Though uncommon, a kissing ball might be found in some regency households. Sadly, they were considered a bit crass and would usually be confined to servant’s areas. To make one of your own you need: (1) wire to shape the ball–clothes hangers would be a ready source. (2) Something to bind the form together, the video suggests string. In my house of engineers, it would be duct tape. (3) Mistletoe and other greenery. Since … Continue reading →
What is wrong with a kissing ball? It was Christmas Eve. At home, Kitty and her sisters—no wait, no one would be left at Longbourn to go out to cut evergreen and holly boughs for decorating the house and making a kissing ball. She stopped and sank down to the stair step, face in her hands. Even being at the Darcy townhouse in London could not make up for the arsey-varsey tumult her life had become. All … Continue reading →
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. Families put up decorations and greenery throughout the house on Christmas Eve, usually not before. Traditional greenery included holly, ivy, rosemary, evergreen, hawthorn, laurel, and hellebore (Christmas rose). Boughs, garlands and sprigs decorated windows, tables, mantles and stairways with the scents and colors of the season. For those who could … Continue reading →
Regency wassail was usually far more alcoholic than this, and wine based. But this recipe has a lot of the same feel with fruit and spices. We are more the fruit juice and spice punch type people, so I’m not sure we’ll try this particular version, but I’d love to hear about it if any of you do! Make Your Your Own Wassail Punch Read more about syllabub and other holiday foods here. … Continue reading →
This video on making traditional gingerbread really reveals my inner food geek. Ok, talking about this history of chemical leavening might not be your thing, but it’s really fascinating. Even it you’re not into kitchen physics the way I am–hey I live with a bunch of engineers and it has changed me. That’s my excuse and I’m sticking with it, but the way–anyway, watching period baking methods is still pretty fascinating. Given my family’s … Continue reading →
