Dancing in Regency times

Dancing in the eighteenth century was more than an entertainment for the gentry and those of great wealth. It was an art form. The England's love for France's style and dress lasted even through the war years.

However the French minuet dominated English ballrooms in the mid to late 1700’s. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the minuet as  “a slow graceful dance in ¾ time characterized by forward balancing, bowing and toe pointing."   

In the minuet, each couple danced one at a time while all the guests watched. It was greatly praised if it was masterly performed with elegance. Each couple would take their turn to dance it from the highest-ranking persons to the lowest. 

However during the time of the Regency, dances held in the country or in the assembly rooms were slightly different. Couples would make their way down the set and would interact with all types of people—tradesmen, soldiers, the gentry and perhaps even a servant if they needed people to make up the set.

In Pride and Prejudice when Mr. Darcy does not make a point to dance at the assembly, everyone at the assembly is highly offended. 

In not dancing, he was announcing to everyone that he was unwilling to associate with people of low position, which because of his social status, was everyone at the assembly. Who wouldn't be insulted?   

Women’s Clothing in Regency England

It is always so very interesting to see the changes in women’s fashions. What was considered fashionable at one time is now obsolete. Gowns from long ago are called dresses today. We wear hats occasionally. But at one time they were a necessity.

Today, most people wear underwear beneath clothes. Some people don’t. No one seems to care one way or another. Children are forever trying to get a way without wearing underwear.

But in Regency England, underwear was not an article of clothing the women wore. It seems it was risqué to wear any type of drawers. Of course, they had layer upon layer of clothing, so I suppose one more layer might be too much. And it was one less thing to worry about when using the privy. It just seems so odd, that a culture so taken with propriety gave way to convenience.

For to me it seems very inconvenient

1st layer - shift. A formless type gown that would fall to your knees with a drawstring neckline.
2nd layer - corset. It was pulled tight and tied in the back by a maid or a sister.
3rd layer- waist petticoat. This was slipped on beneath your corset to cover your shift and was made of wool or muslin. Some petticoats would go with certain gowns if the gown had an opening in the front and would complement the outer gown’s colors.
4th layer - the gown. But even that is divided up into two categories.
1. Morning gown worn from breakfast until dinner
a. Made of heavy or sturdy fabric
b. No low necklines
c. If your gown has a low neckline, wear a chemisette, a fichu or gauze to fill in the space between your neck and the gown.

2. Evening gown
a. Worn for dinner
b. Elegant and flimsy, lowest neckline possible

Regency Celebrations after Christmas and Boxing Day include New Year’s Eve and Twelfth Night.

After Boxing Day, the day after Christmas December 27^th through January 5^th, there are evening parties and gatherings at homes or at your neighbors’ homes. Everyone is home so there are a lot of people to see and to renew acquaintances with during charades, dancing, music nights, games, small theater productions etc. Sometimes the evenings will last clear into the next morning. The women will be able to sleep in, but the men will get up early and go hunting.

December 31^st whatever party you attend or if you choose to stay home, you will ring in the New Year with drink and song.

New Year’s Day was usually spent at home since the night before was a late evening either out or at home.

January 2^nd through January 5^th would be a continuation of the above parties, dinner, dancing, perhaps even a ball to close the holiday Season.

The final day of the Christmas and New Year’s holiday is call Twelfth Night which is January 6^th   which is as you would guess 12 days after Christmas. This is called Epiphany in the Church and is the celebration of the Magi bringing gifts to Baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph. A huge ball would be planned for this night and even the children of the family and neighbors would be invited to attend.

Finally, we come to January 7^th when guests begin to leave, family members return to London or to their estates and decorations are taken down.  It was considered bad luck for decorations to remain up after January 7^th.

I personally would like to take down Christmas Decorations down on December 6^th. I love Christmas but I don’t want to start the New Year with a Christmas tree or decorations still up.    

How were Christmas celebrations different in Regency England.

Christmas Trees weren't a part of Christmas
celebrations until the mid 1800's

As we near Christmas time, we usually celebrate Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with family and friends. So things have not changed all that much since the late 1700's through the early 1800's. The Gentry and the Nobles would go to their country estates and the family and close friends would congregate. Because of the remote locations of these estates and the slow mode of travel, guests would stay. 

Christmas Eve - Dinner and afterwards games or dancing. Retire at a reasonable hour. 

Christmas Day - Get up early and go to church. Drop money into the poor box at church. Enjoy a turkey dinner with your family. None of the homes around will drop in for visits, but you can still play games in the evening.

The Day after Christmas called Boxing Day. If you are the lord and lady of the home, you will have made up boxes filled with clothing and food that you will distribute to your tenants. The servants are given a holiday and if not a holiday a holiday bonus. The money you gave to the poor box will be distributed to the poor on this day. Usually a fox hunt will be planned for the day.

   

What jobs were open to women in the Regency period?

There were only a few occupations that women could hold that would still be deemed respectable. Anything to do with the shop was not. However, a woman with good breeding fallen on hard times could be a governess. Her charges were usually girls, however, she could also watch the younger boys of the family. It was a lonely position with no servants being your equal so they would not talk with you. You would have to take your meals alone or with the children. The family sadly ignored their governesses most of the time.

A companion was another job a woman could hold. But again it was not ideal. If you were a younger lady you might become a companion to an older relative. You would be at their beck and call. 

Sometimes a younger widow would require a companion. That position might prove slightly better as you would be able to go places, but you would also live in the shadows. No matter which type of companion type situation that you would be able to hold, you would be considered a dependent and anyone without money was looked down on.

  

Who was called an accomplished Woman in Regency England

In pride and prejudice, Mr. Darcy talks about what it means to be an accomplished woman. 

The problem is that there were so little for women to do if they were of the aristocracy or of the gentry classes. They could not work. They may be able to garden. But even that was limited to an herb garden for medicinal reasons or to oversee the growing of flowers in their conservatories. Managing the house, servants and dinners took up some time. But that leaves a large part of the day open. Visiting the poor was another one of the duties of the upper class. But a monthly visit would suffice.

So they worked on becoming accomplished. Accomplished in what you might ask. 

Pretty much accomplished meant being skillful in activities of no practical use. But they did have their benefits. To be able to speak fluently in French or Italian was considered an accomplishment as was becoming a proficient in music: singing, playing the piano or harp. Drawing or painting, needlework or dancing were considered  wonderful accomplishments.  And all of these activities did bring enjoyment to those who were able to excel at these arts. But for those who did not, it was a grudgingly done task that regardless of their interests, they were forced to pursue.

According to Regency England, I would not have been considered accomplished.  

Colorado Mountains

Hiking this weekend was amazing. Colorado is the place to be. There were still flowers blooming even though the aspens were changing. The air was charged with heat and coolness at the same time. We crossed 9 log bridges over the same creek throughout the hike. There is nothing like the beauty of the Colorado Mountains.

A great time to get rejuvenated to keep on writing. To see such beauty and to be a part of it makes you believe you can achieve anything. So even though I'm still in the dusty chapters of revisions, I am not down in the dumps but soaring with the eagle in the sometimes dark and other times bright and billowy clouds.