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