Here in Scotland we just love a good time!
    Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

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  11. I cannot believe all of the cool things you have!
    You never cease to amaze me!
    Happy New Year!

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  12. Great New Year display.
    I received a vintage (mid 1960's) Christmas card from my sister this year from Maine. She found them at a vintage place going out of business for $.50. I want her to see all of the neat things you share. The chimney sweep sweeping away bad luck is what Mom used to say. I love to read hear what makes our holiday festivities what they are.
    Happy New Year to you and your family.
    betsy

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  13. Dear Gina:
    You asked me about the tipping teapot and yes that's what it is - very old Victorian. It is silver plate and much of that has come off! Happy New Year Gina and I look forward to meeting you in the coming months!

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  14. Gina, the cards and other treasures are amazing. Love the vignettes!
    Have a happy and blessed new year!
    Hugs,
    Patti

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  15. What a fabulous collection you have! So fun to see how people celebrated in years past and what the symbols represent!
    Happy 2016!
    Cheers!

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  16. Such interesting info - love the cards and the displays - happiest new year!!

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  17. Happy happy new year Gina! I am so glad we have discovered each other here in blog land!enjoying getting to know ya for sure and YES we sure do have lots in common!! Just love all the Victorian stuff and miss my true Victorian house!

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  18. Hi Gina,
    Lovely to drop in to your Victorian world on day 1 of 2016. Your vignettes are the best. I agree, the pour pigs have such a hard life, it's ironic they would be a symbol of luck.
    All my best,
    Anyes
    xx

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  19. You have a great collection of vintage post cards! I share your passion for playing with my collections too. I never pass up a clock. Your collection is easier to store however! Wishing you a Happy New Year.

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  20. Gina, I knew you would have some wonderful New Years post cards. I never run across any, but sure enjoy yours! I just learned that about the pig on Ivy and Elephants blog. Had never heard that before. Thanks for sharing your wonderful collection with SYC. Happy New Year!
    hugs,
    Jann

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  21. You have the best collections. I love everything about this post. Continued blessings in 2016!

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  22. What a fun post, Gina! The wish bone brought back memories of pulling it with my little brother. It was always fun to see who would get the longer half. Great post! Thanks for sharing and Happy New Year!

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  23. Happy New Year. What fun things you shared today.

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  24. Hi Gina! I enjoyed looking closely at all your antique postcards! I have a few from my mom I am so glad to have.Happy New Year to you!
    Hugs..Nancy

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  25. Hi Gina! I enjoyed looking closely at all your antique postcards! I have a few from my mom I am so glad to have.Happy New Year to you!
    Hugs..Nancy

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  26. Love the Victorian postcards! You have a wonderful collection. So much interesting symbolism there.
    Happy New Year Gina. I'm looking forward to continuing to follow your blog. Blessings, Deborah

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  27. Hi Gina, just hopping back to let you know that I am featuring you at SYC today.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  28. you have a gorgeous collection of these cards Gina! Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home! Happy New Year!

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