Category Archives: customs and tradiitons

Princess Louise’s Early Years of Marriage

Last month, we looked at Princess Louise’s choosing to become the future Duchess of Argyll. View that post HERE. Today, we will take at look at the marriage itself.  Just because Princess Louise had finally emerged from the shadow cast … Continue reading

Posted in British history, Church of England, customs and tradiitons, family, history, marriage, royalty, Scotland, titles of aristocracy, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Ceremony of Quit Rents

Have you ever heard of this tradition? The Ceremony of Quit Rents is the oldest legal ceremony in England (other than the coronation). It occurs between St Michael’s Day (October 11) and St Martin’s Day (November 11). On October 17, … Continue reading

Posted in Age of Chaucer, British history, buildings and structures, customs and tradiitons, kings and queens, Living in the UK | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Ceremony of Quit Rents

Celebrating the Release of “A Dance with Mr. Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary” + Giveaway

A major turning point in my latest Austen-inspired vagary, A Dance with Mr. Darcy, comes when Elizabeth permits Lydia to convince her to join in the St  Agnes Eve festivities.  But who was St Agnes? And why do we celebrate … Continue reading

Posted in Austen Authors, book excerpts, book release, customs and tradiitons, eBooks, excerpt, giveaway, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, marriage customs, medieval, Regency romance, religion, Vagary | Tagged , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

The Legend of Handfasting + Release of “A Dance with Mr. Darcy” + Excerpt + Giveaway

 Last Tuesday, we looked at the formal betrothals known as “handfasting,” But what of the mythical handfasting ceremonies purported by popular literature? In the late 18th Century, an idea arose in Scotland that “handfasting” did not refer to a betrothal, but … Continue reading

Posted in Austen Authors, book excerpts, book release, books, British history, customs and tradiitons, eBooks, excerpt, giveaway, historical fiction, Jane Austen, legends and myths, Living in the Regency, marriage customs, marriage licenses, Pride and Prejudice, Scotland, Vagary | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Historical Handfasting as a Plot Point in “A Dance with Mr. Darcy” + Excerpt + Giveaway

Although Darcy and Elizabeth do not come to their Happily Ever After in A Dance with Mr. Darcy through handfasting, it is a subject of discussion. They are in Scotland, and handfasting was a more common practice there. But what … Continue reading

Posted in Austen Authors, book excerpts, book release, books, customs and tradiitons, eBooks, excerpt, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, marriage, marriage customs, medieval, Pride and Prejudice, publishing, Regency romance, religion, Scotland, Vagary | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 36 Comments

17th Century Ballad, ‘The Oak and the Ash’ or ‘The North Country Maid’

 This familiar song can be found in a black-letter copy also in the Roxburgh Collection. Isla Cameron and Louis Killen sang The Oak and the Ash in 1961 on their Prestige album The Waters of Tyne. It has a familiar … Continue reading

Posted in Act of Parliament, ballads, customs and tradiitons, dancing, music | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

On Ilkla Moor Baht ‘at, Yorkshire Unofficial Anthem

The traditional English folk song, ‘On Ilkla Moor Baht ‘at,’comes from the County of Yorkshire, and it is written in Yorkshire dialect. In The Yorkshire Dictionary (Arnold Kellett, 2002) says the dialect used in the song is representative of the area … Continue reading

Posted in ballads, British history, customs and tradiitons, Great Britain, history, legends, music | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

The Statute of Anne, the First Copyright Law

Current copyright law in the United States says, “Copyright in a work created on or after January 1, 1978, subsists from its creation and endures for a term consisting of the life of the author and 70 years after the … Continue reading

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Queen Victoria’s Grief at Losing Her Beloved Albert

On December 14, 1861, Prince Albert succumbed to what was believed to be typhoid fever, although a recent book Magnificent Obsession by historian Helen Rappenport suggest the prince suffered from Crohn’s disease. (The Daily Mail). Queen Victoria’s grief over the loss … Continue reading

Posted in British history, customs and tradiitons, history, kings and queens, Living in the UK, marriage, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Welcome Guest Author, Elf Ahearn, and the Amazon Sale of “A Rogue in Sheep’s Clothing”

Today, I welcome a fellow Beau Monder, Elf Ahearn to “Every Woman Dreams.” This is her first visit with us, and I hope you will show her the kindness you customarily show me. What can I tell you about Elf’s … Continue reading

Posted in Act of Parliament, book excerpts, book release, customs and tradiitons, excerpt, Georgian Era, Great Britain, Guest Blog, Guest Post, heroines, historical fiction, Living in the Regency, real life tales, Regency era, Regency romance, religion, romance, royalty, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments