Elizabeth’s first Yule Log

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The new Darcy family gathers around the yule log to celebrate the season. Elizabeth sat in the upstairs sitting room, reading. Now things were returned to normal, a few minutes on her own proved pleasant, not isolating. Earlier that day, Darcy and Fitzwilliam had taken the children and Georgiana to cut decorations for the house. Evergreen boughs and Christmas roses adorned the mantle and filled vases on the tables throughout the house, the fruits of … Continue reading →

Regency Christmas Traditions: Christmas Eve, Christmas and Boxing Day

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A full month of posts to celebrate the Christmastide season. Stories, traditions, recipes, videos, games and a giveaway to fill your Yuletide with Regency Era fun.       December 24th: Christmas Eve On Christmas Eve, the decorations and greenery were put up throughout the house. Bringing in greenery prior to Christmas eve was considered bad luck. Traditional greenery included holly, ivy, rosemary, evergreen, hawthorn and, bay leaf, laurel, and hellebore (Christmas rose). Some households fashioned kissing … Continue reading →

Regency Christmas Traditions: Christmas Carols-Songs of Joy

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Caroling and Christmas carols played a distinct part in regency era Christmas celebrations. Start of Caroling People have used songs and music as a part of celebration for as long as we have recorded history. The word carol comes from Latin the words meaning sing and joy. Thus carols are songs of joy. The songs we know as Christmas carols have both sacred and secular roots. Some began as hymns of the church. Da, puer, … Continue reading →

The Mumpers’ Blessing

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The arrival of the mumpers doesn’t seem like such a blessing. A few more stitches, and the embroidery on the bodice would be done. Kitty examined the hoop of pale yellow muslin in the morning light. Drat! Several tiny stitches fell wrong, yet again. A soft rap on the door demanded her attention. “Miss Bennet?” Hill poked her head in. “The mumpers are coming up the lane.” “St. Thomas Day already?” Kitty dropped her tambour … Continue reading →

Regency Christmas Traditions: Mumpers, Mummers and Sword Dancers

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A full month of posts to celebrate the Christmastide season. Stories, traditions, recipes, videos, games and a giveaway to fill your Yuletide with Regency Era fun. Amidst all the fun and frivolity of the season, charity also played a large part of the Christmastide season. In addition to the normal parish collections, an number of other seasonal opportunities for charity came during the Christmas season. St. Thomas Day The Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle, celebrated … Continue reading →