Unveiled hidden postcards
In the era before the internet, people expressed their feelings in written form, such as on postcards. One such discovery unearthed a collection of postcards, over sixty years old, that offer a peek into the past.
One of these postcards contained memories of holidays, expressing a desire for the recipient's happiness and unclouded fun. Unlike some of the other postcards, it did not contain any puns or verses. However, it was not uncommon for postcards from the 1950s to include playful and light-hearted verses, often combining puns related to popular regional products or foods with birthday greetings or other celebratory messages.
For instance, a verse might say something like:
"Here's a sweet treat from Welsh lands, Like bara brith baked with loving hands, On your birthday, dear, at nine years old, May your joys and smiles be manifold!"
In Wales, common food references might include items like Welsh cakes, bara brith (a traditional fruit loaf), or laverbread (a seaweed delicacy). Puns involving these foods would typically play on the sound or meaning of the food’s name to deliver a charming or humorous birthday wish.
One postcard in the collection did contain a birthday greeting (9 years old) in verse from the writer's father. It was written when the recipient was eight years old, and the verse read:
"Nine now and growing quickly, wiser now than yesterday / Were eight, ten to be / See how the days fly away."
This postcard, unlike some others, did not contain any references to the recipient's father.
The postcards found were a mix of received and self-written messages, serving as another example of keepsakes from past holidays. Postcards were a quick way of keeping in touch, especially in those days when there was no internet.
These postcards offer a fascinating glimpse into the past, showcasing the charm and personal touch that people once put into their communications. They serve as a reminder of a time when people connected through written words, expressing their feelings and sharing their joy in a more tangible and meaningful way.
At the heart of these old postcards, one found a verse celebrating a birthday that hinted at the lifestyle and home-and-garden culture of the time. The poetic phrase referred to the recipient's forthcoming ninth year, using examples like Welsh cakes, bara brith, and laverbread within playful, region-specific puns.
In addition, another postcard contained a verse from the writer's father, celebrating their birthday, without any mention of home-and-garden items or food puns typically found within the 1950s postcards. The content of these postcards reveals a lifestyle where food and home-garden elements were prevalent and considered as a means of expressing affection and joy in the written word.
