A brief look at Victorian party etiquette

By | January 4th, 2024|Categories: Entertainment, Victorian culture, Victorian Era, Victorian Era Celebrations|Tags: , , |

Did you enjoy your holiday season? If so, how are you adjusting to being back into the swing of things? It has been a bit challenging for me as I would much rather be continuing to have fun hangouts with friends. There must be something in the air, as the invites have continued coming in.  [...]

The social season: 19th Century's time to party

By | May 27th, 2023|Categories: Entertainment, Regency Era, Victorian culture, Victorian Era|Tags: , , , |

Did you know that if it was 1823 rather than 2023 many of us would be right in the middle of the “social season”? From Jane Austen novels to Bridgerton, it is commonly referred to in stories set in the 19th century, and as I start to make my own plans for what is sure [...]

Have fun, but not too much fun: Victorian ball etiquette

By | June 16th, 2022|Categories: Entertainment, Victorian culture, Victorian Era, Victorian Era Celebrations|Tags: |

Last week I wrote about the majesty of Victorian ball gowns and how there are few things I would rather look at. I can only imagine the splendor of an actual Victorian ball and a room full of more than a hundred people dressed in their 19th-century finest. Balls were more than just an opportunity [...]

17th and 18th century mass media: panoramas

By | June 11th, 2022|Categories: Entertainment, Regency Era, Victorian Era|

Motions pictures were invented over 130 years ago and remain one of the most popular forms of entertainment. But the concept of a visual experience to transport audiences to a new place wasn’t new, even in the 1880s. In the 18th century artists with remarkable vision created visual delights that would allow huge audiences to [...]

A look at tea tables

By | June 4th, 2022|Categories: Entertainment, History of the home, Regency Era|Tags: , |

Let’s return to the history of afternoon tea! I have been having so much fun looking into the various aspects of the history of tea, especially as it relates to the Victorian era. So far this summer we have looked at a short history of the English afternoon tea and teaware of times past. I [...]

Teaware from times past

By | May 15th, 2022|Categories: Entertainment, History of the home, Victorian Era|

Last week I began my summer series on Victorian tea culture. There is so much to explore! One thing that interests me about the history of tea time in England is that something now considered to be so associated with the United Kingdom was relatively new in the 1800s. It quickly became an indicator of [...]

A brief history of Victorian afternoon tea

By | April 25th, 2022|Categories: Entertainment, History of the home, Victorian culture, Victorian Era, Women's History|Tags: , |

Something about springtime makes me think of picnics and afternoon tea. Last year I wrote a post that I enjoyed from start to finish on planning a Victorian picnic. I enjoyed the post so much that I referred to it for recipes to make finger sandwiches for an Easter brunch that I attended this year. [...]

Are your egg cups ready for Easter?

By | April 13th, 2022|Categories: Entertainment, History of the home, Holidays, Victorian Era|Tags: |

I have always wished that we used egg cups for breakfast here in America. I love what a refined option it is, soft-boiled eggs are my favorite type, and of course, I love the look of the cute little device. Egg cups are something I have often thought they would be a collection that I [...]

Snapdragon: Extreme Victorian Parlour Game

By | December 22nd, 2021|Categories: Christmas, Entertainment, History of the home, Holidays, Victorian Era, Victorian Era Celebrations|Tags: , , , |

How do you spend time with family and loved ones over the Christmas holiday? Are there games or traditions that you enjoy? Do any of them involve trying not to catch on fire? In the Victorian era, that is exactly what one could anticipate with the playing of a popular Christmas eve parlour game, snapdragon.  [...]