December 2018

This Day in History… December 12, 2002

Posted on December 12, 2018 by MysticStamp

Happy National Poinsettia Day! 

US #1256 from the first US se-tenant issued in 1964.

On December 12, 2002, the US first celebrated National Poinsettia Day, honoring two of the men who helped make these festive plants popular in the US – Joel Roberts Poinsett and Paul Ecke, Jr.

Native to Mexico, the Aztecs called poinsettias Cuetlaxochitl, which means “flower that withers, mortal flower that perishes like all that is pure.”  According to Aztec tradition, these plants were a gift from the gods and their blood red coloring was to be a reminder of the sacrifices the gods made to create the universe.

Continue reading →

Posted in December 2018, This Day in History | 2 Comments

This Day in History… December 11, 1725

Posted on December 11, 2018 by MysticStamp

Birth of George Mason 

US #1858 from the Great Americans series.

Founding Father George Mason IV was born on December 11, 1725, in Fairfax County, Virginia.

After his father died in 1735, Mason inherited his substantial estate.  He would receive schooling for several years before being named to the Fairfax County Court in 1747.

Continue reading →

Posted in December 2018, This Day in History | 2 Comments

This Day in History… December 10, 1869

Posted on December 10, 2018 by MysticStamp

Wyoming Grants Women’s Suffrage 

US #897 pictures the state seal, which includes a banner reading “Equal Rights.”

On December 10, 1869, the Wyoming territory became the first government in the US to grant women the right to vote.

Since the 1840s, there was a growing movement to grant women the same rights as men.  As early as 1854, the Washington Territory attempted to give women the right to vote but was unsuccessful.  Nebraska tried as well in 1856.  A bill was even introduced to Congress after the Civil War to give women in all the territories the right to vote, but that failed as well.  A similar bill was also brought before Congress in 1868 that would have extended the right to women in all states and territories.  In 1869, the Dakota Territory came within one vote of passing a women’s suffrage bill.

Continue reading →

Posted in December 2018, This Day in History | 1 Comment

This Day in History… December 9, 1965

Posted on December 9, 2018 by MysticStamp

Debut of A Charlie Brown Christmas

U.S. #5024 pictures a scene from A Charlie Brown Christmas.

US #5024 pictures a scene from A Charlie Brown Christmas.

On December 9, 1965, A Charlie Brown Christmas first aired on television.

Peanuts creator Charles Schulz had his first cartoon series published at the age of 25.  Entitled Li’l Folks, it featured a character named Charlie Brown. When the syndicate opted not to renew the strip, Schulz developed a new one, named Peanuts, which debuted on October 2, 1950, in seven newspapers.

Continue reading →

Posted in December 2018, This Day in History | 7 Comments

This Day in History… December 8, 1831

Posted on December 8, 2018 by MysticStamp

Death of James Hoban

US #1935 was issued for the 150th anniversary of Hoban’s death.

On December 8, 1831, White House architect James Hoban died in Washington, DC.

James Hoban’s exact birthdate is unknown, but it’s believed he was born around 1758 in Callan, County Kilkenny, Ireland.  He grew up on the estate of the Earl of Desart.

Continue reading →

Posted in December 2018, This Day in History | 1 Comment

This Day in History… December 7, 1941

Posted on December 7, 2018 by MysticStamp

“A Date Which Will Live in Infamy”

US #2559i from the 1941: World at War stamp sheet.

On December 7, 1941, Japanese bombers attacked American troops at Pearl Harbor, catapulting the US into World War II.

The possibility of war between America and Japan had been a concern since the 1920s and was made worse following Japan’s invasion of Manchuria in 1931.  In the coming years, Japanese expansion into China and attacks on US vessels led America and its Allies to lend their support to China, further damaging relations with Japan.  Once the US halted oil exports to Japan, the Japanese saw this as an act of aggression and began planning to invade the Dutch East Indies.

Continue reading →

Posted in December 2018, This Day in History | 11 Comments