Comments on: Keepa’s Christmas Gift Giving Guide, page 3

By: Ray

Ray — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 01:40:03 +0000

#5 – Please do NOT send me anything that increases fertility! When you are heading down the homestretch, you don’t want to have start the race all over again.

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 18:50:12 +0000

I have a 1906 copy of The Squaw Man, the novel version adapted from Royle’s play, with a swastika on the spine. I’ll have to figure out how to get a good scan of that and send it for your collection.

And no, I hadn’t seen that story!

By: Mina

Mina — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 18:36:10 +0000

thanks for the Nord’s ad, Ardis. I have a minor interest in the cultural variations of that symbol and collect different examples for future possible pedagogical uses.

I don’t know if you saw this story from a few months ago about a woman who purchased what she thought was “swastika christmas” wrapping paper at a dollar store. As later pointed out, it was likely originally intended for Diwali celebrations in India and elsewhere.

http://www.wesh.com/news/21567569/detail.html

By: Floyd the Wonderdog

Floyd the Wonderdog — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 11:39:47 +0000

My Grandmother is 97 years-old. She has everything she’s ever wanted, because her desires are low. I got her a box of citrus fruit this year because I know how much she appreciates fresh fruit.

By: David B

David B — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 03:01:38 +0000

This sort of gift-giving is still done, of course—there are citrus plantations in Florida that exist solely for the (high-profit, high-risk) mail-order fruit market. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are some Utah fruit businesses that still do a pretty good mail-order business. (What’s the one with a store in a red barn-looking structure by the south end I–15 in Utah County or the north end of Juab County, i forget which? They might.)

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 23:34:27 +0000

Well, okay, Mina, it isn’t smart getting myself put on the naughty list at this time of year, so I won’t tease. Here’s, the ad, from 1921:

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This sort of swastika was a common Indian symbol and appears in lots of pre-1930s American materials as a symbol of good luck.

By: Mina

Mina — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:50:50 +0000

Ardis, swastika teasing is just not nice.

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:34:02 +0000

I suspect that all that’s available in the grocery stores here is shipped from Central America these days. But next summer when the produce stands are open, maybe I can find something local. Remind me, Eric!

By: Eric Boysen

Eric Boysen — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 21:33:46 +0000

Well, if Utah celery is THAT good, who is willing to ship me some?

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:51:08 +0000

Fear not, for behold, I have more ads to post next Christmas — including one for a department store that uses a swastika right smack in the middle of the copy. Be ye sore afraid?