World War I Christmas Truce Of 1914 Reenactment Held In Philadelphia, PA On December 8, 2012

On December 8, 2012, Fort Mifflin in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania hosted a reenactment that I have been waiting years to see ... The Christmas Truce Of 1914 during World War I. As a matter of fact, I had never seen any kind of World War I Reenactment so this was very special. It was after 5:00 PM and quite dark out so the photos are not the best. Despite that, it was an amazing event and, most importantly, it covered what I consider to be one of the most extraordinary moments, if not the most extraordinary moment, in human history.

The Fort's informational brochure for the reenactment:












Here is a brief clip I filmed featuring the reenactors performing "Adeste Fideles" aka "O Come, All Ye Faithful" aka "O Come, Let Us Adore Him".

This is the url for the video in case it does not embed properly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPu4rEvfUGE

The German Barracks ...









The British Barracks ...







In honor of the event, I brought along an actual Christmas Tin created by Princess Mary for the British personnel in 1914. This very one could have been carried by a Soldier during the Christmas Truce 98 years ago. I thought it appropriate to bring this fitting artifact to the event. I just acquired it in May of this year.

Here are four links that discuss the tin ...

http://www.kinnethmont.co.uk/1914-1918_files/xmas-box-1914.htm
http://www.museumoftechnology.org.uk/expand.php?key=699
http://www.trenchartofww1.co.uk/xmas_1914_tin_21.html
http://museumvictoria.com.au/collections/items/1329146/tin-princess-mary-s-christmas-gift-1914

I give much credit to everyone who organized and participated in this reenactment of the Christmas Truce Of 1914. It is an episode in history that must never be forgotten and should actually be discussed and portrayed frequently.
 
Here is the url for Fort Mifflin's website: http://fortmifflin.us It will be updated with their 2013 schedule shortly.

Two Czech Items For Krampusnacht On December 5, 2012

I recently acquired two Krampus items that are Czech in origin. I brought them out for Krampusnacht or Krampus Night ... December 5, 2012. The chenille figure likely is from the 1960s and the die cut paper item, which could be a label or scrap piece, is roughly from the same time and possibly even dating to the 1940s.


The url for the above video (in case it does not embed properly): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQ6YGFhMIuQ





Some background on Krampus can be found at the following links:

http://michael-the-researcher.blogspot.com/2011/12/nikolaustag-featuring-old-bishop.html
http://michael-the-researcher.blogspot.com/2011/12/first-ever-krampuslauf-krampus-parade.html

Besse Cooper, The World's Oldest Person, Passed Away Today At The Age Of 116

Very sad news. Besse Cooper, the World's Oldest Person, passed away today. She was 116 and was the last human being still alive who was born in the year 1896. Her life spanned three centuries.

Besse Cooper was already an adult when the United States entered World War I and middle-aged when World War II started. As some of you know, this year marks the Bicentennial of the War Of 1812 and the continued Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War. Besse actually lived during a time when Veterans of both conflicts still walked the Earth. She was the absolute last living link to the era of Grover Cleveland's Presidential Administration and was one of the last living vestiges of the Victorian Era.

My blog entry discussing the Last Survivors of 1895 puts the matter into perspective (there were seven people from 1896 still living on May 4, 2010 so Besse kept the year 1896 alive for two years and seven months after the passing of the last person from 1895): http://michael-the-researcher.blogspot.com/2010/05/last-survivors-born-in-year-1895-have.html

Once again, Besse Cooper was the last verified person on Earth who actually lived in the year 1896 ... her passing closes the chapter on that year forever. RIP. Now there are only 17 verified people who were born in the 1800s remaining. 115-year-old Dina Manfredini is now the World's Oldest Person. She was born on April 4, 1897.

War Of 1812 British Royal Artillery Button

As some of you know, this year marks the 200th Anniversary of the War Of 1812. In honor of the Bicentennial, I have been posting various videos pertaining to the conflict. Today, I am showing a button. It is from the British side and is specifically a Royal Artillery button. Close-up shots are included in the video. The button is missing the shank.


The url for the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPftiNfD_64
 
 

There Are Only 20 People From The 1800s Left In The World (As Of The Beginning Of November 2012)

If the video above does not embed properly, here is the url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFZlLz7vvTQ

Today is November 29, 2012. As some of you will recall, back in April of this year, I posted a video tribute in honor of the final 25 living and verified human beings from the nineteenth century. At the start of this month, there were 20 surviving nineteenth century citizens remaining. While looking at the chart on http://grg.org/Adams/E.HTM, I noticed there were six people from the 1800s who had passed on while the total number of surviving people born in the 1800s was 20. I believe this is due to someone whose age was verified after the final 25 list was established. The names of the six people who had passed away from April until the beginning of November are Ine Atarashiya (from Japan), Marie-Therese Bardet (of France), Emelie Weil (of the United States), Takeno Fujita (of Japan), Kame Takamiyagi (of Japan) and Kame Nakamura (of Japan). The individuals who comprised the top three oldest super-centenarians when I posted my final 25 video in April are still living, and they are Besse Cooper (of the United States), Dina Manfredini (of the United States although she was born in Italy) and Jiroemon Kimura (of Japan). I wish these remaining individuals of this very exclusive club of the 1800s well.

I know that two more people passed away this month (November 2012). I want to keep the tribute videos in blocks of five. I will reference their names in my next video.

Hand-Crafted Wooden House And Wooden Tree Imported From Germany

I have two very nice items to show you today. I like them so much that I figured I would blog about them.

Last year, I went to a German festival. At the event, I picked up a wooden house and wooden tree ... both German made. The house is made by Drechslerei Tilo Kempf, and incense was included. The incense will not only provide a certain aroma, it also allows the effect of smoke leaving the chimney. The house and tree are very well done. The following photos show the two items from various angles ...










 
Here I am holding the two hand-made souvenirs.


I recorded a video too:

Here is the url in case the video does not embed properly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWoxnSZK4YU

Note: The photographs and the video are from August 10, 2012. I just got around to posting them now. These kinds of items will be seen at Christkndlmarkts and Weihnachtsmarkts all over the world at this time so it is fitting that I waited this long to post this material. They can be used in a German Christmas display or displayed all year 'round!

Besse Cooper, The World's Oldest Person, Turns 116 Today!!

Here's to Besse Cooper - the last surviving human being who was born in the year 1896. Bessie was born in Tennessee when Grover Cleveland was president. She now lives in Georgia.

Another important fact - Besse Cooper is the eighth oldest person of all time.

Today Begins The Bicentennial Of The War Of 1812 ... I Visited A War Of 1812 Memorial In Somers Point, New Jersey In Honor Of This Significant Occasion

The United States Congress and President James Madison declared War on this day 200 years ago. Ladies and gentlemen ... this is my War Of 1812 Bicentennial Observance. In honor of the 200th Anniversary of the start of the War Of 1812, I travelled to Somers Point, NJ. In the photographs below, you will see a Memorial. It was erected by the Daughters Of 1812 in 1923 and is in honor of the New Jersey Soldiers who were mobilized for the conflict against Great Britain. A Sand Fort was standing in this area during the War Of 1812. This is why the Daughters Of 1812 decided to place the Memorial at this location.







Here I am standing by the Memorial. I was not pleased seeing this sign so close to it.


I used Microsoft Paint to edit the jpeg and get rid of the sign. I am very happy with the result ... I was able to cover the sign with the appropriate colors for the sand, sky and clouds and I even managed to draw the plants and the bridge.






The next two photographs are close-ups of the plaque ...
 




Here is my video Tribute to this Memorial and the Troops whom the Memorial was erected in honor of:


Additional information can be found at this link:
http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM9GQ0_Somers_Point_1812_War_Memorial_Somers_Point_NJ
 
I hope to post many more blog entries for the 200th Anniversary of the War Of 1812.

The Three Year Anniversary Of The Disputed Presidential Election In Iran

Today is the three year anniversary of the disputed presidential election in Iran. To the Iranian People ... I have not forgotten. Azadi Baraye Iran.

Today Is The 40th Anniversary Of The Controversial Photograph Featuring Kim Phuc Running With Napalm On Her Body During The Vietnam War

My friends: Today, June 8, 2012, is the 40th Anniversary of a photograph. The photograph is one all of you know very well. It is of the nine-year-old girl who was running down a road with napalm on her body in Vietnam. It is one of the most well-known photos ever taken. Her name is Kim Phuc, and she is still alive today. I hope all of you will watch this extraordinary interview with the woman who 40 years ago was the little girl in that photograph. When you do watch it, I guarantee ... you will be richly blessed.


The url for the video above: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xhz2gCnhr-I

Here is a recent photograph of Kim:
http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/attachments/modern/45271d1299773278t-vietnamese-girl-napalm-photo-16phuc1_lg.jpg

Here is the url for Kim Phuc's website:
http://www.kimfoundation.com