Keep Calm and Carry On...

How did such an iconic saying come into existence? It all started in World War II. Morale boosting propaganda posters were needed. So, the British government printed out three simple posters, all with the same design, the crown of King George VI with the message below. The first  poster read, "Your courage, your cheerfulness, your resolve will bring us victory." The second poster read, "Freedom is in peril, defend it with all your might." And finally "Keep Calm and Carry On"

The first two were printed and put in store windows and train stations.  But the third, "Keep Calm and Carry On," was saved for a time of crisis, such as a German invasion. But this invasion or crisis never materialized, so the poster was never officially released to the public. At the end of the war in 1945 most of the posters were destroyed.  But, 60 years later, in a second-hand bookstore called Barter Books, in Alnwick, Northumberland, the poster was rediscovered. The booksellers found a copy among old books they had bought at an auction. They framed and displayed it in the store, and it proved such a hit that they began making copies. So, Barter Books, was the birthplace of the modern "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster. Today, the poster continues to be a hit with many parodies taken off of it.

Here are some of my favorites:

Keep Calm and Carry On in Elvish!!

Star Wars!!

Star Wars!! 

Lord of the Rings!!

But another thing that makes the posters so popular is the words themselves because sometimes all you can do is keep calm and carry on when life seems to be a little more than calm. It also rings true when you are in a new country trying to figure out which way to look when crossing the road. :)