2024-10-22
Say cheese! The real meaning of the famous sentence.
Why We Say 'Cheese' for Pictures – A Smile's Hidden HistoryWe’re all smiling in the pictures. This, however, hasn’t always been the case. Until the mid-nineteenth century, smiling for a photograph wasn’t common practice. Historical records suggest that teeth first appeared in photos around 1953, while smiles began cropping up in the mid-1940s.So, what triggered this change?There are several theories to explain the shift. One of the most popular attributes of this evolution to Franklin D. Roosevelt, the American President during World War II. It was a time filled with pain and struggle—war, economic crisis, and bombings ravaged the world. In the face of all that sorrow, Roosevelt believed a smile could radiate hope and resilience.His smiling photographs were more than a picture—they were a promise. A promise that the war would end, and everything would be fine again.A Cheesy Origin Story:Another delightful theory revolves around the word we often use when snapping a photo—cheese.Legend has it that an English photographer was traveling through the valleys of Friuli, Italy, in search of the perfect shot. He stumbled upon a local festival where farmers and shepherds proudly displayed their labors. Inspired by the authenticity of their lives, he gathered the locals for a group photo.But something unexpected happened. Despite his directions for a serious, professional pose, the villagers couldn’t stop smiling. It wasn’t until he looked behind him that the photographer discovered why. A large ivory wheel of Montasio Dop cheese was being cut and sampled, and it seemed that the very sight (and smell!) of the delicious cheese was enough to bring joy to their faces.From that day forward, he asked every group he photographed to say the word that sparked such joy: cheese.The Science of Smiling:This story doesn’t just explain a cultural habit—it also highlights the physical benefits of cheese. The calcium and phosphate found in Montasio cheese, for example, help regenerate tooth enamel and protect our smiles.So next time you say cheese for a family selfie, know that you’re tapping into a history that’s rich with positivity and, quite literally, good for your teeth!Are you ready for your next happy family selfie? Don’t forget to say cheese!Order our famous cheesecakes now!
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