Category Archives: holidays

Thank a Veteran This Memorial Day … “Some Gave All”

In 1868, Commander in Chief John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic issued General Order Number 11 designating May 30 as a memorial day “for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land.” Continue reading

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Creation of “A Christmas Carol,” a Guest Post from Colin Rowland

This post originally appeared on the Austen Authors’ blog on December 14, 2021. Enjoy! Because Christmas is little less than a week from today, I decided to share the story behind the creation of Charles Dickens’ masterpiece, a work as … Continue reading

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Some Facts About a Regency Christmas You May Not Have Heard Previously

I am often asked questions on tidbits of information I have accumulated over the years on this subject or that concerning the Regency era in which Jane Austen lived. Sometimes I have volumes of information to share and others not … Continue reading

Posted in British history, Christmas, Church of England, customs and tradiitons, Georgian England, Georgian Era, history, holidays, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, real life tales, Regency era, religion, research, tradtions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Some Facts About a Regency Christmas You May Not Have Heard Previously

A Widow’s Rights? What Was English Law on the Matter? + Release of “His Christmas Violet: A Regency Second Chance Romance”

In my tale, His Christmas Violet, Lady Violet Graham, is a widow. Being a widow at the time, particularly, women in the aristocracy or gentry class, provided a woman more freedom than she ever could expect in remarrying. She would customarily … Continue reading

Posted in book excerpts, book release, British history, customs and tradiitons, eBooks, family, Georgian England, Georgian Era, heroines, historical fiction, holidays, Living in the Regency, marriage, marriage customs, publishing, reading habits, Regency era, Regency romance, romance, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on A Widow’s Rights? What Was English Law on the Matter? + Release of “His Christmas Violet: A Regency Second Chance Romance”

An Old-Fashioned Holiday Season. Perhaps Not! Be Careful for What You Wish!

Have we lost the meaning of the holidays? As many of us have already run through our budget for gifts, others are wondering how we lost the true meaning of the Christmas season. Christians bemoaned the lost of the story … Continue reading

Posted in British history, Christmas, customs and tradiitons, food and drink, Great Britain, history, holidays, medieval, religion, research | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

William Strickland, the Man Who Introduced Turkeys to England

Tomorrow in the U.S., we will be all about the turkey and fixings and football and preparing for Black Friday sales, but in the U.K., turkeys are a more traditional dish for Christmas. Why might you ask? We can blame … Continue reading

Posted in British history, buildings and structures, Christmas, Church of England, customs and tradiitons, England, history, holidays, kings and queens, legends, Living in the UK, real life tales, religion, Thanksgiving | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Egyptians and Birthstones, and the Release of Bell, Book, and Wardrobe + a Giveaway

On December 1, 2022, Dreamstone Publishing will release our latest Christmas anthology, this one entitled A Regency Christmas Doubled, for it is all about twins. Double your pleasure! My tale, Bell, Book, and Wardrobe is one of the tales. In … Continue reading

Posted in anthology, book excerpts, book release, British history, Dreamstone Publishing, excerpt, George IV, Georgian England, Georgian Era, giveaway, historical fiction, holidays, publishing, reading habits, real life tales, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Egyptians and Birthstones, and the Release of Bell, Book, and Wardrobe + a Giveaway

All Hallow’s Eve During the Regency

For this piece, I pulled together bits of information on All Hallow’s Eve from a variety of sources, all of which are cited within the post. I hope you enjoy learning of some of Halloween’s traditions.  All Hallow’s Eve (Halloween … Continue reading

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The First Labor Day Celebration

New York City saw the celebration of the first Labor Day on 5 September 1882. The celebration marking the event was designed by the Central Labor Union.    According to the Department of Labor, “While most sources, even the Department of … Continue reading

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Literary Origins and April Fool’s Day

April Fools’ Day (alternatively April Fool’s Day, sometimes All Fools’ Day) is celebrated on 1 April every year. 1 April is not a national holiday, but is widely recognized and celebrated in various countries as a day when people play … Continue reading

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