Remember Holly Hobbie?
She was the modern answer to Kate Greenaway's little girls or Bertha Corbett's Sunbonnets. But Holly, along with her pioneer-style sunbonnet (face often showing), wore prairie dresses and heeled shoes that would have made Laura of Little House on the Prairie proud.
I thought she was a bit corny (Holly, not Laura) -- but charming.
Just found a yard-plus print of Holly and her buddies, for sale on Ebay. They're marching during a parade to celebrate the Bicentennial. (For you millenials, that's 1976.) The print even throws in Betsy Ross stitching on the American flag, though I'm not sure what that has to do drums, fifes, banners and such. (Okay, that's really corny.)
Take a look here. You can still find Holly Hobbie print fabrics if you look hard enough, but the Bicentennial versions are rare.
2 comments:
The drummer, fife player and flag bearer are references to the "Spirit of '76" painting of the American Revolution and "Yankee Doodle". Just as corny as the Betsy Ross myth, in my opinion.
Take a look at George Washington family's coat of arms and consider it as a possibility for the source of the five-pointed star on the American flag:
https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/coat-of-arms/.
There are numerous images online, too.
Of course you're right about the "Spirit of 76" painting -- which, if you're old enough to remember, practically inundated us all during the Bicentennial. (I graduated from high school in 1976.)
"Yankee Doodle," however, started by the British as an insult. The Americans, typically, thought it amusing, and took it up themselves. Typical Americans. Must have driven the Brits CRAZY!!!
There is at least a little truth to the Betsy Ross myth. And I had never heard about any connections between George Washington and the five-pointed star -- so glad you mentioned it! Whoo hoo!
"Corny" is not necessarily bad, by the way. I enjoy lots of silly things, like Mr. Bean, spitting watermelon seeds and eating marshmallows straight out of the bag.
Thanks much for writing.
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