Ever Wondered...?

Who invented whiteboards?

Nowadays whiteboards (or dry erase boards) are common. The boards have several uses. They are used to take notes, teach in classrooms or sometimes as calendars. Yet, these useful boards did not always exist. So, who invented whiteboards and how did they become the well-known tool that we have today?

BEFORE WHITEBOARDS

Before the invention of whiteboards, people used chalkboards (or blackboards). The chalk that was used to write on these boards created a lot of dust. The dust became a problem as teachers and students developed dust allergies.

The chalkboards were equally unwelcome when people began working with computers. The chalk dust caused havoc on some of the sensitive parts of the computer equipment. It was time for a less dusty alternative.

MYSTERY ORIGINS

There are several different theories regarding who invented the whiteboard. Some say it was Korean War Veteran and photographer Martin Heit. It’s said that while Hiet was working with photographs he marked film negatives with a marker. When Heit tried to clean it off he discovered that the marker washed off the negative easily. Then, he developed his own writing surface which was similar to the film negatives. Heit later sold his patents.

'Messages' written on a white board. Writing by Rebecca Jerry. Photograph by Kirsten Jerry. — ‘Messages’ written on a white board. Writing by Rebecca Jerry. Photograph by Kirsten Jerry.

Others claim the inventor was Albert Stallion. Stallion was working with a company called Alliance which manufactured enamelled steel used as cladding on buildings. He discovered that the material had potential as a writing surface. Later, he left Alliance to start his own company, which he called MagiBoards.

Still others believe whiteboards were originally invented in China. Perhaps all three theories are true at the same time, or none of them. Hopefully, in the future, the truth will come to light for certain, but for now, the true inventor of the whiteboard remains a mystery.

POPULARITY

In the 1960s whiteboards were being commercially used. It wouldn’t be until the 1990s that they would be put into classrooms (due to the dust problems mentioned earlier). However, once in place the whiteboard was here to stay. Whiteboards soon became commonplace in schools.

Dirty whiteboard. Writing and photograph by Kirsten Jerry.

Whiteboards are still used in schools today. Not only are traditional whiteboards useful for writing on but can be used to project images and videos onto because they provide a flat, white background. Whiteboard is also a type of computer software that allows users to write or draw at the same time. Computer whiteboards are also used in some schools.

MARKERS AND MATERIALS

Thinking back to traditional whiteboards, remember that the board itself is pretty useless without the right marker. With that in mind, it may surprise you to learn that whiteboard markers were not invented for years after the whiteboard was invented. They arrived around 1975.

Whiteboard markers on a whiteboard. Photograph by Kirsten Jerry.

Early whiteboards were messy. Early markers left marks behind even after the board was erased with a cloth. In part, this problem was solved by using different materials to make the boards over time but, in part, the solution also came from the humble marker.

Today, various materials are used to make whiteboards. Melamine whiteboards are made of fiber boards covered in resin-infused paper (melamine). These boards vary in quality. Magnets can be used on painted steel whiteboards. They are high-quality boards usually made for specific uses, such as keeping records.

Generally, the favourite type of whiteboard is porcelain steel. They are coated in a hard ceramic that rarely stains. This is because the surface is non-porous, so the marker ink doesn’t get into it. These boards last a long time and clean easily.

MY THOUGHTS

To be honest, I’m pretty indifferent about whiteboards. They’re just… around. I don’t have dust allergies, so I don’t care if I’m using a chalkboard or a whiteboard. After a while, both need a good cleaning, in my experience, or I can’t get the words to erase properly. Which do you prefer, a chalkboard or a whiteboard? Let me know in the comments!

CONCLUSION

Whether whiteboards are physical or electronic they are a useful tool for teaching, taking notes and in presentations. Whoever invented them deserves credit and praise. What was once a simple invention is changing into a complex tool. In the future technologies may replace the whiteboard, but it will always be an important advancement in teaching technology.

History of Pillows

Mound of pillows on a bed. Photograph by Kirsten Jerry.

Pillows can be found in practically every home. Even if you don’t sleep with a pillow, there are likely decorative cushions somewhere in your home. I use pillows all the time. However, the fluffy pillows we all know and love weren’t always around. In fact, I’m not sure we’d agree to call the first pillows, well, ‘pillows’ today. They were vastly different at the beginning.

NOT COMFY

If you like your pillows hard the first pillows might be for you. The first known pillows go back about 9,000 years to Mesopotamia (located in modern day Iraq). These pillows were made of stone, usually with a curve carved in them to hold the head.

As you may have noticed, the stone pillows were not intended for comfort. Instead, these pillows were created to keep insects out of the noses, mouths and ears of sleeping people. Stone was expensive so (like many things throughout history) only the rich had pillows. Since stone pillows kept people’s heads off the ground it would help prevent insects from crawling on or into their faces.

Decorative pillow. Photograph by Kirsten Jerry.

In Ancient China, pillows had a similar shape. They were made of bamboo, wood, bronze, porcelain, and, for those who could afford it, jade. Many of these pillows were elaborate. It must be said that the Chinese could have made soft pillows if they’d wanted to but thought that soft pillows robbed the body of energy and vitality. Soft pillows also weren’t considered good for keeping away demons.

Ancient Egyptian pillows have been found in tombs. The wooden pillows would be elaborately carved, usually depicting a god. They were more of a stand holding up a headrest in which the head was laid. Again, the design didn’t have comfort in mind. For Ancient Egyptians the head was sacred as it was believed to be the essence of life and their headrests were designed to protect this sacred part of the body.

DIFFERENT IDEAS

Ancient Romans and Greeks on the other hand liked their pillows soft. Their pillows were made of cloth and stuffed with reeds, straw and downy feathers. Feathers were a more expensive option so usually the rich had feathers and everyone else had other stuffing.

UNWANTED

In the Middle Ages, European men had misgivings about the comfortable cushions. They believed lying on a soft surface made them weak. I’m not sure what they had against a good night’s sleep, but there you go.

King Henry VIII was not a fan of pillows either. He banned the use of soft pillows by anyone except pregnant women while he ruled in the 1500s. By the 16^th century, however, pillows were back in style even though the stuffing often got mouldy or attracted pests and had to be changed regularly.

PILLOWS FOR ALL

Stack of pillows. Photograph by Kirsten Jerry.

As with so many things, the Industrial Revolution changed pillows forever. At last, the technology and manufacturing process had caught up with the demand. The stuffing required less maintenance. Pillows were finally available for everyone instead of just the rich. If you ask me, the working classes of the time needed them more so they could sleep better after a day of work and this is truly a triumph.

Today, pillows are still changing. Pillows come in all shapes, sizes and levels of softness (or lack thereof, if you prefer). While some people still like to sleep without pillows, those of us who have pillows on our beds are truly grateful for their existence.

MY THOUGHTS

I enjoy my pillows. Honestly, the idea that cuddly pillows started as hunks of rock is wild! I’m so used to pillows being soft and comfortable. In case you missed it, I like my pillows nice and soft and cozy. What kind of pillows do you like? Let me know in the comments!

CONCLUSION

Pillow on a desk chair. Photograph by Kirsten Jerry.

Pillows certainly have changed from their original design to become what we know and love today. While the first pillows were not designed for comfort, they had their own purpose in their own time. Without them the pillows we enjoy today might never have existed. The next time you use your favourite pillow, remember that once upon a time you would’ve been cuddling up to a slab of rock.

History of the New Year’s Eve Ball

New Year’s Eve is the only time when dropping the ball is considered a good thing. Each December 31^st a ball is dropped in Times Square in New York on the last minute before the new year, landing at midnight. Of all the things we could do to celebrate, why drop a ball?

Why not drop a calendar of the newly passed year or a cube? Why is the ball dropped in Times Square? The answers to those questions go back to before the New Year’s celebration began.

TIME BALLS

Before a ball was ever dropped in Times Square, balls were dropping like clockwork all over the globe. These Time Balls started as a maritime tradition. They dropped every day at noon or one o’clock in the afternoon. Time Balls would be positioned (on land) so that they could be seen by ships. The ships would use the ball drops to set their clocks to local time and make vital adjustments to navigational instruments.

Clock face. Photograph by Kirsten Jerry.

One of the first Time Balls was stationed at the top of The Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England in 1833. That’s 74 years before the first New Year’s Eve Ball was dropped in Times Square. The Greenwich Time Ball dropped every day at one o’clock in the afternoon.

After the Greenwich Ball’s success, an estimated 150 similar Time Balls were installed worldwide. Not many of these Time Balls are functional today, except as tourist attractions. (That is, of course, if we exclude the famous New Year’s Eve Ball).

NEW PLACE, NEW NAME

New Year’s Eve celebrations in Times Square began when The New York Times got a new location. The festivities were a part of the celebration and promotion of their new location in a newly built skyscraper.

Fireworks. Courtesy of Freerange Stock. Photograph by Sarah Sturtevant.

Shortly after this the Square, formerly called Longacre Square, was renamed Times Square. The New York Times moved to another building in 1913, but the name stuck. The skyscraper is known as One Times Square.

At the time, Adolph S. Ochs owned and published The Times. He wanted the celebration on New Year’s Eve for the new location. The festivities rang in 1905. There was no ball, but those gathered in the Square enjoyed a firework show.

Over time, gathering in Times Square replaced a previous tradition. Before Ochs’ New Year’s Eve events, people gathered at Trinity Church to listen to the bells toll at midnight, ringing out the old year and ringing in the new year. People found the fireworks more exciting and a new tradition began.

THE FIRST NEW YEAR’S EVE BALL

It wasn’t until 1907 that a New Year’s Eve Ball was dropped. Ochs wanted to add something to the celebration. The Times’ chief electrician, Walter Palmer, suggested a Time Ball.

The original New Year’s Eve Ball used the then-new technology of light bulbs. 100 light bulbs, to be exact. The Ball had a 6-foot diameter. It was made of iron and wood, weighing roughly 700 pounds. Remember that it has to be hauled to the top of the flagpole by hand.

MY THOUGHTS

New Year's Eve on the Calendar. Photograph by Kirsten Jerry. — New Year’s Eve on the Calendar. Photograph by Kirsten Jerry.

Well, I never understood the point of dropping a giant glittery ball. I still don’t see the appeal. A lot of people find it exciting, and that’s fine, but it’s not for me. Playing games or watching movies with friends and family (if you can, of course) is much more interesting for me.

I do appreciate the history of the event and understand it as a tradition, but I just don’t get the level of excitement. How do you feel about the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop? Let me know in the comments!

CONCLUSION

From maritime tradition to New Year’s celebration, it’s safe to say that people have been dropping the ball for a long time now. On this 6^th day of the new year, I have to say it’s nice to have the last year in the past. May this year be nicer than the old one.

No matter how you celebrate the passing of the old year, remember that all traditions have to start somewhere. So, the next time you enjoy an annual tradition ask yourself: Where did it begin and why? Your tradition could be older than you think.

Why do we eat turkey for Christmas?

Every year for Christmas my family enjoys a large Christmas feast with a turkey and all the trimmings. For years I ate the traditional festive meal without considering the history behind it. In this post, I’m exploring the origins of the Christmas turkey. There is a lot more to the Christmas bird than I originally thought. It’s a relatively new tradition and it all began in 1526.

ARRIVAL

The story begins in Britain. There was a time when turkeys were not found in Britain, so people ate boar’s head, goose, chicken, beef, or even peacock at Christmas. Yorkshireman William Strickland brought turkeys to Britain in 1526. He got six of the birds from Indigenous American traders while travelling.

Farmers liked eating turkeys for Christmas. It allowed them to save their chickens or cows instead of butchering them for a festive feast. This meant that farmers could have more eggs or milk from their animals., which meant more profits or more food for their families. Even so, turkeys were not the first choice for Christmas for many years.

Pig salt and pepper shakers. Photograph by Kirsten Jerry.

King Henry VIII is believed to be the first king to eat turkey on Christmas in the 16^th century. However, eating turkey at Christmas wasn’t favoured until King Edward VII made it popular. During Queen Victoria’s reign, turkeys were STILL more expensive than alternatives like beef, goose or, for poorer families, rabbit.

The tradition was brought along to the British colony that would become the United States. Despite the fight to get out from under Britain’s rule, the turkey tradition persisted. Jumping ahead, turkeys cost a whole week’s wages in the 1930s. (To compare, turkeys cost just under two hours of work for us today).

NEW TRADITION

Turkeys had to wait for technology and production/farming to advance before taking centre stage. It wasn’t until World War 2 was over that turkey really took off. This was due in part to refrigerators becoming a common household item. Turkeys could be safely stored at home. Turkeys were also more affordable after advancements made farming more efficient.

Geese on a pond. Photograph by Kirsten Jerry.

Today many people are moving away from the turkey in search of vegetarian or vegan options. I believe that’s just how traditions start and change over time; as needs and wants change so do the traditions. Maybe in the future, everyone will want tofurkey or turducken for Christmas and just turkey will be too boring. Who knows?

AROUND THE WORLD

While the turkey is fairly common in Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US, people in other countries celebrate with different meals. As I mentioned earlier, I believe traditions are created for the needs of the people, so it makes sense that other countries would have different traditions. Below are a few examples (chosen at random) of Christmas meals around the world.

JAPAN – KFC, thanks to a very successful 1970s advertising campaign.
THE PHILIPPINES – Roast Pig
FRANCE – Bûche de Noël
COASTA RICA – Tamales
LITHUANIA – A meatless, dairy-free meal that takes a week to prepare
ARMENIA – A pumpkin dish called ghapama
ITALY – Festa dei Sette Pesci (The Feast of the Seven Fishes) with desserts like panettone.
BONUS: JEWISH AMERICANS – Chinese food, since Chinese restaurants are often the only ones open for Christmas

MY THOUGHTS

Before researching for this post, I thought the turkey had been stolen from Thanksgiving. Both holidays feature similar feasts for the whole family, so you can imagine my surprise when I learned it all started as a British tradition. I was NOT surprised to learn that other countries have their own Christmas traditions. What is the most surprising tradition you learned about from another country or culture? Let me know in the comments!

CONCLUSION

White Midget Turkey. Courtesy of Freerange Stock.

No matter where it came from the tradition still stands. Turkey is the main dish of my Christmas feast. There is more history behind that one part of the festive meal than I realized. Even after the United States separated from Britain, the essentially British tradition remained.

Whatever you eat for Christmas take some time to consider how that food got to your plate. Is it a brand-new tradition or has it been around for a long time? Maybe there is more to your Christmas meal traditions than you think.

Who invented the printing press?

The common answer is Johannes Gutenberg. However, Gutenberg did not invent printing. In fact, Gutenberg’s press used preexisting technology. The REAL question is, how did we get to Gutenberg and why does he get all the credit? Let’s find out.

WOODBLOCKS

In China (and other Asian countries) printers used carved woodblocks to print. It was a long process involving the carving of characters into the woodblocks, then pressing the inked woodblock onto paper. If a book was being printed there would be a block for each page. Once a page was printed the block was no longer needed and a new block would be carved. A skilled printer could print at least 2,000 pages in a day.

MOVABLE TYPE

In the Song Dynasty, Bi Sheng created movable type. He carved characters into identically sized pieces of soft clay, which was then hardened with fire. The clay could be glued to a piece of iron, and later removed with ease. This allowed the pieces to be moved around to form the necessary sentences, then reused. In 1297, Wang Zhen created the more durable wooden movable type.

Close up of printing woodblocks with Japanese words. Courtesy of Freerange Stock.

Around the same time that China began printing Koreans were also innovating. Koreans knew about the woodblock techniques. In 1234, during the Goryeo Dynasty, Choe Yun-ui was commissioned to create the Buddhist text Sangjeong Gogeum Yemun (The Prescribed Ritual Text of the Past and Present).

To accomplish his goal, Choe Yun-ui created metal movable type. He cast characters in metal by adapting a system used for minting coins. The cast characters could be reused many times.

By 1250, the text was completed, but sadly none of Choe Yun-ui’s printed work remains. Jikji is the oldest surviving book made with movable metal type. It was printed in 1377.

GUTENBERG

At last, we come to the man often credited with the invention of it all. Johannes Gutenberg and his associates are true innovators, but they DID NOT invent everything from scratch. They invented the Gutenberg press around 1440.

The press uses several adaptations. It uses technology from wine and olive presses to press ink onto the page. It uses metal movable type. Even so, Gutenberg’s press did change the world.

Feather on a blank page. Photograph by Kirsten Jerry.

Before Gutenberg’s press, European books were handmade by scribes and were extremely expensive. Aside from the rich, only the church and educational institutions had access to books. Literacy rates were low.

After Gutenberg’s press, books became cheaper and faster to make. Common people began buying printed books. At last the once luxury items started to become commonplace.

As most texts at the time were religious, Gutenberg used his press to print a Bible, now a valuable book known as the Gutenberg Bible. It was the first book in Europe printed with movable metal type.

IMPACT

As books became more available literacy rates began to rise. Accurate news began spreading around the globe using print materials. The Church lost its total control of religious texts. No longer could information on Christianity or any other religion be edited and censored by The Church.

The spread of new ideas brought a rise in science and education. Scientists could collaborate with colleagues around the world. Academics had access to innumerable educational materials. The easy access to information led to The Protestant Reformation, and the Industrial Revolution. For these reasons, Gutenberg is highly celebrated.

MY THOUGHTS

Printer progress. Photograph by Kirsten Jerry.

It’s unfair to give Johannes Gutenberg ALL the credit for the creation of printing. His innovations do deserve praise but perhaps not as much as they often receive. The credit should be shared with earlier innovators whose inventions led to the eventual success of Gutenberg.

I think it’s sad that Gutenberg got all the credit for so long. How would you feel if you were an earlier inventor and found out that Gutenberg got the credit for your work? Let me know in the comments!

CONCLUSION

While Gutenberg and his associates do deserve praise for their work, so do the earlier innovators who made that work possible. Today, we enjoy pain-free printing, even inside our own homes. The next time you print something remember how it used to be a difficult process and how many innovators it took for the invention that changed the world to come into being.

How did we get pens?

I don’t know about you, but I use a pen every week. Even it’s just to take a note from a phone call, a pen is a useful tool. Pens have been around for centuries, but it took a while for them to become the pens we all recognize.

REEDS AND FEATHERS

The Egyptians used Reed Pens in 2000 BC to write on parchment and papyrus. They made Reed Pens made from the hollow stems of marsh grasses, particularly bamboo. When the pen was squeezed writing liquid inside the stem would flow to the tip.

The next notable advancement came in 600 AD. Quill Pens or Quills were made of the feathers of large birds. The feathers would be heated to remove any natural oils that might disrupt the ink. A tip needed to be cut on the end of the feather shaft, creating the term ‘penknife.’

A feather in my hand. Photograph by Kirsten Jerry.

Quills were used by dipping the tip into an inkwell, then writing on the page. The shaft of the feather temporarily held the ink. Lower case letters were invented because quills were much smoother than the pens before them. People always wrote in capital letters before quills, but with them they were able to stylize, changing the way we write forever.

People used quills for longer than any other pen, so far. They were used for roughly 12 centuries. However, even the reign of the quill came to an end.

STEEL POINT PENS

John Mitchell developed Steel Point Pens, so they could be mass-produced in 1822. Steel Point Pens were used in the same way as quills but lasted longer. Quills always had to be sharpened and eventually replaced. Mitchell’s manufacturing innovations made Steel Point Pens affordable and popular.

FOUNTAIN PENS

Writing with a pen. Photograph by Kirsten Jerry.

In 973 AD the caliph of Maghreb, Ma’ad Al-Mul’izz, asked for a new pen that wouldn’t make his hand dirty when he wrote. The quill and steel pens worked great, but they were messy. The caliph got his wish in a pen with an ink reservoir inside that could even be held upside down without spilling. How the pen worked and what it looked like is lost to time.

It wasn’t until the 17^th century that Fountain Pens came into focus. Daniel Schwenter’s pen was made of one quill placed inside another. The inner quill held the ink and was stopped with a cork. The ink seeped from the inner quill through a tiny hole then down to the tip of the pen.

In 1884 Lewis Edson Waterman patented a three-channel ink feed fountain pen design. The design gave smooth ink flow, finally making the pen portable. Since then fountain pens had continued to develop using different methods for refills and various materials, though they are more of a collector’s item now.

BALLPOINT PENS

Pile of pens. Photograph by Kirsten Jerry.

John H. Loud’s 1888 pen could write on different surfaces, like wood. Sadly, Loud never perfected his design. While other inventors came before him, Laszlo Bíro had the most success. He was a Hungarian journalist who lived in Argentina for the second world war. He was tired of constant ink smudges on his notes. In 1943 Laszlo and his chemist brother patented a new pen and fast-drying ink to use in it.

The Ballpoint Pen has a ball at the end. Ink runs onto the ball, then is onto the page as you write. The British government eventually bought the rights to Bíro’s pen, and it was used by the Royal Air Force, later spreading to other branches of the military. Today the ballpoint pen is the most commonly used pen.

MY THOUGHTS

It seems that people have always wanted to record their stories and histories. Even ancient people had their own type of writing. What do you think the world would be like without pens (or other writing tools)? Let me know in the comments!

CONCLUSION

From Ancient Times to today the pen is still a useful writing tool. The next time you use a pen remember how much people in Ancient times would’ve loved it, and think of it not as a pen, but as a great human innovation. We’d likely have to do without many things we’re used to today if we didn’t have pens.

Why are Poppies the flower of remembrance?

On Remembrance Day we set aside time to remember fallen soldiers who gave their lives for our freedom. The poppy symbolizes how we respect and remember those who died for our freedom. But why a Poppy and not a Carnation or a Daisy? The story is a common one by now, but no less important. In fact, with the unexpected difficulties of COVID-19 I believe it’s even more important than ever before.

POEM AND POPULARITY

In 1915 the familiar poem, “In Flanders Fields” was penned by Canadian doctor Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae of Guelph, Ontario on a scrap piece of paper. A friend of his had recently died in battle. At the time Poppies grew abundantly in the fields of Flanders.

Red Poppies Flowers. Courtesy of Freerange Stock.

The same year it was written, the poem was published in a magazine called Punch. Three years later the same poem inspired American teacher Moina Michael to use the Poppy in remembrance of those who died in the war. She fought for the symbol to be used across America, also working with others to spread it through Canada, Australia and the U.K.

Madame Guérin was instrumental in spreading the popularity of the Poppy. She made artificial Poppies and sell them to help children living in France’s war-torn areas and later helped to create Inter-Allied Poppy Day.

POPPY ETIQUETTE

The poppy should be worn over your heart (on the left side). The Canadian Legion’s Poppy Manual indicates that while using a decorative pin can be easier, it is considered defacing the Poppy. However, the manual also says that it is better to use pin to wear the Poppy than not to wear one. If you find a dropped Poppy, it is best to brush it off and either keep it or dispose of it respectfully.

Decorative pins. Photograph by Kirsten Jerry.

Poppies may be worn at any military commemorative event. It is not just a symbol for Remembrance Day, but for remembering all those who have died so we can be free and safe at home. (That being said, you should be aware that The Legion holds a trademark for the Poppy image, and it cannot be legally used in campaign logos or sold by other organizations or people, in any colour, without permission).

THIS YEAR

This year will be different. It is sadly a bad idea to gather in remembrance with COVID-19, so how can you pay your respects? Small ceremonies are still being held, and some will be streamed online or broadcast.

Virtual poppies can be bought if that is a better option for you. Personally, I like the idea of observing a two-minute moment of silence by stepping outside their own door. This protects you from coming in contact with people outside your household, while still enabling you to show respect.

MY THOUGHTS

Clasped hands. Photograph by Kirsten Jerry.

It is extremely important to remember that freedom is not free. Countless people have been seriously injured or lost their lives to give it to us. It is our job now, to show proper respect for their sacrifices. Possibly the easiest way to do this is to wear a Poppy.

Yes, they stab you and fall off and get lost, so you have to keep buying new ones whether you planned to or not, but those are tiny inconveniences. Should such small things stop us from commemorating something so important? I don’t think so. If there is a legitimate reason not to wear a Poppy please let me know in the comments because I have not heard of one yet.

CONCLUSION

No matter when you wear a poppy, wear it in remembrance. The poppy we use today began on war graves in Flanders and has remained a reminder of lives lost. Please don’t forget to pay your respects today for those who have given us all so much.

A Poppy in itself is a little thing, but it becomes a big thing when used in remembrance. What started as a soldier’s poem has become an international symbol. Remembrance Day looks different this year, but that doesn’t mean we should forget. In fact, I would argue that we should take more time to remember in this difficult year.

Why do we have Jack-O-Lanterns?

Halloween is a popular holiday full of candy, monsters and fun. There are many traditions for this familiar holiday such as trick-or-treating, going to parties, wearing costumes and carving pumpkins. For this post I’m going to focus on the beloved pumpkin; a delicious fall treat and spooky Halloween decoration all rolled into one. Why do we carve pumpkins anyway? Why not just eat them? Let’s find out!

LEGEND

One main reason we have the Jack-O-Lanterns we have today is because of the Irish legend of Stingy Jack. Here is one version of the legend:

Stingy Jack was known to deceive his neighbours. One night he met the devil on the road and knew his time was up. He asked the devil if he could have one last thing before going to hell for eternity. The devil agreed.

Jack wanted to drink at a pub, but when we went to pay, he told the devil he had no money. Jack convinced the devil to turn into a coin, which stingy Jack put in his pocket next to a crucifix. The crucifix prevented the devil from turning back into his original form. Jack made the devil promise he would not bother Jack for ten years and if he died in those years, wouldn’t claim his soul. Once the devil agreed, Jack released him.

A rotting Jack-O-Lantern. Photograph by Kirsten Jerry.

Ten years later, the devil found Jack again. This time Jack asked the devil to pick him an apple before he was taken to hell. While the devil was up the tree, Jack cleverly trapped him by carving crosses on the trunk. Jack made the devil promise not to bother him for another ten years.

When Jack died, God wouldn’t let him in heaven because of the terrible things Jack did in life. The devil wouldn’t accept him into hell either because of their agreement, so he sent Jack away with a burning coal.

Jack still wanders in search of a final resting place with only the coal to light his way. Jack put his coal in a carved-out turnip to use as a lantern. He became known as Jack of the Lantern, later shortened to the familiar Jack-O-Lantern.

CHANGING VEGETABLES

Traditionally, the Irish used turnips to make Jack-O-Lanterns. They carved eerie faces on the vegetables to scare away wandering spirits, like Stingy Jack. The idea of wandering spirits may originate in the Celtic celebration of Samhain. It was believed that at that time the border between our world and the spirit realm was thin, which allowed ghosts to wander the earth.

Pumpkin covered by hand shadow. Photograph by Kirsten Jerry.

When the potato famine hit, many of the Irish people emigrated to America. They brought along their traditional celebrations and rituals, including Jack-O-Lanterns. However, in America pumpkins were more prominent than turnips and were easier to carve. The tradition of carving pumpkins had begun.

MY THOUGHTS

I find it fascinating how much history is behind this one tradition alone. It was great to learn more about Irish culture than the little bit I see at St. Patrick’s Day, (which has a fascinating history of its own). Jack-O-Lanterns are a good example of something added to our culture by immigrants or stolen from immigrants depending on your point of view.

Pumpkin and cleaver. Photograph by Kirsten Jerry.

I think it’s important to acknowledge the contributions immigrants, past and present, make to our society. What is your favourite thing that came from a culture that is not your own? Let me know in the comments!

The thing that bothers me about the legend of Stingy Jack is how God treats him. It seems like God only cares about people doing right or wrong and not about the people themselves. This is not the God I believe in.

CONCLUSION

Pumpkins provide us with food and fun. Not only can they be used for pumpkin pies, seeds to snack on, but they are used to create the spooky Jack-O-Lanterns we all recognize. From an Irish legend to an annual tradition in North America, the Jack-O-Lantern has travelled a long way to become the Halloween tradition we all know today.

The next time you carve a pumpkin imagine using a turnip instead. Maybe even try it! Whatever you do, don’t forget to be grateful to the Irish people who brought their Jack-O-Lantern tradition to us.

How did we get plastic?

Today, plastic is everywhere. We use it to hold everything from bleach to food and build things, like cars. However, things used to be different. The only plastics available were ones that occurred in nature, such as cellulose in plants.

While we use the word ‘plastic’ to refer to the synthetic plastics we use so often, it originally meant ANYTHING that could be easily shaped. Synthetic plastics are a type of polymer. Polymers are built of long chains of molecules. There are many naturally occurring polymers that existed before our plastic existed. Early plastics were made with natural polymers.

IVORY AND CELLULOSE

Plastic cutlery. Photograph by Kirsten Jerry.

Back in Victorian times, billiard balls were made out of ivory from elephant tusks. The game became increasingly popular, creating a worrying effect. Elephants were being slaughtered. A firm in New York offered a reward of $10,000 to anyone who could make a substitute for ivory. John Wesley Hyatt had a solution.

Hyatt used cellulose from cotton fibre and camphor to create his 1869 invention. He called it Celluloid. It could mimic natural substances like tortoiseshell, which was used to make combs at the time. Celluloid was only the beginning.

BAKELITE

The first fully synthetic plastic arrived in 1907. Leo Baekeland was working to make substance to replace shellac. Shellac was used for electrical work. It is a natural substance, which made it difficult to meet the increasing demand for electricity in America. Mass production of shellac was impossible.

So, Baekeland made Bakelite. It was made by putting formaldehyde and phenol, a waste product of coal tar, under pressure and heat. Bakelite could be mass-produced, and the plastics craze began.

WORLD WAR 2

As the world was rocked by World War 2 plastics became important. Developments in synthetic plastics gave the substance numerous purposes. Armies used plastic for multiple things, from plastic helmets to plexiglass on warplanes.

Plastic drink lid and straw. Photograph by Kirsten Jerry.

Nylon was especially helpful. It was created to mimic silk but was more durable. Nylon was used to make body armour, parachutes, ropes, and other items. Thanks to the war, plastics production went up 300 per cent in the States.

CONSUMERS AND CONCERNS

When the war finally ended, and the depression was over people had cash to spend. Plastic found its way into just about every product on the market. People were thrilled to have a versatile, affordable product. But it had its costs.

In the 1960s people began to see the environmental costs of plastic. People noticed plastic in the ocean. Through the 1970s and 80s, the concern grew. Some plastics can take decades to decay, and many release gases or turn into fragments as they decay. Microplastics, like the little beads in a facial scrub, make their way up the food chain, from the smallest fish to humans.

Plastics also have negative health effects. Small amounts of plastic chemicals can leach into food kept in plastic containers. Over time, these amounts can build up and create health problems. Microwaving food in plastic containers can increase the leaching, but it can happen just from storing food in plastic.

Wet plastic container lids. Photograph by Kirsten Jerry.

Some chemicals are known to be dangerous like, BPA. However, a BPA free plastic may be just as bad or worse, since little is known about some of the chemicals replacing it. Health effects from some types of plastics include cancer, birth defects, and breathing problems, to name a few.

To avoid plastics, use metal or porcelain containers for hot drinks, use less canned food and avoid heating plastic. Scientists have been working on environmentally safe plastics for years. I hope a solution will be found soon.

MY THOUGHTS

It’s strange to think that plastic began as a solution for an environmental problem by replacing ivory. Nowadays plastics ARE an environmental problem. I can’t think of a practical way to keep away from plastics long term, can you? Let me know in the comments!

CONCLUSION

The plastic we have today is EVERYWHERE, even the ocean. We need to use plastics responsibly while we wait for an environmentally safe solution. Next time you see plastic, think about the environmental cost without them AND with them. Can you find a solution?

Why do we have colouring books?

Colouring is a fun and simple hobby. It requires no training, travels well, and can be enjoyed by anyone at practically any age. While the adult colouring craze has taken off in more recent years, these books (or pages) have been around much longer than that. In fact, it all began as education for rich adults in the 17^th century.

MAPS

Maps of Wales and England were made so adults could learn geography and the boundaries of various countries. This educational approach was endorsed by Henry Peacham in his 1622 book The Compleat Gentleman, which is believed to be the first book to say colouring could be a useful activity. Peacham saw the colouring maps as a way to embrace the world. While some of the educational maps were found coloured in, it’s hard to imagine them being enjoyed like today’s colouring books are.

PAINTING BOOKS

Pencil crayons and markers on a colouring page. Photograph by Kirsten Jerry.

The beginning of what we recognize as colouring books today weren’t made for colouring at all, but for painting. Some painting books were aimed at adults. However, it’s still hard to imagine many people enjoying it. Robert Sayer’s The Florist, for example, gives exact instructions on how to paint each bloom and mix the paint correctly so the flowers would be as realistic as possible. I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t scream relaxation to me. These books were costly to make and would’ve only been available to the rich.

Painting books for children were not very popular. If you’ve watched a very small child paint, you already know why. The mess created by a painting child can be horrific. Imagine spending A LOT of money to buy your young child a painting book, only to see they’ve “glued” the pages together, not realizing they have to let the paint dry before going to the next page. Yeah, it’s no mystery why children’s painting books were unpopular.

LITHOGRAPHY

When lithography was invented by Alois Senefelder in 1798, it was revolutionary. It uses images treated with grease placed on a flat surface to print. Areas without the grease repel the lithographic ink, leaving a blank space. This makes it easy for many copies to be made of the same image. Originally, Senefelder used limestone as his printing plate as he searched for a more affordable way to print the plays he wrote.

Colouring a shell. Photograph by Kirsten Jerry.

Lithography was cheaper and faster than previous methods using wood carvings or metal plates. The image could be drawn on and printed several times. Without modern copyright laws, the process was made even faster, since anyone could use any image without getting permission. The McLoughlin Brothers Printed The Little Folks Painting Book in 1879 featuring art by Kate Greenway. It’s unclear if the brothers stole from Greenway, but they probably did.

MARKETING AND POLITICS

Pencil crayons and markers on a blank page. Photograph by Kirsten Jerry.

It comes as no great surprise that companies began using colouring products, films, and so on. The books also became political and satirical. In the 60s, adult colouring books were common but not in the way they are today. They weren’t made to be coloured but to be looked at. One of these books instructs the “artist” to colour in mundane, everyday tasks like dressing for work, grey.

Of course, political figures made their way onto the pages. Even today it isn’t hard to find a colouring book featuring your favourite (or least favourite) politicians. In a way, colouring became a double-edge sword; educating and uplifting or used to poke fun at our culture and society.

MY THOUGHTS

I like to colour. For me, there’s nothing more relaxing than a good book so I just colour for the fun of it. I especially enjoy colouring while listening to an audiobook. What is your favourite thing about colouring? Let me know in the comments!

CONCLUSION

Colouring books have changed through the years, going from a messy educational tool to an excellent stress-relieving hobby. Thankfully, we have crayons, pencil crayons and markers, so our colouring can easily travel with us, unlike the painting books of the past. Although the painting books were expensive and messy, it’s a good thing that they were around. Who knows? Maybe the colouring books we know and love wouldn’t exist without them.