Jane Austen's World

Dear Readers,

Today I revisited a post I published in 2008 about tea and alcoholic beverages that led up to the regency era:

Tea became fashionable after 1662 when King Charles II’s Portuguese bride, Catherine, brought a cask of it along with her dowry. In those days the beverage was thought to possess medicinal qualities, and Thomas Garraway introduced tea in his London coffee house in 1657 with this advertisement:: “This excellent beverage, recommended by all Chinese doctors, and which the Chinese call ‘Tcha’, other nations ‘Tay’ or ‘Tee’, is on sale at Sultaness Mead close to the Royal Exchange in London.” (Le Palais des The)

Only the rich could afford tea until larger amounts began to be imported, resulting in lowered prices.

This past weekend, one of my grandnieces turned six. She celebrated this important occasion with a tea party in a way Jane Austen would have approved of for anyone celebrating her natal day in 2019. (No alcoholic beverages were served I assure you.)

Invited were close friends and their mothers. Included were all the appurtenances of a tea party 21st-century style.

First came the hats and nail polish. Then the gloves and the bling, bling, bling!

Both grandmothers contributed their teapots, assorted tea cups and saucers, and beautiful linens.

And then, of course, came the guests properly dressed for the occasion.

Raised pinkies while holding tea cups (none of which matched) were practiced.

Alas, tea was not drunk, but pink lemonade was in high demand. Instead of tea sandwiches, pizza slices and pink cupcakes were served.

My two grandnieces enjoyed themselves immensely.

Fabulous birthday girl

My six-year-old self would have LOVED to join young Charley left below (and Drew above) in the festivities.

Charley

Vic

I think Ms. Austen would have approved of this modern interpretation of an age old custom. Don’t you think?

 

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Posted in Jane Austen's World, Tea in the Regency era | 21 Comments

21 Responses

1. on February 18, 2019 at 02:35 Lynne

   Jane would have loved it, Vic! And aren’t those little girls just the dearest things – all dressed up and daintily sipping “tea”. Thank you for sharing this lovely party with us.

   
   
2. on February 18, 2019 at 02:44 Robert Bannister

   Ah, the young ladies in their finery look absolutely gorgeous.

   
   
3. on February 18, 2019 at 03:01 Florence Stasch

   How delightful to share the joy and fun of a 2019 tea party. The guests are beautiful in their party attire and I know Jane would approve of the festive event. Thank you for including us in your tea party celebration.

   
   
4. on February 18, 2019 at 03:11 ladyofquality

   Adorable!!! My youngest daughters will be 11 and 8 in April, but I think we can still pull it off! Love the gloves- I’ll see if I can find them.

   Thanks for the post! Jane would absolutely approve!

   
   
5. on February 18, 2019 at 04:42 Monica

   Charming little ladies! 😍

   
   
6. on February 18, 2019 at 05:25 janaline's world journey

   This is so sweet!! My sixth birthday party was a tea party!! Such special memories.

   
   
7. on February 18, 2019 at 07:03 Eileen Landau

   Last weekend we celebrated my grandson’s birthday with high tea at a Tea House. Drank a lovely Cherry Tea;
   Chocolate chip scones; and assorted sandwiches. His sisters wore their fancy dresses and hats. Everyone chose a different tea. Bet we do this again!

   
   
8. on February 18, 2019 at 08:09 gytherin

   Such pretty tea things! And I love the young ladies showing off their good manners.

   (Also, tea totally possesses medicinal qualities. The miruvor of Rivendell is as nothing compared with tea.)

   
   
9. on February 18, 2019 at 09:45 Kevin Lindsey

   Thanks for this. They are adorable!

   
   
10. on February 18, 2019 at 10:59 Patty S.

    Vic, they are utterly charming. Thanks for posting.

    
    
11. on February 18, 2019 at 11:15 Hali Chambers

    Upon my word! They raise their pinkies decidedly! (I make NO apologies to paraphrasing Lady Catherine)! ;-)

    What a sweet celebration for your grand-niece and her friends. I think what makes it extra-special is that you have started a tradition that is inclusive of all generations and you can build upon it in the years to come. You could even create a tea-themed “guest book” or birthday journal for her to write in, as well as well-wishes from friends and family.

    
    
12. on February 18, 2019 at 14:56 Jamie

    I love it! What a delightful idea! I have a great niece but she is only 2, maybe I could suggest something like this when she is a tiny bit older

    
    
13. on February 18, 2019 at 16:47 dholcomb1

    What a lovely birthday gathering. I’m sure Jane would have approved.

    denise

    
    
14. on February 18, 2019 at 17:10 Darlene

    What a splendid way to celebrate a birthday. I would have loved it at that age, well any age actually! I may do that for my next birthday.

    
    
15. on February 18, 2019 at 19:07 Luisa H

    Hi Jane Austen lovers.
    I found this popping in my Google newsstand. Enjoy!

    
    
16. on February 18, 2019 at 20:42 BB&Y

    Indeed! Now I want to have a Tea Party with my Grands!

    
    
17. on February 20, 2019 at 22:09 macfamily30

    What a lovely idea…I will have to suggest this for my granddaughters next birthday, she just loves to dress up as a “lady of substance”. Thank you for your blog it is wonderful.

    
    
18. on February 23, 2019 at 12:50 caroleincanada

    Just delightful! I too will suggest this to my daughter when my granddaughter turns 6 in November! I love all those special touches…gloves, hats, doilies, and pink cupcakes!

    
    
19. on February 23, 2019 at 19:22 Lilyane Soltz

    Jane absolutely would have approved. The young ladies all look so lovely in their finery. And the hats, oh my goodness!

    A delightful post that made me smile – thanks, Vic.

    
    
20. on March 3, 2019 at 17:04 Lily

    Forever sensible and unassuming (to me) Jane would wonder why on earth should anyone (not related to her and living centuries later) need her approval….
    Those kids had fun and didn’t worry about such nonsense.
    The young certainly surpass adults in reasonableness

    
    
    • on March 7, 2019 at 19:36 Vic

      Lily, you are correct. This was a rhetorical question designed to communicate with my readers not with Jane.. If she were alive today she would have been aghast at all this fuss about her her life, regency customs, and the cult of JANE in general.

      
      

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