Category Archives: customs and tradiitons

Moral Ramifications of Wife Sales

Posted on January 10, 2018 by Regina Jeffers

  Last week, I looked at Wife Selling as a Means to a Moral Divorce, but Not Necessarily a Legal One. Today, I will stay with the moral aspects of this practice of the late 1700s and the first half of … Continue reading →

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Scottish Irregular Weddings + the Release of “The Earl Claims His Comfort”

Posted on September 27, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

Clandestine/Irregular Weddings in Scotland A clandestine wedding plays a key role in solving the mystery that occurs in my latest Regency romantic suspense, The Earl Claims His Comfort: Book 2 of the Twins’ Trilogy. But exactly what constituted a clandestine … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Opal Books, blog hop, book excerpts, book release, books, British history, Church of England, customs and tradiitons, eBooks, excerpt, historical fiction, Inheritance, marriage, marriage customs, marriage licenses, publishing, reading, research, romance, Scotland, suspense, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Scottish Irregular Weddings + the Release of “The Earl Claims His Comfort”

Princess Louise’s Early Years of Marriage

Posted on July 17, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

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

Posted on May 11, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

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

Posted on March 29, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

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

Posted on March 28, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

 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

Posted on March 21, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

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’

Posted on March 13, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

 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

Posted on January 4, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

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

Posted on December 28, 2016 by Regina Jeffers

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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