Bet you've seen this saying a lot recently. It's popular as a framed poster in many colors. I was thrilled to receive this mug for Christmas - there's even a red crown on the bottom inside - from my wonderful friend Elinor. I've been adding a few touches of red to brighten up my kitchen as all my dishes are white or cream now, so I love this mug!
BUT.......do you know the story behind this saying?
It was 1939 and Britain was on the brink of war. In anticipation of this the British Government's Ministry of Information commissioned a series of propaganda posters to reassure the population they would be defended at all costs.
The posters were to be displayed all over the country once war was declared. Using only the crown of King GeorgeVI this particular posted simply read "KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON". It never actually made it onto the walls of Britain and was never officially issued.
A crumpled copy of the poster was however rediscovered by chance many years later amongst a pile of dusty old books in a book store in Northumberland, England.
This simple poster with its simple message is just as relevant today as it was back in the 1930's.
I'm definitely trying to keep calm and carry on this chilly morning. I'm sitting here with the mug filled to the brim with cafe au lait as I await the "tree guys". Any minute now their arrival, accompanied by a crane, bucket truck, stump grinder and mulcher, could turn the cottage garden into a chaotic mess. We are having to take down three large trees and have a lot of trimming done. Hate doing this but we have a dangerous situation. Thoughts of an ice storm with falling trees and branches this Winter have become scary.
KEEPING CALM.........kind of!!!!!
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Oh I understand about the trees. My in laws just had a bunch taken down for that same reason!! Good Luck!!
ReplyDeleteHave you seen the poster that says, "Keep Calm and have a cupcake" with a little cupcake at the top? Just too cute!
Love your mug, as you said the saying is just as relevant today as it was back then.
ReplyDeleteHope all goes well in the garden.
Maggie
in the middle of the official biography of the queen mother currently and needless to say i am aghast at what the people in london endured during the war. and, i totally understand the keep calm and carry on.
ReplyDeleteby the way, the book is excellent.
Mary, my heart goes out to you with the thought of having to take out your large trees. We have large trees around our home and in our neighborhood and know what it is like to worry about one falling on your home or cars. It's not easy to give them up though.
ReplyDeleteLove the red mug with its famous sentiment. So enjoy and take it to heart. LOL
Thinking of you this holiday.....Sarah
Like the mug with the Keep Calm words and the story behind it. Good luck with the tree removal. We use to have a very large tree that had to be removed for the same reason. It is scary.
ReplyDeleteAlso liked your visit to the Shabby Chic shop and look forward to hearing and seeing more. I have known of her, but really haven't checked out her books. Now I will had to do that.
Mary, I love your "keep calm" mug! That is certainly a sentiment I need to be reminded of often. I think I'm going to make myself a note card with that saying, and put it in a little frame, for my desk.
ReplyDeleteI know it is heart-breaking to remove trees. But if you are able, and it is safe, plant one or two new ones in their place. You can nurture and love them and they'll remind you of your old "friends".
Fondly, Chris
... chin up and all that good stuff! My sister in Ohio just had a huge tree removed for the same reason.
ReplyDeleteOh my, you are facing a big mess today! Hope it goes well. Over the holidays I went to the attic to pull out a box and discovered a leak. Today one of the men from the church came by to take a look. As it turns out, we have mold growing all over the inside of the roof. Sounds like a major job ahead for someone. But I will keep calm, and carry on!
ReplyDeleteHi - I join in the dismay at losing trees but we've had to remove some because of danger to the house. One huge tree out by the road just tipped over one sad day, taking down the power lines to the neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteLove the mug, the story, and the sentiment.
We had to do the same thing years ago, and it is unnerving. But, it is definitely the right thing to do.
ReplyDeleteWe have had a work crew in our back yard all day. It seems funny watching them as I sit in my office studio. Hopefully they will make some good progress this week. We are going to have do some yard repair when they finish.
I love the quote on the mug. It is quite apropos for life, isn't it?
Oh Mary I loved that story and the mug. I never knew that story. Sorry about the trees. I takes a lot away from the atmosphere of a garden to remove a tree, but you will make it up in some way. You have that special talent. I know you loved you visit in NYC. Can't wait for more pictures. Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteQMM
Hi Mary! I have so enjoyed your photos from New York. I especially like your red mug as I like have the color red sprinkled here and there in the house. The saying is definitely something that could be applied to this year!! We had the tree people out a couple of weeks ago, however, they were cutting along the power lines. Here too we are prone more to ice storms than snow, however, so far we have had neither one. I guess we are due for something considering how wet and very cold it has been. Hope you had a wonderful holiday!
ReplyDeleteTake Care!
Ulrike
Thanks for the explanation of this popular saying that I have been coming across so much lately. I do love the saying and the crown gives it that stoic quality. So...love your mug.
ReplyDeleteHope everything works out with your trees.
xoxo
Jane
Great mug! I appreciated hearing the history behind that saying. I didn't know that.
ReplyDeleteHope you sail happily into 2010, which is right around the corner! Can you believe it's almost New Year's?
Lynn
Loving the mug! Have a fantastic New Year
ReplyDeleteJackie x
I too liked the story behind that(to me anyway) very english saying. Hope the tree cutting went well :-)
ReplyDeleteSussi
Now I am wondering how the tree cutting went?
ReplyDeleteThat's so interesting about that saying. I have wondered why a crown so often accompanies it. Thanks!
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