Straying thoughts

 

Straying thoughts

‘In the spring a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love,’ runs a line from Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s poem 'Locksley Hall.'  I might counter that with, ‘In the autumn an old man’s fancy darkly turns to thoughts of death.’ Morbid, no?          

No, not really. Something caught my eye and started me thinking about mourning jewellery. It dates back to the 17^th century but became popular, particularly in England, during the Georgian era (1714-1837) so called after the Hanoverian Kings George I, II, III and IV (not much imagination shown in the naming of kings!) and William IV. William reigned for a relatively short time (1830-1837)

                   Georgian mourning ring, gold with pearls and hair insert

                                     Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Mourning jewellery was created as a way to commemorate the beloved dead and show them respect. It became extremely popular in the 19^th century, when Prince Albert died and was so markedly mourned by his widow, Queen Victoria.

Mourning was subject to complex rules of etiquette, covering how long the mourning period should last, and what apparel and jewellery should be worn. With the Georgian emphasis on ‘Memento Mori,’ (‘remember that you must die’ – so cheerful!) people were encouraged to live their lives as fully and as well as they could.

The symbols they chose to adorn the jewellery often included skulls and hourglasses, reminding the wearers of the transience of life. Weeping willows and urns also featured, the willows with their trailing branches as symbols of grief.  Some jewellery also held miniature portraits of the dear departed and it was quite usual to put a lock of hair in a locket or ring.

The materials used included jet, onyx, enamel, or gold. 

                            Victorian mourning brooch with hair

Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Other than lockets, jewellery might take the form of a ring, earrings, a brooch, a bracelet, a pendant or even a tie pin. Sentimentality became evident in Victorian symbols, with angels and clouds becoming more prominent than skulls. Wealthier families would set their jewellery with precious gems. Turquoise indicated ‘thinking of you,’ and children were often commemorated with pearls, because pearls represented tears.

                        Mourning earrings made from metal and human hair

Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

 The dress code was very strict, especially for women. Black had to be worn for the first two or three years of deep mourning, complete with black veils, gloves and shoes. This was succeeded by ordinary mourning, with was black dresses without veils, moving onto light mourning of lilac, purple or grey. Queen Victoria went into deep mourning for five years after Albert died, and never really emerged from her grief, wearing sombre colours for the rest of her life.

There is a thriving market in antique mourning jewellery.

Georgian mourning brooch with garnets and pearls containing hair from the deceased. One similar to this has been offered on sale for £995.00. The idea of wearing this fills me with horror.

Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Modern mourning jewellery is created with ‘cremains,’ the ashes of a cremated body. Although the whole idea makes me feel a little queasy, I understand that it might bring a measure of comfort to the bereaved.  

As a complete contrast, but equally unsettling, to me anyway, is the advent of breast milk jewellery. This trend started around 2007 and became very popular about six years later. There is more information here and here, maybe too much information.

Stir-up Sunday

 

Traditional pursuits in November - part 4

Stir-up Sunday

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Stir-up Sunday takes place on the last Sunday of the Christian church year, preceding the first Sunday of Advent. It is an informal name for the last Sunday before Advent when the collect for the day, from the Book of Common Prayer, begins with ‘Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people . . . ‘  In Victorian times it became a reminder to make the Christmas puddings. It remains the traditional day for families to make their Christmas puddings.

Although Prince Albert, the consort of Queen Victoria, is credited with introducing the Christmas pudding to Britain, it was actually George I who brought the pudding to public attention in 1714. In similar vein, it was widely believed that Prince Albert introduced the custom of bringing a tree into the house at Christmas. It was actually Queen Charlotte, wife of George III, who was responsible for this in 1800. Albert simply popularised it.

Convention dictates that the pudding should contain thirteen ingredients, representing Jesus and the disciples. Each member of the family takes a turn to stir the pudding, from east to west, that is, clockwise, in honour of the three wise men who travelled from the east to see the baby Jesus.  

It is stirred with a wooden spoon, which represents the manger, and each person makes a wish while stirring. The pudding mixture is quite stiff and before the advent of kitchen aids, would have required much effort to stir.

Once mixed, the pudding is steamed and stored, ready to be reheated on Christmas Day. Some families add a silver sixpence  - nowadays a 5p piece – to the mix, which is meant to bring good luck to the person who finds it, so long as they don‘t break a tooth on it.                                                             

This year Stir-up Sunday will be on November 26^th.