Regency Love and Courtship

Dating I admit I’ve been out of the dating scene for (ahem) a few years now. Okay, over twenty. But from what my single friends tell me, not much has changed since I was dated. Basically, a man asks out a woman, (or if she’s braver than I ever was, she asks him out). They might meet online, or be introduced by a friend or see one another at a party, but eventually, they end…

Celebrate with me–and you get the gift

****GIVEA WAY NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU!*** Today is my birthday! I’m 39 again. Do you believe it? Anyway, I’m having a virtual party and you’re invited. The party favor I’m giving to all of my guests who stop by is an ebook novella written by a super famous and talented author. Oh, I mean, me. The best part is; you can choose which novella! So, which one haven’t you read that you’d like to have?…

Christmas trees…pagan, Christian, or just plain fun?

Few symbols of Christmas are more admired than the Christmas tree, and nowadays, most countries that celebrate this holiday have their own version of Christmas trees. Before that, evergreens were a commonly hung adornment in homes, not just at Christmas but all winter.   Evergreens Dating back hundreds of years, people in many countries hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows during winter, hoping to ward off witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and even illness. According…

Christmas Ghost Stories

by Donna Hatch Ghost Stories at Christmas An odd Christmas custom that dates back centuries is telling scary ghost stories. Have you noticed in the popular Christmas Song, “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” the verse that says: “Tales of the glories and scary ghost stories of Christmases long, long ago” and wondered over it? Telling ghost stories is an age-old tradition. Many claim the tradition cropped up in the Victorian Era, including Charles…

Halloween Pumpkins and…Turnips?

One of the most widely-celebrated holidays in the USA is Halloween. This favored holiday is fraught with costumes, decorations, and parties galore! An event that was historically honored and/or feared is now really just an excuse to dress up and party, not to mention, go Trick or Treating! A major player in this autumn game is the carved pumpkin, also known as the Jack O’ Lantern. Did you know using pumpkins for Jack O’ Lanterns…

Marriage in Regency England

Ah, the ringing of wedding bells! A lovely, romantic sound. It always conjures in my mind true love and happily ever after. The hope of a bright future awaiting the couple probably isn’t much different now than it was centuries past. But the way people married has evolved over the years. In Regency England, a couple could get married one of three ways: they could marry in a church after the reading of The Banns,…

The Season

Houses of Parliament Houses London 1852 by Edmund Walker Few events created more anticipation and excitement, and in some cases, fear and dread, than the Season in London. Historically, going “up” to London for the Season coincided with the sessions of Parliament. The dates when Parliament convened varied each year but generally ran from January to July. The varied beginning dates may have depended on the hunting season. According to What Jane Austen Ate and…

Regency Wagering

Gamble like the Gentlefolk During the Regency and Georgian Eras, gambling was a not only a socially acceptable pastime among the upper classes, it was wildly popular. Gentlemen and ladies alike enjoyed games of chance, although ladies mostly played in private homes rather than clubs. Many period novels, including Jane Austen’s, refer to characters playing and betting on card games almost as frequently as they danced, went for walks, and rode horses. Private House Games…

Traditional Regency Christmas

There’s nothing quite like the glimmer of a Christmas tree, brightly wrapped packages, and a yule log burning in the fire to invoke wonder and excitement. You may be surprised to know that many Christmas traditions are quite new–at least in both England and the US. Most Christmas customs we think are ancient actually sprang up during the Victorian Era. Regency Christmas traditions varied widely from region to region and even family to family. Generally,…

Thanksgiving and Gratitude

This thanksgiving day, here are 10 things for which I am grateful: my husband my 6 children and their loving spouses my granddaughter and wee grandson turkey feasts and all the trimmings including whipping cream which makes pumpkin pie edible hot apple pie and ice cream loyal fans who buy, read, and recommend my books a Thanksgiving Season that reminds me to feel gratitude for my abundance religious freedom surviving 2020 without loss of life…