Do you find mid-January kind of bleak? The holidays are over, and I always feel a bit of a let-down. Putting away the decorations and what-have-you isn’t as fun as getting them out. Even the leftovers are usually all eaten up by now. (This year ours aren’t, yet, but that’s a different story.) As Charlie Brown might say, “Bleh.” But there are some good book deals out there this month, plus we’re not far from February now, the biggest month of the year for romance!
If you are looking for something new to read and you don’t mind reading “sweet” historicals, then check out this group of romances on special offer until January 20. You can find them here.
I think many of us here at the Riskies are on deadlines or involved in major projects presently. We are also, as we have been for the past year, pondering the future of this blog. Readership has definitely fallen off, but several of the regular Riskies have not been able to post this year and the rest of us haven’t been able to fill in with extra posts, for the most part. So there have been fewer posts to offer. Is that the reason for the fall-off, or is it just that blogs are less popular now than they used to be, before Twitter, Instagram, and so much else came along? I would guess it’s both….
At any rate, we are still here for now, and even if we decide to discontinue the blog at some point later this year, we don’t want the fabulous archive of all the past posts to disappear. We will certainly keep you posted if we decide to make changes.
In the meantime, happy mid-January, and happy reading! This is the very BEST time of year to curl up with a good story, the best antidote to the blah’s that I know of. What’s your favorite way to deal with mid-winter? Are you still here reading the blog?
New Year’s Eve has come and gone, and here we are, already three days into the new year. If you were hoping to increase your chances for a lucky year, it’s too late now for most of the folk lore and practices you might have tried!
The Risky Regencies blog has been around since 2005, so we have covered a lot of January beginnings by now. If you’re in the mood, scroll down through our archives list and pick some early January posts at random. Some themes are recurring –for instance, making resolutions for the new year, which Regency people seem to have done just as we do today. But some of the other old customs seem to have fallen by the wayside. In January of 2016 my post included quite a few gathered from a variety of cultures.
Just for fun, below is an excerpt from my 2018 December release, Lord of Misrule. The main characters are traveling on New Year’s Eve and must spend the night at an inn. Nevertheless, they make an attempt to honor a few old customs. How did you spend your New Year’s Eve? Did you try to follow any old practices to influence your year ahead?
“Tell me, what would you all have been doing to celebrate the new year in Little Macclow if I had not spirited you away?” Lord Forthhurst said, introducing a new line of conversation.
“Oh, playing
cards or charades, roasting chestnuts, singing or dancing, teasing each other
with puzzles and riddles to try our brains,” said Lady Anne.
“Dining on
plum puddings and mince pies. Listening for the peal of the bells to tell us
the new year has begun,” the Squire added.
“We might
have been entertaining any visitors in a similar manner,” Miss Tamworth said.
She had resumed her seat and turned her unfathomable blue eyes on him. “I had
considered asking you to be our midnight caller.”
“The old
first-footer custom?” He knew no one who followed it. Mostly it was practiced
up in the northern counties and Scotland.
Still, he was flattered. The first person to step into a house after the stroke
of midnight was supposed to bring luck and set the tone for a good and
prosperous year. He doubted he was a likely candidate for any such thing. “I am
honored, but why in heaven’s name would you ask me?”
“Oh, just
because it is considered much luckier if the visitor is a handsome man.” She
shrugged, her tone utterly off-handed.
He looked for
any sign that she was flirting. Catching her eye, he tested her with a devilish
grin. “Ah, so you admit that you find me handsome?”
Her frank,
clear gaze seemed perfectly in earnest. “I needn’t admit it–I say so quite
freely, Lord Forthhurst. It is simply a fact about you, one that must be
obvious to anyone with eyes. …”
…“’Tis a
shame you’ll not have the opportunity to be first-footer at the vicarage, Lord
Forthhurst,” Squire said, rescuing him from having to respond. “The vicar
serves a very tasty punch on New Year’s Eve that I suspect you would like. It
has rendered many a visitor barely able to make his way home again after
indulging.”
“That sounds
quite wicked for a vicar. Indeed, I am sorry to forego both the honor and the
pleasure.”
A short while later,
they decide to leave their private parlor to join in the revelry downstairs in
the public room.
“I think we
should all go down and celebrate the new year’s arrival with everyone else.”
She looked pointedly at Cassie and the viscount. “Did you bring new clothes to
wear?”
“New
clothes?” Lord Forthhurst tilted his head, looking bewildered. He clearly did
not know much about country customs.
“Yes, to
bring luck and prosperity in the new year.”
“I see. I’m
afraid I did not bring any.” He sounded unconvinced.
“I did not
have any to bring,” Cassie admitted.
“Well, I have
a splendid idea how to fix that,” Lady Anne declared, her hands sweeping up
into the air. “I shall loan Cassie one of my shawls, and Squire can loan Lord
Forthhurst one of his cravats. The items will be new–to you, at least. I feel
certain that will serve. Oh, do let us get ready, and then go down.”
Belated or not, I and my sister Riskies all wish you the very best in 2020. That includes lots of happy reading!
