Christmas Dinner in Regency England
By Regan Walker
Christmas in Regency England, during the period from 1811to 1820, when Prince George reigned in his father’s place, was a more subtle celebration than the one we observe today. Christmastide, as they called the season, began with Christmas Eve and continued to Twelfth Night, or January 5th, followed by the Feast of the Epiphany the next day, the official end of the Yule season.
The house would be decorated with greenery and Christmas Eve might find folks sipping cups of hot wassail (spiced cider) or eggnog as they watched a performance by traveling actors, called “mummers.”
Christmas Day would, typically, begin with a trip to church. Afterward, there would be a grand dinner of roast goose, boar’s head (really the head of a pig, as wild boars became extinct in England as of 1185), and perhaps turkey (brought to England from the New World in 1550). Vegetables such as potatoes, squash, Brussels sprouts and carrots were also served, along with stuffing for the fowl.
If you were dining at an estate that maintained an orangery or a hot house, there might be fresh fruit, too.
Wine would be served, of course. There would be champagne, burgundy, claret and perhaps a good Madeira (like that Lady Emily Picton shops for in my short story The Holly & The Thistle. There might also be a homemade Elderberry wine. Folks in Regency England were notorious imbibers of liquor. In addition to wines, port, brandy, sherry and whiskey would be readily available, though the whiskey was likely Irish and not the Scottish “whisky” that would be perfected later in the century.
Wonderful desserts ended the meal, including marchpane (what we call marzipan), and gingerbread. Another favorite dessert was Christmas plum pudding, a mixture of 13 ingredients (representing Christ and the twelve apostles) made with suet, brown sugar, raisins, currants, citron, lemon and orange peels, spices, crumbs, flour, eggs, milk and brandy. All this was boiled in a pudding cloth. Very tasty. You can see the recipe on my website at this link.
Another dessert that would often appear was Mince pie. While recipes varied by region, ingredients usually included beef, suet, sugar, raisins, lemons, spices, orange peel, goose, tongue, fowls, eggs, apples and brandy. This was also called “Twelfth Night Pie” because it was originally made with the leftovers of the Christmas dinner. The pies were eaten every day during Christmastide to ensure good luck for the twelve months of the New Year.
After dinner the ladies would adjourn for tea and the men would gather together for port and perhaps a cigar.
When they came back together, they might sing carols around the piano to include Deck the Halls, Here We Come a-Wassailing and While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks. Joy to the World, though first published by Isaac Watts in 1719, wasn’t in the modern version until 1836. Hark the Harold Angels Sing was first written in 1739 by Charles Wesley, and amended in 1753 by George Whitfield. However, Mendelssohn didn’t write the modern version we sing today until 1840. Silent Night was written in 1816 by Joseph Mohr, but wasn't translated into English until 1863.
Christmas in the Regency era was characterized by the simple traditions of holly and candles and a roaring fire in the hearth, the smell of wassail steaming in a large bowl over the grate, and the pungent aroma of the Christmas pudding and roast goose watering the mouth. Children home from school might add the typical noise to the family gathering but the emphasis was on social interaction that is, unfortunately, so often missing in our celebrations today.
THE REDHEADED RAKE
It was a dull day at White’s, the day he agreed to the wager: seduce bed and walk away from the lovely Lady Leisterfield, all by Twelfth Night. This holiday season, Christopher St. Ives, Viscount Eustace, planned to give himself a gift.
THE INNOCENT WIDOW
She was too proper by half—or so was the accusation of her friends, which was why her father had to find her a husband. But Lord Leisterfield was now gone a year, and Grace was at last shedding the drab colors of mourning. The house felt empty, more so during the coming Christmastide, and so tonight her coming out would begin with a scandalous piece of theater. The play would attract rogues, or so promised her friend the dowager countess. It would indeed. The night would bring about the greatest danger—and the greatest happiness—that Grace had ever known.
Eustace had stated a truth. With each moment shared in the lodge they had grown closer, and not just as friends; Grace had seen the look in his eyes. He had wanted her since before they came to the lodge. But how much of that was her, and how much was ego? Could she give herself to such a man? God help her, she wanted to.
No. The wager was always between them.
She pulled back, and he looked at her, his copper eyes dark with desire and his breath coming in pants. “My lady?”
“Eustace, we mustn’t.”
He rose from the sofa in one leap, dragged a hand through his hair and let out a deep breath. “I cannot be so close to you and not want to touch you, not want to make love to you. I have tried and failed. Each night I lie in bed thinking of you, aware you are just on the other side of the wall and wondering if you are sleeping.”
Though she would not admit it, Grace too had lain awake thinking of him and wishing they were not in separate chambers or in separate beds. She wished there was no wager between them. But there was.
Muttering a curse, Eustace stormed out the door and into the night. Grace followed, feeling the lack of him, fearing she would lose what sweet intimacy they had gained. She had to try to keep him from leaving. But as she came through the front door, his back was to her. He walked across the gravel path and onto the grass, the moon’s bright light casting his shadow onto the ground. He was walking away. How could she bring him back?
“Eustace! What about the wager?”
What a great story! Love it.
ReplyDeleteHi, May. I do hope you read it...or have you? In any event, do let me know what you think (you can always reach me via my website). Thanks for commenting!
DeleteHi, Kim! Thanks so much for having me and The Twelfth Night Wager on your blog!
ReplyDeletethanks for such a fun post! WOW... they really used to go all out for Christmas! Makes you wish you could travel back in time just once to experience it :) Congrats to Regan on the new release!
ReplyDeleteWhen it came to food, Erin, the nobility could eat and eat well. What I love about Christmas stories like The Twelfth Night Wager is a chance to experience the season like I was there. Thanks for the good wishes!
DeleteWhat an interesting post. I'd heard about many of these foods before, but I never knew the ingredients. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you liked it, LSUReader. I hope you'll read the story, too!
DeleteWe are severely limited on fireplace burn days here in Sacramento, but are still able to enjoy many other Christmas traditions that harken back to Regency days: the aromas of holiday food cooking, eating wonderful holiday foods, imbibing holiday spirits, and listening to holiday music. I do miss some traditions that have gone by the wayside however; e.g., Christmas caroling and board games played by families and friends when they get together. I'm re-reading Twelfth Night Wager, Regan! :-) jdh2690@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteOh, Janice! You thrill my little heart. Re-reading The Twelfth Night Wager, how splendid. And don't forget the story continues in The Holly & The Thistle!
ReplyDeleteI will re-read that again too. Wonderful holiday reads. :-)
DeleteI've enjoyed her books and this sounds like another one that I would really like.
ReplyDeleteI do hope you like it, catslady! It will put you in the mood for Christmas as will The Holly & The Thistle.
DeleteOh my goodness! This is a must-read for me! Thanks for your fun giveaway too!
ReplyDeleteThanks for leaving such a wonderful comment, Connie! I do hope you enjoy The Twelfth Night Wager, and The Holly & The Thistle continues from it to tell Lady Emily Picton's story. Enjoy!
DeleteI need to put this book on my To Buy List.....it sounds good.
ReplyDeleteHi, Danielle...thanks for stopping by and for considering The Twelfth Night Wager. And have a wonderful holiday!
DeleteIt's funny that you had Mince Pie in your post. My brother wanted to make Mince Meat pie for Thanksgiving and my daughter had never had it. But he couldn't find the mince meat pie filling at any of the 8 stores he went to here and so we had pumpkin pie.
ReplyDeleteIt's a laborious task to make it from scratch, Mary, but it can be done. I prefer pumpkin myself and all that whipped cream!
DeleteMy mother in law is English and we often have mince pies as well as plum pudding for Christmas dinner. Excellent post!
ReplyDeleteGlenda...how fun to have those traditions a part of your Christmas. And I'm glad you liked the post...hope you like the story, too!
DeleteThanks for a very interesting post - I love marzipan!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Karen.
DeleteThis book sounds fun! Oh I DO love Christmas and all it's traditions. Wonderful to read about all the customs in the Regency era :D
ReplyDeleteHi, Jo's Daughter! I think you'll enjoy both The Twelfth Night Wager and The Holly & The Thistle. They also go together and paint a full picture of Christmastide in Regency England.
DeleteI enjoyed the post. I really like the sounds of this book and I also like the cover. I'm looking forward to reading it soon.
ReplyDeleteLori
Thanks for commenting, BD. Do let me know how you like The Twelfth Night Wager (you can reach me via my website, www.reganwalkerauthor.com). I love to hear from readers!
ReplyDelete