Archive for November, 2009

Picture Scanning Old Holiday Images Can Revive Caroling Tradition

Monday, November 30th, 2009

Bring On The Holiday Cheer With Christmas Carols

Show Neighborhood Crooners Your Appreciation With Refreshments

christmas caroling2christmas carolingFew things can get you in the holiday spirit like jolly Christmas tunes – and there’s no better way to enjoy them than being serenaded by real, live carolers at your doorstep.

Now if only you could find real, live Christmas carolers. Caroling seems to be a dying art. These days, it might be easier to track down professional singers scheduled to go caroling at a bank, store or event. The old caroling photos that we see now – transferred to digital format for online sharing through picture scanning – are more likely to show these singers gathered on a front porch or strolling down a residential street.

It’s unclear why caroling is no longer as common as it once was. Caroling was initially unwelcome in this country by the Puritans during part of the 17th century. It wasn’t always perceived as innocent fun; prior to the 19th century, caroling was considered an unsavory act that had the potential to be uncivilized and even violent. But later that same century, the British changed the image of caroling and Christmas in general, transforming it into a family-friendly event.

That caroling is no longer a common occurrence during the holidays only makes it much more of a treat for both singers and listeners alike. Songs such as Silent Night are well-loved and well-known by children and adults. If you are lucky enough to live in a neighborhood that has a group of carolers, do offer them a round of refreshments and applause as a way of expressing thanks and appreciation. Christmas caroling is a fun activity that happens all over the world – even in war zones such as Afghanistan. In this photo, a U.S. Navy chaplain leads members of the military in singing on Christmas Eve.

Many of today’s carolers are professional singers who dress up in Victorian costumes and carry a tune for money. Businesses such as banks have taken to hiring them during the holidays to greet and entertain customers. They’re also a festive touch at parties. Of course, the most entertaining carolers may be your children at the annual school concert. You probably still have old photos of yourself doing the same; to preserve these images, send them to a picture scanning service like ScanDigital, which can retouch and revive all of those wonderful holiday memories.

Picture Scanning Services Help You Explore History Behind Traditions

Thursday, November 26th, 2009

Just When & Why Did Evergreen Trees Become A Christmas Custom?

The Evolution Of Christmas Trees In America

Evolution Of Christmas TreesFollow a tradition long enough, and it becomes innate, secondhand.

Thanksgiving already? Time to roast a turkey, mash some potatoes and bake a pie.

The day after? Hit the mall or put up the Christmas tree.

But if we stop to think and question our annual traditions, we may learn new and interesting things. Take the Christmas tree. Why, exactly, do we decorate it? Why do we even display it? What makes it so special and iconic? A look at past photos, transferred into digital form by picture scanning services, illustrates that evolution.

People have long treasured evergreen trees and boughs, based on the belief that they prevented evil and illness from striking. Everyone from Druids to Vikings to Romans held the evergreens in high regard. The boughs were tacked over windows and doors. The tree tradition, however, began with the Germans. And legend has it that Martin Luther introduced lighted candles to the indoor tree to replicate the outdoor experience of seeing stars glowing in a forest of trees.

German settlers brought the tradition to this country in the 1830s, but it was not readily accepted by the Puritans. Even decorating for Christmas was a finable offense then, and the trees were considered a pagan symbol. It wasn’t until more German – and Irish – immigrants entered America that the tradition became mainstream. Great Britain’s Queen Victoria and Prince Albert led the way, after they appeared in a family portrait, gathered around a Christmas tree. In this 1959 photo, the decorated Christmas tree is firmly planted in American tradition and on display at the White House.

Although the Europeans preferred shorter trees, Americans like theirs tall. Early tree decor featured candles and edible items such as popcorn, cookies and nuts. The introduction of electricity paved the way for the string lights we see so often now, and also made Christmas trees more popular.

Thanks to picture scanning services that make old images look as good as new, we can glance back in time and observe how our traditions came to be.

Thanksgiving Goal #3: Secretly Plan Ahead for Holiday Gifting!

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

extended familyThanksgiving goal #1: Spend quality time with loved ones. Goal #2: Eat lots of yummy food. Goal #3: Secretly gather your family’s old photos and home movies from the basement. Don’t worry, it’s all in the spirit of the Holidays…

While most of us are home this Thanksgiving, I’d like to give a friendly reminder to secretly gather your family’s old photos and home movies and plan ahead for Holiday gifting. Doing so will give you a head start on what may just be the most sentimental present they’ve ever received by having all of their old memories preserved in digital format so they can be enjoyed forever!

Give the gift of memories this year- it’s sure to be a smash hit!

Check out our video reminder here:

 

They will love knowing your family’s history is preserved and protected for their future generations. Your captured memories hold a key to the past and having these memories preserved is a great way for younger generations to learn about their roots.

Having all of your favorite family memories on DVD makes it super easy for the whole family to enjoy them. It’s as simple as a click of your mouse in fact. You can even surprise everyone in your family with a copy and check them all off your list at once!

So while you are home this Thanksgiving, gather your family’s memories to send in for processing. Round up any photos, slides, negatives, videos or reel-to-reel film- ScanDigital handles it all!

Act fast- ScanDigital deadlines are fast approaching. Photo material must be received by December 10th, but some Video & Film formats must be received as early as December 1st to ensure your order is complete in time for the holidays. So plan ahead and gather all of your family’s photos and home movies while you are home this Thanksgiving.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 888.333.2808 or email us at info@scandigital.com. You can also always find us on Twitter and Facebook, where we love sharing insight in what’s going on in the ScanDigi World and connecting with customers and other photo-enthusiasts.  

Happy Thanksgiving!

3 Organization Tips for Thanksgiving by Melissa Stacey

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

Melissa picI can’t believe that it is Thanksgiving!  The holidays truly snuck up on me this year and I have to say…I was feeling a bit overwhelmed because of it.  But I made my gift lists and got my calendar in order, so I am feeling much better now.  Plus the weather has finally cooled down here in Northern CA, so it actually feels like November. 

If you are hosting the Thanksgiving dinner this year, here are a few tips to help the day run smoothly: 

  • Set your table the day before.  It is one less thing you have to do on Thanksgiving Day and you will be sure that you have all the necessary dishes, platters, glasses, etc.
  • Prepare some of your side dishes and desserts ahead of time. 
  • Make a list of the tasks that need to get done on Thanksgiving Day and cross items off as you complete them.  You can assign people to some of the tasks so that you don’t have to do it all on your own.  I highly recommend assigning some dishwashers for after the meal.

Wishing you a safe, happy and organized Thanksgiving! 

By Melissa Stacey

About Melissa:

Melissa Stacey started Feeling Organized because she truly loves organizing and planning. She says, “I also love working with people to find creative solutions to their organizing problems. I named my company Feeling Organized because the key to organization is how YOU feel. When you feel organized, you have less stress, are more productive and have more time to do the things that you love.”

Contact Melissa:

To contact Melissa for more organizing tips, visit Feeling Organized. To receive her monthly organization tips for yourself, just email Melissa@feelingorganized.com for the add! You can also find Melissa on Twitter, where she also shares great organizing tips.

Sentimental Gift Idea for Your Significant Other: Digital Photo Frames!

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

significant othergrandparentsIt’s always a challenge to find that perfect gift for your significant other. Everyone always searches to find a present that perfectly blends something thoughtful with a gift that has an element of excitement and surprise. To capture both these, give your loved one a pre-loaded Digital Photo Frame from ScanDigital- no doubt it’s super sentimental and they’ll be surprised every time the frame cycles to a photo they haven’t seen in forever!

Check out this video with Anderson, our CEO and co-founder, as he explains why this gift is sure to be a hit:

 

 

sentimental- photo frame pandigitalYour significant other will love seeing all of your favorite moments on ScanDigital’s pre-loaded Digital Photo Frame. And the best part- they can start enjoying this present immediately. We load the frame with the images for you, so set up is super easy. Your loved one will be able to open their gift, plug it in and enjoy the present right away.

As the Digital Frame rotates images, your special someone will absolutely love being surprised with new pictures every day. Give them a reason to think about you and remember fond memories each time they pass by.

Our new Pandigital 8” photo frames have high quality LCD screens that display your memories in bright color. These frames also display up to 1,500 of your favorite moments together.

Plan ahead to ensure your order is complete in time for the holidays!

Deadline: Monday, December 14th

If you want to make it even more special, then include old photos to the frame! If your order requires photo scanning, your material must be received no later than December 10th.

For more information about our Digital Frames, visit our website. If you have any questions at all, please contact us at 888.333.2808, info@scandigital.com, on Twitter or Facebook. We hope to hear from you soon!