You might associate flags with national pride, but that’s not all they’re for. Lots of people are also deciding to display flags for important occasions and holidays. You can choose from a wide variety of holiday flags, including Easter, Valentine’s Day, Christmas and Thanksgiving, not to mention lots of others. Here are a few of your options when it comes to choosing from popular holiday flag designs.
New Years: New Year’s flags are getting more popular, and tend to be mostly party oriented. Some can be reused year after year, but others have the date printed or sewn on them. You may also see patriotic New Year’s flags, featuring the Stars and Stripes in various arrangements. You can order custom flags and choose from many sizes and colors. For other cultures that don’t celebrate the traditional January 1st New Year, there are still New Year’s flags. Chinese New Year flags and ones for other cultures are also available.
Valentine’s Day: In February, you’ll be able to fly sweet Valentine’s Day designs. Once thought to be the first day of the mating season for birds, Valentine’s Day has associations with love and romance, and so do its flags. Choose from classic hearts, arrows, Cupids, balloons and roses. If you’re not feeling in the Valentine’s Day spirit, think about a broken heart flag. These flags are flown just about everywhere, from parties and restaurants to at home.
St. Patrick’s Day: Fly the green on St. Patrick’s day. Choose from lots of different flags that people associate with Ireland, from its national flag to shamrocks, rainbows, leprechauns and pots of gold. You’ll see these in parades, in people’s houses, and in bars and pubs serving green beer.
Easter: Another popular choice are Easter flags, whether they’re secular or religious. You’ll see rabbits and chicks, Easter eggs, lilies, spring items and other symbols on flags. These are fun flags to display at kids’ parties, or just because you’re happy to see Spring. For those who prefer a strong religious statement, crosses and other more traditional Easter symbols are also available for display. They’ll remind passers by that Easter isn’t just about chocolate.
Fourth of July: For the Fourth of July, the American flag is an old standby, but that’s not the only one that people fly. There are historical American flags, flags with fireworks, and others with other patriotic designs. Fly them proudly to celebrate Independence Day.
Thanksgiving: There are more Thanksgiving flags out these days, too. You’ll see them indoors and on people’s homes, with designs like the Mayflower and first settlers, fall leaves, cornucopias, turkeys, scarecrows and more. These flags fly during parades, or just during a good family meal.
Christmas: Christmas is a season for flags, too. Like Easter, it’s developed its own secular symbols, in addition to the religious ones. That means you’ll see crosses and nativity flags, as well as holly and ivy. You may see Christmas tree flags, candy cane flags, Santa and his reindeer, snowmen, Christmas lights, and lots more.
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June 24 2008 | flags | No Comments »
The American Flag was originally designed by Betsy Ross, as every school child learns. But, it’s unlikely that many know what a tumultuous life she led. She sustained many ups and downs, including three marriages in which her husbands died.
For that era, she had a long life, dying at age 84. She had been a business woman, skilled in many crafts, which led to her choice to sew the first american flag. Read on for an interesting account of Betsy Ross’s unusual life.
Three Mysteries Surround Betsy Ross
Do you know what the mysteries are that surround Betsy Ross? How many times was she married? How many children did she have? How many times was she buried? If you have answered yes or no, read on.
What are the mysteries that surround Betsy Ross?
Elizabeth Griscom was born on January 1, 1752. She was born the eighth of seventeen children sixteen girls and one boy. She was called Betsy. Her family were Quakers. Her parents were Samuel and Rebecca Griscom. Her father was a master carpenter.
Betsy went to school at a Quaker School. She learned reading, writing, arithmetic and sewing. After leaving school Betsy undertook an apprenticeship in upholstery, this is where she met and fell in love with John Ross. She learned to repair chairs, curtains, rugs umbrellas and to make flags.
Betsy and John eloped. Her parents did not approve of John since he was not a Quaker and Betsy was, “read out.” This means she was severed from her parents, her large family and the Quaker Community.
The couple returned to Philadelphia to start their own upholstery business in 1774. Betsy and John attended Christ Church and sat next to George Washington’s family. Betsy and John were married three years when John died in 1776 guarding an ammunition site during the Revolutionary War.
Betsy now widowed and alone inherited land. She continued to work at her upholstery business. Business was hard because of the Revolutionary war and material was hard to come by.
In the summer of 1776 Betsy met with the committee of three General, George Washington, George Ross, and Robert Morris. This led to the sewing of the first historical flag. Thirteen stars in a circle and thirteen strips. General, George Washington was very specific. He said, “I want the stars in a circle to represent the thirteen colonies. I do not want any of the colonies names above the others.”
In 1777 Betsy wed a sea captain Joseph Ashborn. They had two daughters one died in youth. Caption Ashborn was captured and died in prison.
In 1777 Betsy’s home was seized by the British Army during the historic winter at Valley Forge. Betsy was a strong supporter of the Militia.
Widowed again Betsy remarried an old friend John Claypoole, They had 5 daughters. John died in 1800 of a stroke.He had been bedridden for 17 years.
94 years later the story of the making of the first flag was told by Betsy’s grandson in 1780 William J. Canby at the meeting of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. The speech was printed in the Harper Weekly.
The only fact which was found after extensive research is this The State Navy Board Pennsylvania for May 29, 1777, an order on William Webb to Elizabeth Ross for fourteen pounds twelve shillings, and two pence for making ship’s colors, & c put into Richard’s store. Betsy made ship’s colors for Pennsylvania state ships.
There is not any other documentation available.
Not only does mystery surround Betsy about the making of the first flag - but in her death.
Betsy died in Philadelphia at age 84 completely blind. Her house is located at 239 Arch street, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania it isa popular tourist attraction.
Not only was Betsy married and widowed three times - she was buried three times. Betsy Ross was first buried at the Free Quaker burial ground on South 5th street. 20 years later her remains were exhumed and reburied in the Mt. Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia in the family gravesite. In the preparation of the United States Bicentennial the city ordered her remains to be moved to the Betsy Ross house in 1975. However, workers did not find any remains under her tombstone. Bones found elsewhere and unidentified were declared hers and re- buried in her grave at the Betsy Ross home.
Whose bones are in Betsy Ross’s grave. Hers, or another family member?
In 1909 a book was written by George Canby and nephew Lloyd Balderson. The book is titled, The Evolution of the American Flag. It gave positive information about Betsy making the first flag as was told to her family by Betsy.
A painting by Charles H. Weisgerber was printed into the book called, Birth Of Our Nations Flag. It showed Betsy and her granddaughters presenting the flag to General George Washington and others. This book became an instant sensation. The picture was printed in all the school text books in the United States.
A fund was started by school children to contribute ten cents each until they reach two million dollars to purchase and renovate the Betsy Ross house in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Historians do not believe the house is the Betsy Ross house. But once again records were not available.
Is the house really Betsy Ross’s house?
The question is why did the public believe Betsy Ross did indeed make the first flag?
(1) The Speech her grandson made at the Historical Sociiety of Pennsylvania.
(2) The book, The Evolution of the American Flag.
(3) Married 3 times and widowed two times during the Revolutionary War.
(4) Owned and managed her own land.
(5) Single mother.
(6) Business woman.
(7) Using Betsy’s name in advertising was big business for selling flags and other items.
(8) Managed her own household.
(9) Member of the “Fighting Quakers.”
(10) Made American Flags for 50 years.
(11) The public loved the idea of a woman being a hero.
Does it really matter if Betsy Ross sewed the first flag? She was a gutsy lady. Way before her time. She proved her patriotism many times over and mystery still surrounds her life.
Thank you for reading my article. Please feel free to read any of the numerous articles I have written on several different subjects.
Copyright Linda E. Meckler 2008
Linda is the author of her first published book, “Ghost Kids Trilogy. “Christy, 12 and her Brother Brad, 16 moves into an old house on top of a mountain and meet two Ghost Kids.
Then we have a mysterious, magical Blue Vase where Uncle Charlie the villain is trapped. He wants out of the Blue Vase and exchange he will tell Christy and Brad where Pirates’ Treasure is Hidden.
Take a walk with Christy and Brad down a dark hall hunting for Pirates” Treasure. You will think were you there right there with them.
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June 23 2008 | American Flags | No Comments »