10 Fun Facts about Easter in the Regency Period

​Regency folk were a sociable bunch, and the Easter Season (Easter through Ascension forty days later) was considered a time of visiting and traveling. But on the day of Easter itself, here's what you could expect to find in a nice Regency home. It's all about the food, the decor, and of course, the bonnets. :) 

On the Table

Hot Cross Buns (Photo via www.britishfood.about.com)

Wikipedia Commons

Yum!

"Say WHAT?"

Dying eggs: fun for pagans and Christians alike. :)

1. Hot Cross Buns
Rich and buttery with a touch of cinnamon, bits of dried fruit inside, and an apricot glaze, these famous buns with their hallmark cross on top are the consummate British Easter tradition. 

2. Simnel Cake
​A light, two-layer fruitcake full of fruit (raisins, currants, orange and lemon zest, cherries, apricot jam) along with cinnamon & spices, and the star of the show--two layers of almond paste or marzipan, one in the middle and one on top, along with marzipan decorations like these chicks and eggs. The first mention of Simnel cake dates back to the 1200s!

3. Ham or Lamb
Ham represents the doctrine of grace, making Christians no longer subject to the Judaic laws of the Old Testament, like not eating pork/ham. Lamb was also eaten for religious reasons, but also for practical ones. Spring is when the baby lambs are born, and to a still-mostly agricultural era, that meant you had to eat 'em before they got old and stringy.

​4. Colored Eggs!
Yes, they were coloring eggs since well before the Regency period! The idea of dying Easter eggs harkens back to the Middle Ages for Christendom, and even earlier for the Saxon goddess, Eostre, according to the Venerable Bede. When the pagans were converted, Christians absorbed this tradition as a joyful symbol of the "new life" in Christ.

On the Lady

5. Pale or White Gowns
From this very detailed article on the Jane Austen Center blog: "The idea of wearing something new for Easter has its roots in Roman tradition (it was good luck to have something new to wear in the spring) and early Christianity where new converts would celebrate their baptism by wearing white for a week." AND...

6. A New Bonnet!
"The first Easter bonnets were spring bonnets which would be delightful to wear after the dark clothes of winter and somber tone of Lent." Again, quoting from Jane Austen's Easter by Laura Boyle for the Jane Austen Center blog.

A Regency Spring
Fashion Show!
3 Gowns from
La Belle Assemblee
ladies' magazine, the
April 1815 issue.

Three gowns by the famed Mrs. Bell:
1. The Angouleme Walking Dress
2. The Witzchoura Mantle and Spencer Promenade Dress
3. Full Dress of pink crape and white satin.

Out & About

7. Easter Flowers
White lilies--the symbol of purity--and narcissus are most commonly associated with Easter, along with daffodils and tulips. But traditionally, the true "Easter Flower" is the pussy willow. 

8. Traditional Easter Music
Good Regency folk like vicar's daughter Jane Austen, upon attending Easter morning services, would thrill to beloved traditional hymns like this... (Here's the link for those of you on RSS.)

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9. Morris Dancers
Adding to the festive atmosphere, Morris dancers commonly performed throughout Holy Week and even on Easter day, and then into spring. Because real men wear flowers and ribbons on their hats!!! :) Adorable. 

Manchester MM Oxford May Morning 2012 (photo: P Rutter) Via www.themorrisring.org.

10. Merry Mischief ~ Regional Pranks
The Brits are world-famous for their sense of humor, so it's easy to see how this sort of Easter day silliness could take hold. From the Every Day Book, from "Easter Celebrations in the UK" posted here: 

Easter Day Customs at Rippon, 1790
On Easter Sunday, as soon as the church services were over, the boys ran about the streets, and laid hold of every woman or girl they could, they would then take their buckles from their shoes. This farce was continued till the next day at noon, when the females began and returned the compliment upon the men, this did not end till Tuesday evening. At one time, no traveller could pass through the town without being stopped and having his spurs taken away, unless redeemed by a little money, which was the only way to have your buckles returned.

Thanks for visiting my blog, friends, and I hope you enjoy a lovely Easter with your nearest and dearest!

Peace to all in this very special season,

Gaelen :)

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