National Handwriting Day

There is a day for everything and January 23rd is the day to recognize the good ol’ handwriting.

Sad to say that many of us have pretty bad handwriting. After all, what do we need good handwriting for when we use computers? You actually use it a lot. The pen industry is still going strong. So why celebrate such a day? Let’s see.

In 1737 on this day John Hancock was born in Braintree, Mass. Little did anyone know that his name would become synonymous with the signature. He was the first person to eagerly sign the United States of America’s Declaration of Independence with a large flourishing display – He wanted King George to see it clearly! So now, when you are asked to sign something, you could be asked to give your John Hancock.

The way we write today is not how it always was. The earliest known writings were the well known cave men drawings. These drawings that can still be seen today eventually became symbols to represent thoughts and actions. The first alphabet was created in the Middle East around 1600 B.C. These earlier that developed and spread were read right to left until the Greeks switched that around sometime around 400 B.C. Many cultures still read and write right to left. The original markings that formed the alphabet were all uppercase letters as can be seen in many Greek manuscripts. This was the case until 600 A.D. when more streamlined writing instruments were developed that could make the finer lines that the lowercase letters needed.

The first pen was the stylus which the Greeks developed out of bone, ivory, or the metal of the day. They coated stone tablets with wax and scratched into the wax to document events. It was actually the Greeks who invented the written letter (a tablet written on and actually sent to someone).

The Chinese were some of the earliest ones that we know of that began to develop ink out of a unique recipe of lamp oil, the gelatin of donkey skin, soot, and musk. Archeologists believe that they were doing this earlier than 2500 B.C. but did not disclose the invention to somewhere around 1200 B.C. due to the secretive nature of their culture. Other cultures around the globe began to use berries, minerals, and plants as a basis to form ink. This also gave color variety that was found naturally. Over time the use of colored ink was mainly only used by the state churches, governments, and the wealthy due to the immense time and cost it took to prepare it.

Paper was developed around 2000 B.C. out of papyrus and parchment. Many examples of this can be seen in Greek and Egyptian cultures. Wood paper closer to what we use today was invented in China around 105 A.D. and once made known in Japan in 700 A.D. it spread through the hands of the Arabs and the Spanish to the rest of the world with it taking over Europe by the 14th century. Leading us to today’s paper.

Bamboo stems and other similar plants were turned into the first fountain pens around 2000B.C. with the invention of paper. It wasn’t until 700 A.D. that the more familiar quill pin was used. These quills were taken from geese, crows, eagles, hawks, turkeys and swans which were more expensive. The average quill only lasted one week and had to be replaced. The creation of quills became an art form and was in much demand as more people began to write. The first lead pencil was developed in 1790’s by the French and Austrailians. A metal pointed “quill” was developed in the 1800’s which began the ball rolling toward the first fountain pen in 1884. It wasn’t until 1916 that the ballpoint pen was presented.

Handwriting which began as cave drawings and developed over time as a way to communicate historical events progressed into an art form that as the centuries went was literally in every person’s hands. When you look over the various styles of writing, you can see trends toward the sweeping, elegant styles that many of the eras remind us of to the plain block styles that you begin to see in business situations. Penmanship became a very important subject in the schools because there once was a time that you were not taught how to communicate this way.

In today’s world we are given vast opportunities that though exciting and efficient have pulled handwriting out of our hands once again. The invention of typewriters and computers have eliminated the focus on penmanship and handwriting. When was the last time you wrote a letter? When was the last time you wrote notes in class? Let’s take a chance on National Handwriting Day to revisit a losing art form and have fun with it.

Here are a few ideas that you can do on January 23rd to celebrate National Handwriting Day and make John Hancock proud.

· Write a letter to a friend, family, the President, a soldier, or someone you admire.

· Decorate a cake and have everyone sign their name with frosting.

· Write a poem

· Learn about handwriting analysis

· Check out the books on handwriting at the local library

· Write a letter to John Hancock

· Create an autograph book and have people sign it.

· Start a journal or diary

· Only write memos or address envelopes and let others see the personal touch.

· Find a pen pal and begin to write letters

· See how the scribes did it and try copying other works

· Give the gift of a pen as appreciation

Have fun on this day and get reacquainted with the old friends: pen and paper.

Source: http://www.teachhandwriting.com/national-handwriting-day/