Note: We published this last year, and thought it was worth another outing! Galentine’s Day is February 13, yes, the day before Valentine’s Day....
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Holidays
REPOST: Schmutzli – Sinister Sidekick to St. Nicholas
One of the most popular blog posts we've ever had on the Paper Lantern Writers website is a history of the Swiss holiday figure, Schmutzli. Since...
6 Things About Dear Santa and Holiday Traditions
One Last year at my Book Club’s December gathering, my friend, Marsha, shared her experience as the emergency Santa at the Emporium studio where she...
Thirty-Eight Illuminating PLW Historical Fiction Link Lists
In honor of PLW's four years of blogging, I've created a list of all thirty-eight of our Link Lists. There be gems below, fellow historical fiction...
A Ball Drops in Times Square, circa 1918
A Ball Drops in Time Square For many nations around the world, New Year’s Eve on December 31 is a magical night of festivity, hope, tradition, and...
Celebrating New Year in the Soviet Union
One of the signs of getting older is when the decade of your childhood is designated as “historic.” Since I grew up in a country that no longer...
Q&A – Books that Make Great Gifts
It's that time of year again! The winter holidays are rapidly approaching and the hunt for the "perfect" gift for those on our list can't be put off...
The Epiphany – Holy Day or Revelation?
It wasn’t until I was well into writing my first novel, Token of Betrayal, that I became aware of the holy day of the Epiphany. I had always thought...
Sing Some Songs and Jump Three Candles! Twelfth Night in the Dutch Republic
Most Americans probably associate Twelfth Night celebrations with books and movies about England, not to mention Shakespeare’s play of that name. In...
What Makes a Good Ghost Story?
Encore Q & A - This was such a fun post from October, 2020, we just had to share it again! To wrap up our month of “Things That Go Bump in the...
The Frost Fair: When Ice Means A Party
If you’ve never heard of a Frost Fair, have no fear, they were rare. In fact, only nine ever occurred. A Frost Fair happened when the Thames, the...
Tudor Christmas: the Origins of Our Festive Traditions?
Introduction In my story for the Paper Lantern Writers anthology, Beneath a Midwinter Moon, I tell how the English de Beauvais family celebrate...
May Day and How to Fight For Your Right to Party
From the sketchbook of Villard de Honnecourt, a 13th century master mason. These show sketches of The Green Man motif that can be found in...
The Convoluted History of Valentine’s Day
Think Valentine’s Day is just a Hallmark holiday? Think again. Its roots go back seventeen centuries. There is disagreement on what’s fact and...
Galentine’s Day
Galentine’s Day is February 13, yes, the day before Valentine’s Day. This is a special day set aside to honor female friendships. This holiday...
The Best Turkey Stuffing Ever
While many foods can be stuffed, and a variety of ingredients used, at the holidays we stuff turkey with bread and spices. Beyond that, the...
Holiday Food Traditions… (with recipes)
Living alone with minimal family, one tends to create one’s own traditions, but in my case, a few food traditions have emerged along the way that...
Holiday Beverages Then and Now
Holiday Beverages To eat and drink is life itself. Breaking bread together is a timeless tradition globally, even among horses! Today I’m writing...
Q&A: What Strategies Do You Use to Keep Focused on Writing During the Holiday Season?
Since I have taken on the challenge of becoming a serious writer, I have discovered how easy it is to allow outside distractions to pull me away...
Q & A – How Would Your Characters Celebrate Easter?
When I recall Easter celebrations of my youth, I think of church and the celebration of the resurrection of Christ. It was a day when girls wore...
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