Articles about the Regency era
“Monday. Here’s a day! – The Ground covered with snow! What is to become of us? – We were to have walked out early to near Shops, & had the Carriage for the more distant. – Mr. Richard Snow is dreadfuly fond of us. I dare say he has stretched himself out at Chawton too.”…
The origins of caroling date far back in time, with the word ‘carol’ dating back to the Old French and the 1300s, meaning a ‘joyful song’ or to ‘dance in a ring accompanied by singers’. In ancient times, celebrations often included song and dancer, with May carols and harvest carols existing, and perhaps others we…
At the end of the eighteenth century, John Cary was commissioned by the Postmaster-General to survey all the principal roads in England. He did this by walking these roads, pushing a wheel connected to a counter, which kept a tally of the number of rotations and then produced an accurate mileage. Between 1787 and 1831,…
While we often think of “punch” these days as something non-alcoholic to serve, in Regency England punch was a drink to get you more than a little tipsy. The first mention of punch was recorded in 1632, but the roots go much further back to wassail, and also to mulled wine or brandy (the word…
September 24 was the day associated with harvest in much of medieval England, and this continued into Regency era, although weather was always a factor since too much rain or an early frost can ruin a crop. During harvest time, Corn Dollys would be crafted. By tradition the dolly held the spirit of the corn…
In the UK, August 12 is commonly known as ‘the Glorious Twelfth’ due to its being the start of grouse shooting season, which then leads on into other shooting seasons. This was as true in the Regency era as it is today in England, for August is when those who could—or who can today—fled London’s…
Every era boasts its own cast of colorful characters – of people we wish we could have met, if for nothing else than their fascinating audacity. If Regency London could have nominated only one person for that role, it surely would have been Theodore Hook. The son of a composer, his precocious nature and scathing…
“On Monday last at Cheriton, near Alresford, the usual pastime of Maying commenced, where a Maypole was erected in commemoration of the day, and in the afternoon the sons and daughters of May, dressed in a very appropriate manner for the occasion, accompanied by a band of music, proceeded to a commodious bower, composed of…
Ah, spring is here—Bridgerton has returned for season two, and we’ll have bonnets (don’t you love the blue velvet hop hat worn by the heroine, Kate Sharma?) to renew the year. Or so goes the tradition. The origins of the tradition are lost in time, but springtime has always been the season of renewal, plus…