Tag Archives: twelfth night

Regency era Holiday Gift Giving

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Gift giving in Jane Austen’s Day. What might she have given or received for Christmas? Though gift giving was not the primary focus of the Christmastide season, gifts were commonly exchanged. St. Nicholas Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Twelfth Night were the most likely days for gift exchange. Old traditions called for gifts to be exchanged on New Year’s Day. Many gifts exchanged were gifts of obligation between unequal parties. Landowners and the well-off … Continue reading →

Regency Christmas Traditions: Twelfth Night Revelries

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Who can resist a holiday party? During the Regency era, the party of the year would generally be held on Twelfth Night. Twelfth Night Revels Epiphany or Twelfth Night (Jan 5 or 6 depending on who was counting) was the exciting climax of the Christmastide season and a time for putting away social norms. It was a feast day to mark the coming of the Magi bearing gifts to the Christ child, and as such … Continue reading →

Regency Christmas Traditions: Mince Pie and Twelfth Night Pie

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Traditional foods are always an important part of any celebration. Every family and every culture has certain dishes that speak of holidays and festivities would be incomplete without them. This was as true in the Regency era as it is today. Mince pie was a dish that helped define the season. During the Regency, most also considered mince meat pies, also known as Christmas or Twelfth Night pies staples for a Christmas feast and the … Continue reading →

Regency Christmas Traditions: Special Days of the Holiday Season

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Each year it seems we complain that the holiday season begins earlier and earlier with some shops bringing out holiday goods even in the last months of summer. The holiday calendar during the Regency era was a little more clearly defined, with a very predictable set of dates and events for celebration. Holiday celebrations and traditions extended from a week before Advent all the way through to Twelfth Night in January. During the entire season … Continue reading →