November 1st is Fountain Pen Day #FountainPenDay and let me tell you I love fountain pens and you might say at one time I collected #fountainpens and at times I still do. Just visit your local Stores and check out all the fountain pens you see and you will know why I collected them.
When I found out November 1st was Fountain Pen Day I knew this would be a celebration I wanted to take part in. if we were #Homeschooling still we would have went on a Field Trip to a Offie Supply Store to check out pens in person.
if your #Homeschooling your children then you could create a Lesson Plan on fountain pens and have your children research when and how fountain pens was made. The kids could read How To Celebrate Fountain Pen Day.
The Fountain Pen provides a platform to connect, There are fountain pen shows and hangouts where enthusiasts get to meet and interact. Fountain Pen Day provides that platform to expand one’s Social circle and knowledge.
Fountain pens are versatile and besides writing, fountain pens can serve other purposes. This includes artistic purposes including expressive penmanship and calligraphy, pen and ink artwork, and professional art and design.
Words can be very beautiful and special, not just from th words meanings but from the appearance of the letters. Fountain pens do the perfect job of bringing out these lovely features of words and allows us to show off our handwriting.
Fountain Pen Day takes place on the first Friday in November, so it’s on November 1st this year. Fountain Pen Day started in 2012 and is a day set aside to specially embrace and promote the use of fountain pens and the enjoyment of writing in general.
Fountain Pen Day is supported by many businesses and organizations worldwide, and it is common for supporting businesses to hold offers and promotions either on or leading up to Fountain Pen Day . The point of Fountain Pen Day is to emphasize the beauty of writing with elegant tools and the joy of creative writing in style.
The earliest form of a fountain pen was used by the ancient Egyptians, in 3,000 B.C. These were called styluses. They used reed straw to write with ink made from Vegetable Gum and Soot. These were called ‘dip pens’ because of the way they were dipped in the ink.
Did you know over many Centuries ‘reservoir pens’ were developed which are pens that held their ink. These came into use from the year 953, and throughout the 17th and 18th Centuries, mentions were made of metal writing pens.
To begin with, chisels were used to mark stones. Then the Egyptians used bits of Papyrus Reed to mark out the shapes of Cuneiform, or bits of Charcoal to mark words on pieces of Birch Bark or Leaf. Eventually, ink was created using various types of Plant Matter and even Iron.
Ink now required new tools for application, and Quills which are large stiff feathers from Birds’ Wings or tails were used. Writers wrote with a carefully cut nib to draw up the ink and transfer it to paper. This could be quite messy, so blotting paper was used to tidy up any ink splashes.
Over time, the need arose for a more efficient means to put ink to paper, and in 1636, the fountain pen was designed by Petrache Poenaru from Romania. He combined a reservoir of ink with a metal nib that didn’t require being recut constantly.
In 2012, fountainpenday.org created the Fountain Pen Day to welcome, support, and share the use of fountain pens in day-to-day life, as well as revive handwriting as a whole. On Fountain Pen Day special offers are given to make it easier for those new to fountain pens to give them a try, or those who already love them to upgrade or add another to their collection.
While fountain pens are no longer the primary writing instrument in modern times, fountain pens are still used for important official works and are now often treated as luxury goods and sometimes as status symbols.
How To Celebrate Fountain Pen Day
Fountain pen day is a good day to begin your collection of fountain pens Take the opportunity to create a suitable budget for purchasing fountain pens, and begin your journey as a ‘penthusiast’.
Words written with a fountain pen surely resonate differently than words penned with a ballpoint pen or typed. Compose a letter to a dear friend or family with one, and let them feel special.
Try to revive the art of penmanship by starting a group for pen pals, writing, and receiving real letters. You could approach your local branch of the military or a nursing hospital to write letters to those serving in beautifully crafted fountain pen writing, or start an initiative with your local library
Facts About Fountain Pens That Will Fascinate You
- Leonardo da Vinci constructed and used a fountain pen during the Renaissance.
- One can watch YouTube videos on stress-relieving writing exercises done with fountain pen
- In the early 20th Century, cartridges were made from glass and thin copper tubing.
- Fountain pens with gold nibs slowly adjust to a user over time as the metal corrodes slightly to accommodate their writing style.
- The smallest fountain pen on record is called the ‘Nanofountain probe” and can write or paint features that are just 40 nanometers in width, which is half that of a human hair.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
