WPF

foreach (Border _border in FindInVisualTree(this.displayContent, a => { return a is Border; }))
{
    _border.RaiseEvent(new RoutedEventArgs(FlipToLoginEvent));
}

        //  http://www.beacosta.com/blog/?p=41
        private T GetObjectOfTypeInVisualTree<T>(DependencyObject dpob) where T : DependencyObject
        {
            int count = VisualTreeHelper.GetChildrenCount(dpob);
            for (int i = 0; i < count; i++)
            {
                DependencyObject child = VisualTreeHelper.GetChild(dpob, i);
                T childAsT = child as T;
                if (childAsT != null)
                {
                    return childAsT;
                }
                childAsT = GetObjectOfTypeInVisualTree<T>(child);
                if (childAsT != null)
                {
                    return childAsT;
                }
            }
            return null;
        }

        private void ManualStartAnimation(string templateName, string elementName, RoutedEventArgs eventArgs)
        {
            //  this works too
            //  http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/wpf/thread/4a04938b-690b-4bd0-969a-6dc4f6d6fda5/

            //  this is implemented
            //  http://joshsmithonwpf.wordpress.com/2007/06/28/how-to-use-findname-with-a-contentcontrol/
            //  together with this (GetObjectOfTypeInVisualTree)
            //  http://www.beacosta.com/blog/?p=41

            DataTemplate   _dt = (DataTemplate)this.FindResource(templateName);
            if (_dt != null)
            {
               //  reminder: displayContent is the ContentControl
                ContentPresenter _cp = GetObjectOfTypeInVisualTree<ContentPresenter>(this.displayContent);
                if (_cp != null)
                {
                    UIElement _element = (UIElement)_dt.FindName(elementName, _cp);
                    if (_element != null)
                    {
                        _element.RaiseEvent(eventArgs);
                    }
                }
            }
        }

        public void ShowLogin()
        {
->kick     ManualStartAnimation("flipItemTemplate", "frontHost", new RoutedEventArgs(FlipToLoginEvent));
        }