Happy Valentine’s Day

This rare 1791 edition of Les Amours de Psyché et de Cupidon at David Brass Rare Books features lovely illutstrations of Cupid and Psyche. Happy Valentine’s Day!

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New Year’s Customs

The following selection of quotes come from Yule Tides in Many Lands, Mary P. Pringle and Clara A. Urann, Boston, 1916, Project Gutenberg, pages 50-51. “England of all countries has probably known the merriest of Yule-tides, certainly the merriest during those centuries when the mummers of yore bade to each and all “A merry Christmas [...]

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Happy Christmas, Everyone

This illustration was made over 80 years after Jane Austen died, but there’s a “Regency feeling” about the dresses, hairstyles, and interior. Read more about Christmas of old in these links, and in the post below. Click here to read about the Yule Log New Light on Old Christmas Traditions Celebrating the Winter Solstice

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Christmas Traditions from The Regency Era

“I remember we had a discussion that time as to what was the great point and crowning glory of Christmas. Many were for mince-pie; some for the beef and plum-pudding; more for the wassail-bowl; a maiden lady timidly said the mistletoe; but we agreed at last, that although all these were prodigious, and some of [...]

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Syllabub or Sillabub, Straight from the Cow: We Just Don’t Drink It Like This Any More

“Who you callin’ a silly bub, and what’s that you’re offering me?”- Mentioned on three occasions in Samuel Pepys’ diary — in 1662, 1663 and 1668 When we think of Christmases past, including the traditions and foods that Jane Austen and her kin would have enjoyed, we think of yule logs, kissing boughs, and festive [...]

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Christmas Music and a Dance from Days of Yore

The Jane Austen Centre already offers a comprehensive article on Christmas music in the Origins of Regency Era Christmas Carols in their Online Magazine, which I cannot add to in a meaningful way, and which includes a lovelingly told history of ‘Silent Night.’ After reading the article, view a YouTube video of Gloucestershire Morris men [...]

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Wassailing

Wassailing goes back to pre-Christian times in a tradition meant to bring luck for the coming year. Wassail gets its name from the Old English term “waes hael”, meaning “be well”. At the start of each year, the Saxon lord of the manor would shout ‘waes hael’. The assembled crowd would reply ‘drinc hael’, meaning [...]

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History of Valentine’s Day

The reason behind Valentines Day celebration dates back to the Roman Empire. During the 3rd century, Rome was engaged in many unpopular wars, and Emperor Claudius II was having trouble persuading soldiers to join his military. He believed this was due to men’s attachments to their lovers or families so he outlawed all marriages in [...]

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Ophelia’s Valentine’s Song

Valentine’s Day has been a celebration for lovers since the medieval period. Jane Austen would certainly have known Ophelia’s Song, written by William Shakespeare in the 16th century. To-morrow is Saint Valentine’s day, All in the morning betime, And I a maid at your window, To be your Valentine. Then up he rose, and donn’d [...]

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New Year’s Eve Traditions: Some Old, Some New

What did a New Year’s Eve Celebration look and feel like during the time of Jane Austen? This English Country House site gives you a good idea. You can still celebrate New Year’s Eve at Hunstrete House in Somerset much as they did in the 18th & 19th Centuries. Visitors are greeted by a cheery [...]

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A Jane Austen Christmas

Many links to Christmas traditions sit on this post and the sites it links to

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Boxing Day

The day after Christmas is called Boxing Day in England. December 26th was also known as St. Stephen’s Day, after the first Christian martyr. Money was collected in alms-boxes placed in churches during the festive season. This money was then distributed to the poor and needy after Christmas. Boxing Day was first observed during the [...]

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