Count down to Christmas and count up your New Year's Resolutions!
How do you count down time? How do you count down to Christmas? What is a countdown in this day and age anyway?!
Ready for some answers?
The origins of counting down are, of course, very old and interesting. For example:
- Paleolithic peeps carved symbols on cave walls to indicate the days passing.
- In 1929, seminal Austrian filmmaker Fritz Lang invented the countdown to create suspense in this visual storytelling! What an innovator!
- The first rocket launch introduced the phrase “T-Minus” into the lexicon (FYI, it stands for ‘“time minus”). It was probably inspired by Fritz!!
- Advent calendars began as simply drawing ticks on a wall with chalk!
- Apparently, people react with a lot of enthusiasm towards countdown timers, with 42% feeling excited when they see a banner ad with a countdown. Go figure!
The bottom line is that countdowns are an exciting way of anticipating a day, event or season.
The situation we find ourselves in right now is no different, Pulp Besties. We are on the fast track to Christmas, followed closely by New Year's Eve. The thing about time is that it’s fast and slow at the same time.
You know what we’re talking about. Counting down is a good way to wrestle with and pin down the slippery little sucker called Time! And we vibe with that.
But how to do it? Let’s start with the one and only:
Penco 2025 wall calendar
Rip the days off the wall. So satisfying!
The tradition of tearing off days of the week from a wall calendar can be traced back to the 14th century. Ancient documents and inscriptions found from China and Rome attest to this fact! It’s all tied up with sunrises and moonrises. Who would have thought?!
The Chinese lunisolar calendar originated over 4000 years ago and was invented to help farmers with their crops. Over time, the calendar was produced to include ‘fun’ facts, including lucky numbers, lottery predictions, auspicious times of day, and the best position to win a mahjong game! Giddyup!
It is also a daily tradition to tear off a page from the calendar every morning. Such a sweet routine.
Do it Yourself with a Penco! Choose from: A5, A4, Monthly - Square - Mint, Monthly - Square - Orange, Monthly - Square - Yellow.
Christmas ornaments, part 3. Felt decorations!
(Also see last week’s blog for parts 1 and 2)
Tell us you’re counting down the days to Christmas without counting down the days to Christmas. Cue: collecting the cutest tree decorations this side of Nepal!
These fun felt characters are hand-made in Nepal by women's co-operatives from felted 100% NZ wool. By buying these gorgeous felties, you’ll be supporting the Nepalese Children's Education Fund.
Choose from:
- koala stocking.
- platypus pete.
- cockatoo christopher.
- pink galah gerry.
- lorrikeet lauren.
- reindeer remy.
- stars set.
- mushroom trees set
The Nepalese Children's Education Fund (NCEF) is a non-profit organisation whose mission is to develop the potential of disadvantaged Nepalese children through education. NCEF identifies children who need help that their families are unable to provide. It gives need-based scholarships and provides volunteer opportunities.
Heart-warming and good vibes no matter what time of year. Counting our blessings with a full heart!
Christmas Cards!
Send them now or never … Or you can prep them for hand-delivery on the big day.
We’ve talked about Sir Henry Cole before. Things haven’t changed. He’s still the innovator of the Christmas card! History just got one year older, that’s all!
We all know that he and his friend John Horsely, an artist, constructed a 3-design panel, also known as a triptych. Two panels had images of people engaging in charity work and assisting the poor, while the third, a centre panel, had a large family sitting down for holiday dinner.
But did you know that the cards were initially controversial because they depicted children sitting next to wine-drinking adults?! This was seen as completely inappropriate in the 1880s.
Count down to 2025, and Christmas cards are waaaay more appropriate. Maybe? Come check out our Xmas card collection in-store and decide for yourself!
Crunch Time
We’re not just talking about snacks!
Seize the day, hour, week, and, in this case, fortnight! Use it to your advantage. Lift-off. Happy New Year. Merry Christmas.
Choose your countdown endgame now! xx