9.4.09

Easter Holiday..


There is not a lot of information about how the Austen’s celebrated the season. What little we do know is drawn from Jane’s letters and what was typical for the period. While it is assured that Jane Austen celebrated Easter, her holiday was probably a quiet one. She would have observed Lent(Easter is preceded by 40 days of fasting, known as Lent) and broken the “Fast” on Easter with a special dinner with her family. She may have dyed eggs and probably ate them in abundance once Lent was concluded. Mrs Austen is known to have had chickens at Chawton Cottage and it is unlikely that they would have allowed the eggs to spoil. Likewise, Austen mentions Lambs at Steventon, as well as Hams that her mother cured so either might have been eaten at Easter dinner. In her letters, she mentions using the Easter Holidays as a time to travel, and visiting friends along the way to one of her brothers’ houses. As a religious holiday celebrated by a religious family in the early 1800’s, it is unlikely that she ever associated the holiday with rabbits or candy.As the daughter of a clergyman, Jane Austen would scarcely have missed a service at the small Anglican Church in Steventon where her father served. She would have been intimately familiar with The Book of Common Prayer, as Her father would have used this as a guide in planning his services throughout the year.

Have a lovely Easter weekend....I am going to follow the music again the next couple of days...until we meet again...

Painting- Edmund Blair Leighton.

5 comments:

anna said...

wat heb je toch altijd mooie afbeeldingen! zoals deze dame!!! ik ben gek op dames met prachtige jurken en of hoedjes!
waar vind je die toch steeds weer?
groetjes en fijne dagen, Anna

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

You are quite an expert on our beloved Jane Austen, my dear Dutchess! I love coming to your side of the world. Thank you for the lovely friendship across the ocean. Blessings this weekend, Anita

Iriz said...

have a meaningful lent season for the dutchess...

see you soon! ;)

Tea Time With Melody said...

Have a wonderful Easter Dutchess!

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Oh, Edward and I wish you a lovely Easter!! Lots of joy! Lots of chocolate! Lots of love!!