Infamous April Fool’s Jokes of the Victorian Age

April Fool’s has been notorious for pranks since its beginning centuries ago during the Spring Equinox of 1582. During the Victorian Era there was a widespread enthusiasm for the holiday, where it even lasted for multiple days in areas such as Scotland. Many newspapers got in on the fun, publishing comics with new prank ideas....

The Roots of Superstition

Admit it. There is that token… that little something that eases your mind and comforts your fears.  Adversely, there are also those things that can cause an unexplainable flood of anxiety and tickle that place deep in your imagination with a sense of dread. Horseshoes, 4-leaf clovers, and a rabbit's foot. Black cats, broken mirrors, and...

Your Victorian Love Match As Told By The Stars

Looking for a love as deep as Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s, and renowned for centuries? Or maybe one reminiscent of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet? Leave your chances to the stars to discover your Victorian zodiac love match. Aries - Emmeline Pankhurst As an Aries, you need your other half to listen and dote...

The Legends and Lore of 8 Swoon-worthy Love Bridges

Lay Thy Sweet Hand In Mine And Trust In Me, Edmund Blair Leighton Understanding is the bridge between two minds; love is the bridge between two souls.Matshona Dhliwayo There is something about a bridge. Since ancient times, these structures have evoked a deep sense of romance in the hearts of the lovestruck. The bridge is...

The Most Romantic Love Letters Ever Written

Why are love letters so powerful? Why does the written word feel more sincere and passionate than when spoken?  Perhaps it is that intimacy that entwines souls when words, unfurled from the page,  create the most cerebral and intimate connection two people can share. Unlike conversation, a letter can be held and smoldering words can...

Curiously Crafting with Hair

No doubt, the Victorians engaged in curious practices and pastimes and the commemorative craft of collecting hair for heartfelt creations was no exception to that eccentricity . The fascination with hair was partly due to its longevity.  Flesh and bones would turn to dust but hair kept its color for centuries and remained a lasting...

Winter Solstice Around The World

We have science to answer our questions about seasonal changes in nature, but there was a time when those answers didn’t exist. A time when fears ran rampant and people huddled together sharing stories and trying to explain why the darkness loomed and the nights grew longer. In their attempts to make sense of their...