Education by the Numbers

Corrie on July 29, 2012

August is traditionally the month when summer vacation ends and students return to school (or begin a new stage of their lives with college, trade/vocational school, etc).

“You can teach a student a lesson for a day;
but if you can teach him to learn by creating curiosity,
he will continue the learning process as long as he lives.”
—Clay Bedford

On a global scale, the education of children and adult students is important to every nation.

In the United States each year, an estimated 74.1 million students go to public or private schools, from pre-K to high school to higher education, and attend classes taught by 3.7 million teachers. And speaking of higher education, American women attending college outnumber men, 10.5 million to 7.9 million.

Today’s digital age means that students are integrating social media into their learning experiences, with more than 2/3 of all students using mobile educational apps in the classroom. Teachers utilize Facebook and YouTube to reach their kids, and the majority of teachers consider social media to be a valuable educational tool.

Greeting Card Universe offers easy ordering and customization of all cards in our School Days collection.  Wish a student a great First Day of School, or send them off to college with a smile!

What Are People Saying About Greeting Card Universe?
“We are thrilled that we found GCU. I picked up our 3rd order today at Target, and had one sent directly to the addressee: both methods work great. I’m sure we’ll have some (such as Christmas cards) shipped to us in the future. The huge variety and inventory of the cards is truly astounding. And the quality and economical aspects make choosing them a no-brainer. Just wish we had found GCU sooner, and we are spreading the word to family and friends. Keep up the great work.” – Linda in Franklin, Tennessee, July 26, 2012

Friendship Day

Corrie on July 22, 2012

International Friendship Day occurs annually on the first Sunday in August (August 5 in 2012) and is celebrated around the globe, particularly since the advent of the Internet, social networking, and cell phones have made it much easier to celebrate this special holiday with friends no matter where they may be in the world.

“A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same.”
—Elbert Hubbard

First proposed in 1919, Friendship Day had largely been abandoned by the 1940s in the United States, but Asian countries like Bangladesh, India, and Malaysia continued to celebrate this special day for friends. With the rise of digital communication, Friendship Day became more popular in many other countries, including the U.S. and South America.

People celebrate Friendship Day by exchanging cards, gifts, flowers, and most recently, hand woven and creative  friendship bracelets.

In 2011, the United Nations proclaimed an International Day of Friendship.

Greeting Card Universe offers more than 200+ ways to tell someone, “I’m glad to be your friend” and “thank you for being my friend” with our customized Friendship Day greeting cards.

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Five Facts About Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr

Corrie on July 15, 2012

In 2012, the religious observance of Ramadan begins Thursday evening, July 19, and ends with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr marking the end of the holiest period in the Islamic lunar calendar, a time of fasting, prayer, and spiritual reflection.

For Muslims, Ramadan is the most important holy day of the year. With that in mind, here are Five Facts About Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr:

What is the Significance of Fasting During Ramadan? By refraining from eating or drinking during the day, Muslims have more time to put in the effort to follow the teachings of Islam, pray, study the Qur’an, and practice a deep, personal worship of Allah, as well as learn self-control and sacrifice.

When Does the Fasting Period of Ramadan End? From dawn to sunset, participating Muslims fast during the daylight hours from dawn to sunset. Once the sun goes down, family, friends, or neighbors gather to share Iftar, the fast-breaking meal. Ramadan continues for 29 or 30 days, and ends with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr.

What Do Muslims Do During Ramadan? Ramadan is considered a period of reflection and spiritual growth and cleansing. During this time, Muslims pray, study the Qur’an, and concentrate on their faith.

Why Is Ramadan Such a Special Month? According to Islamic belief, it was during the month of Ramadan that Allah revealed the Qur’an to the prophet, Muhammad. Ramadan is considered one of the five pillars of Islam, and has been practiced since the beginning.

What is Eid al-Fitr About? Also known as the Festival of Breaking the Fast, Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan with a celebration. Traditionally, people put on new clothes, donate to the poor, visit relatives, and join in feasts. In many Muslim households, children receive gifts as well.

The international community of artists at Greeting Card Universe have created many traditional and modern interpretations of Islamic designs for Ramadan cards and Eid al-Fitr cards with friends, family, neighbors, business contacts, and everyone else you want to wish, “Ramadan Mubarak!”

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Le Quatorze Juillet: Bastille Day

Corrie on July 8, 2012

Each year on July 14, the French and people of French origin celebrate Bastille Day – known as La Fête Nationale (the National Celebration) in France, and also called Le Quatorze Juillet (Fourteenth of July) and Fête de la Bastille.

Bastille Day does not actually celebrate the storming of the Bastille (a fort and prison in Paris) by the revolutionary mob. Instead, the date marks the anniversary of the Fête de la Fédération on July 14, 1790, an official event –  a cross between a military parade and a religious rally – in Paris to celebrate the end of the Revolution.

Today, the date is celebrated not only in France, but in Belgium, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Hungary, in various locations around the United States including New Orleans, San Francisco, New York City, and Seattle.

Greeting Card Universe offers unique, custom Bastille Day greeting cards including Birthday on Bastille Day, that make it easy for you to tell your family and firends, “Joyeux Fête Nationale!”

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Fourth of July – the Big Bang

Corrie on July 1, 2012

Americans don’t have to look up the date for Independence Day – it’s also known as the Fourth of July, and is an annual federal holiday which commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. This document declared the American colonies’ independence from Great Britain.

“The United States is the only country with a known birthday.”
—James G. Blaine

In 1870, Congress declared Independence Day – July 4th – as an annual federal holiday, though Independence Day celebrations had taken place in American since 1777.

On the fourth of July, Americans traditionally celebrate with picnics, barbecues, a day at the beach, carnivals, baseball games, family reunions, parades, fairs, concerts, patriotic displays, political speeches, and events focused on American history. An essential part of the Fourth of July celebration is fireworks. Many cities host free public fireworks shows, and some states allow their residents to purchase individual fireworks (though not all).

Here are some facts about Independence Day that you may not know:

Which Three American Presidents Died on Independence Day? John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, both signers of the Declaration of Independence who also served as President of the United States, died on July 4, 1826. Another former U.S. President, James Monroe, died on July 4, 1831. BONUS: Woodrow Wilson is the only U.S. president to have been born on Independence Day – July 4, 1872.

How Did George Washington Celebrate Independence Day? In 1778, still serving as a general in the War of Independence against the British,  Washington permitted his soldiers to fire an artillery salute and gave them a double ration of rum.

What Did the Founding Fathers Think of Independence Day? The Continental Congress – the governing body of the original 13 American colonies – voted in favor of a document declaring America’s independence from Britain on July 2, 1776, and formally adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Thereafter, John Adams (2nd President of the United States) refused invitations to attend Fourth of July celebrations because he believed July 2 was the correct date to celebrate, not July 4.

Where’s the Oldest Fourth of July Celebration in the United States? The Bristol Fourth of July Parade in Bristol, Rhode Island, has been taking place continuously since 1785.

Independence Day by the Numbers

  • Consumers spend $600 million on fireworks for Fourth of July celebrations, and 42% of all Americans attend public fireworks displays.
  • On July 4th, 36 million barbecues and picnics will take place around the country, attended by 62% of Americans, who spend nearly $2 billion on food, charcoal, and lighter fluid + another $341 million in beer and an additional $101 million in soda.
  • Over 1/3 of all Americans will travel 50 miles or more during the Fourth of July holiday.

Greeting Card Universe has one of a kind, fun, patriotic greeting cards for Independence Day so you can celebrate this all-American holiday with every member of your family, your friends, and every other person in your life.

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