Purple Emperor Fairy -Postcard Friendship Friday #456

The fairy in this ad features the beauty of the Purple Emperor, which is the second largest butterfly in central Europe.  The deep purple-blue shine on the wings of the male can only be seen from various angles and in bright light.  The color shows up when  light is refracted by ridges on the insect's wing scales.

Poulain is Fench for foal.  Though the icon of the brand is usually a jumping foal, in this advertisement, they've used a whimsical little fairy.

This company has been around for a LONG time.  Chocolat Poulain is one of the oldest chocolate brands in France.  They are famous for their chocolate bars, both for eating and cooking.  They also make a lovely chocolate drink mix called Poulain Orange product. 

It all began as the dream of Victor-Auguste Poulain, who began the mass production of chocolate in 1848 in Blois, France.  In 1893, he established Chocolat Poulain as a company.

In the mid-1800's, chocolate was considered to be the food of kings.  Ahead of his time, Victor believed chocolate should be available to everyone.  His company was innovative in industrializing the production of chocolate and in their widespread marketing campaigns targeting children and families.

In more modern history--Chocolat Poulain was the sponsor of the mountains classification in the 1975 Tour de France, when its distinctive polka dot jersey was introduced; the jersey's design was based on the candy's polka dotted wrapper.  The company was bought by Cadbury Sweppes in 1988.  It was sold to Kraft Food in 2010 and since 2012 belongs to Mondelez International.

Thank you for dropping by, dear Friends!  Happy Postcard Friendship Friday.

* LINKING UP:  You can put your link in any time between now and next Friday.  Postcard Friendship Friday is open for the entire week!

* BADGE:  When you submit a postcard, be sure to put a link back to this page.  You can copy and paste the PFF badge, which has the link embedded.  Thank you! 

*  THEMES: You don't have to stick to the theme I choose each Friday. Just put up the postcards you love and tell us why you like them.

*  REMINDER:  If you post anything other than a postcard to share, your link will be removed.   Postcard Friendship Friday is specifically dedicated to postcards, both modern and vintage.

Bastille Day -Postcard Friendship Friday #366

What is a Bastille?  One can discover a lot of information by looking at the origin of words.  Bastille is an alternate spelling of bastide, which means fortification.  Bastide, meaning "built," originates from the ancient Occitan language of southern France.  It also has the idea of troops watching over a prison.  In ancient times, a Bastille was a fortification often used by royalty to imprison their enemies.

Bastille Day is a national French Holiday commemorating the storming of the prison of Bastille on July 14, 1789.  That victorious battle marked the beginning of the great French Revolution.

In those days, the Bastille had come to symbolize the absolute and arbitrary power of King Louis the 16th. When the French people captured the Bastille, they proclaimed their freedom from the King’s oppressive rule.

Though the Bastille held just seven prisoners when it was captured, seizing the prison became a symbol of liberty and of the people’s fight against tyranny.  This is when the Tricolor flag was first flown, symbolizing the Republic's three great ideals: Liberty, Equality and Fraternity for all French citizens.

The capture of the Bastille marked the end of absolute monarchy.  It led to the birth of the sovereign Nation of France and eventually, in 1792, the creation of the First Republic. 

La Marseillaise was written in 1792 and declared the French national anthem in 1795. The words of this song are profound and heart-stirring.  If you get the chance, read the words--and listen to the music.  It is beautiful.

On the first anniversary of the fall of the Bastille, delegates from every region of France gathered in Paris to proclaim their allegiance to a single national community during the Fête de la Fédération — it was the first time in history a people had claimed their right to self-determination.

Benjamin Raspail, a politician and painter-engraver during the French Revolution recommended July 14 should become a yearly celebration.  And so July 6, 1880, Bastille Day was declared a National French holiday.

Just as in the United States, where the signing of the Declaration of Independence signaled the start of the American Revolution, so in France the storming of the Bastille began the Great Revolution which changed the face of France for all time.  In both countries, a national holiday symbolizes  independence, a new form of government and freedom from tyranny.

To this day, the capture of the Bastille has great significance for the French people.  The holiday symbolizes their freedom from oppression and commemorates the birth of the Republic of France.  This celebration of freedom continues in modern times, as Bastille Day.

Have a lovely weekend and Happy Postcard Friendship Friday! 

* LINKING UP:  You can put your link in any time between now and next Thursday.  Postcard Friendship Friday is open for the entire week!   

* BADGE:  When you submit a postcard, be sure to put a link back to this page.  You can copy and paste the PFF badge, which has the link embedded.  Thank you! 

*  THEMES: You don't have to stick to the theme I choose each Friday. Just put up the postcards you love and tell us why you like them.

Happy New Year! -Postcard Friendship Friday #294

Happy New Year Friends.  Isn't this a beautiful postcard?  I love this lady.  She stands in beauty upon the snow with a dove in her hand.  So perfect for the New Year.  Peace on Earth--it is my prayer for the world this new year.

These past months have been slow.  Without the precious company of my sweet husband, the Love of my life, it was the hardest year of my life.

This coming year will be filled with additional changes and challenges.  But with help and strength from the Lord, I will make it through.  My husband always said our life was an adventure--and it continues to be.

Happy New Year and Happy Postcard Friendship Friday!  May God give you the desires of your heart and fill the coming year with His joy and peace.

* LINKING UP:  You can put your link in any time between now and next Thursday.  Postcard Friendship Friday is open for the entire week!     

* BADGE:  When you submit a postcard, be sure to put a link back to this page.  You can copy and paste the PFF badge, which has the link embedded.  Thank you! 

*  THEMES: You don't have to stick to the theme I choose each Friday. Just put up the postcards you love and tell us why you like them.

Little Darling -Postcard Friendship Friday!

Here again is the face of the Little French Girl. Her likeness is found in many postcards around the turn of the century. She has the face of an angel.

If anyone out there has information on who she was, I would love to know.

Happy Postcard Friendship  Friday!

Little Daisy Girl -Postcard Friendship Friday

My gracious and generous friend Paula, from Pearl's World, saw an earlier post of one of my favorite postcards, and sent several postcards of this same lovely young lady. Thank you, Paula! The little girl was French, and was featured in many postcards from the early 1900's.

If anyone out there has information on the history of this little girl, I would love to hear from you. There's something so poignant and sweet about her face. I wonder who she was.

Happy Postcard Friendship Friday!