Matchmaking Through the Ages

 The practice of one individual being an expert in determining which couples should be together doesn’t have a known beginning date. But, human nature being what it is, I can imagine that as long as people commanded language, one person rose to the forefront in this arena of advising.

Often, criteria for determining a suitable match would be more important to the parents. Wealth, either in property owned or income potential, and/or social status would be qualifiers for a desirable partner. Matchmaker would use different methods to practice their expertise. The shadchan of the Ashkenazi Jewish community had to have relationships with those who were considered the prominent families within the community. Such a person became a trusted advisor, and after the first few successful matches, the matchmaker’s reputation was set.

Astrology was used within the Hindu culture, with the matchmaker claiming the suitability of the pairing (usually one that both parents already approved of) was written in the stars. Arguing against such a statement must have been hard for the young individuals involved who might have been unsure of the match. Tarot cards were also used.

Sereina Elwert Pinterest Board

In US frontier times, community dances might have been the stage where a woman who was good at reading body language (before the term was invented) watched young people interacting and could pinpoint young people who showed interest and relay that information to the parents. If this person used her skill only to warn against certain matches, then she might have been labeled a gossip.

The need to seek advice on who is a good match continues into modern times with dating apps.

My next release titled A Quilter for Quint contains a matchmaker who is quite a revelation. 

BLURB

Daydreamer Melisande Avenelle wishes all the social engagements her mother insists on would just disappear so she can focus on her quilt making. Where some artists see images in dabs of paints, Melisande imagines landscapes made from the fabric of the dresses worn at a tea party. After her refusal of the third man put forth by famed matchmaker Madame Treszka, she’s informed she must choose from three groom candidates arranged by her mother. Thinking Texas can’t be as bad as Newport, Rhode Island, for social engagements, Melisande pens her response and boards a westbound train.

Widower Quinton Aznar has a six-year-old son who wants a mama. Since his late wife’s passing four years ago, Quint divides his days between breaking horses for the Army and parenting his son with no time for courting. His mother manages the household and tends to her youngest grandchild, although she would love to move to Galveston to live with her sister. The telegram announcing the arrival of his mail-order bride—a woman his mother corresponded with—on the next stagecoach is a shock. Quint drives the wagon into town, intending to pay for her return ticket. The beautiful, but disheveled, woman who disembarks the stage is too dazed to trust traveling on her own. What has his mother arranged for his life?

Releasing April 2

Happy Easter, 1800s Style by Jo-Ann Roberts

Easter Sunday has been observed since the 2nd century as a way to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Over the years, many Easter traditions have taken shape, from chocolate bunnies to Easter egg hunts.

 As it turns out, there is so much that makes this holiday what it is today — religious or otherwise.

Easter Eggs

Throughout most of Christian Europe, the pagan symbols of the spring hare, the egg, and chick were quickly adopted as symbols for the Christian Easter. The colorful ritual of decorating eggs also has an intriguing origin. As part of the Lenten season leading up to Easter, early Christians abstained from eating food from animals as the Lenten fast. Yet chickens continued to lay eggs, so eggs were hard-boiled, then decorated to celebrate the Easter season but were not eaten until Easter. Easter egg decorating became a high art in Europe, especially in eastern Europe and Russia, that immigrants brought to America.

Easter Bunny

Like many Easter traditions, the Easter Bunny evolved out of ancient fertility and spring celebrations. Rabbits breed like, well, rabbits, and give birth in the spring. So, in places where the fields became overrun with baby bunnies, it was natural to incorporate the rabbit as a symbol for spring and, eventually, Easter.

 

Another legend tells of  a poor German woman who loved children. She would hide brightly colored eggs in her garden as Easter treats. One year, while the children searched for them, they noticed a hare hopping past and believed that the animal had left the eggs.

                                  

Easter Cards

Easter cards became very popular in the 1800s with colorful depictions of the egg-laying and egg-painting Easter bunny, as well as the Easter chick. And some cards combined the Easter bunny and chick in whimsical narratives to deliver colored Easter eggs to children.

 

 

Easter Egg Rolling

Given the egg’s symbolic significance representing the rock before the tomb, egg rolling became a popular children’s Easter activity in America in the 1800s, recreating the rolling away of the rock in front of Christ's tomb. According to the White House Historical Association, some historians credit First Lady Dolley Madison (yes, her name is spelled correctly!)with first proposing the idea of a public egg roll around 1810. There are also accounts of informal egg rolls staged by the children of Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson on the White House lawn. The 1878 event hosted by President Rutherford B. Hayes on the South Lawn, however, stands as the first official White House Easter Egg Roll. 

                                  

                                         

Hot Cross Buns

According to popular lore, these Easter-famous breads trace back to ancient Egypt, Rome, and Greece, where they served as symbols of honor toward their goddesses. Later, these sweet breads became popular at Easter, especially in England where bakers were forbidden to sell spice breads except on special holidays, like the Friday before Easter.

Chocolate Bunnies 

In 19th century Germany, chefs concocted pastry and sugar bunnies (some had hard boiled eggs inside of them!) were in production. And bunny-shaped tins, used for chocolate molds, have been traced back to Munich in the 1850s.

Around the same time, Robert Strohecker, a business man in Pennsylvania, placed a 5-foot-tall chocolate rabbit in his drugstore's window. The rest, as they say, is history.

Easter Outfits

How many of us remember the dressing up to the nines on Easter Sunday? Girls in frilly spring dresses with little gloves and purses? Boys in pastel suit jackets and bow ties? Purchasing a new holiday outfit may seem like a 20th century commercial invention, but even early Christians followed the practice of wearing new clothes for Easter.  It was the one time of year when, if you had new clothes, you wore them. You dressed in your finest to go to church as a manner of honoring the resurrected Savior. In America, stores soon latched onto the idea that creating Easter outfits and sales during the season would help them sell fancy bonnets or suits.

Fueled by the popularity of Irving Berlin’s song, Easter Parade, as well as the resulting movie featuring Judy Garland and Fred Astaire,  city-goers went to New York's Fifth Avenue to show off their new attire, eventually leading to the creation of the famous Easter Parade.  

    

Easter Egg Trees

It's only in recent years that miniature Easter trees have become popular in North America. This Easter tradition from Germany is a favorite. Beautifully decorated Easter eggs are hung on branches in a vase in the home or on trees outside, adding a splash of color to spring's palette.

 

Until this research, I never knew I was ahead of the curve on this tradition. From the time my children were babies, I’ve decorated a tree outside our home. Using plastic eggs (to endure the elements, e.g. ice/snow/wind/rain…you get the picture!), I would thread a ribbon through a hole in one end of the egg then loop them over the bare branches. Here is this year’s masterpiece!!!

                                                         

As with Christmas’s Santa Claus—who came first from the pagan Father Winter, then morphed into the Christian St. Nicholas—the Easter bunny and Easter chick had pagan origins that then became symbolic to the Christian faith. But the Christian symbolism associated with all three and the historical context behind them is, sadly, little known by most in modern America. It is worth remembering that all three are associated with birth and rebirth, sharing gifts and bringing joy, and peace and good will.

Happy Easter!

 

Author website: https://www.jo-annrobertsauthor.com/

Email:   jrobertsauthor@yahoo.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jrobertsauthor/ 

            FB Page: Come Home to Love | Facebook

 

LOVING YOUR NEIGHBOR by Marisa Masterson

 It started with a name and then a title. Sookie's Silence. I wanted to use that unusual nickname for my next heroine. I needed a word to go with it, so I chose silence. But why was this heroine silent?

Had she been assaulted? Threatened? I considered all of these and dismissed them. It came to me that Sookie was silent because she could not talk. How would I write a novel where the key female had no dialogue?

Sign language! I had to create a language for her.

I started by researching whether sign language was even invented at that time. Through this research, I discovered the sweet story of a minister who lived out Christ's command to love our neighbors.

It was in Connecticut and the year was 1814. Minister Dr. Thomas Gallaudet had a neighbor whose daughter was deaf. Despite her handicap, Alice appeared to be extremely intelligent. Gallaudet tried to teach the girl to read and write. Quickly, he realized he didn't have the skills to educate her. 

Instead of giving up, the minister raised money to go to Europe. There, he studied at the National Institute for Deaf-Mutes. When Gallaudet needed to return to America, he convinced one of the leading teachers from that school to move to Connecticut. The man agreed, knowing he would help set up a school for the deaf in the United States.

The two men established the American School for the Deaf. This school was free for its students. Over the next forty-five years, many more schools came into existence because of Gallaudet's efforts.

American School for the Deaf

And why? Because one many loved his neighbor enough to make a difference in her life and others in desperate need. I've never read Gallaudet's personal writings, but I am guessing he felt the Lord's calling to do this. And his efforts were certainly blessed.

Back to Sookie. My heroine doesn't have the benefit of learning in a school for the deaf. And, she isn't deaf after all, only mute. She and her sister create a language between themselves and even record it in a dictionary of sorts. This language appears throughout my book as well as a page from their dictionary.

Intrigued? Sookie's Silence releases April 13. Pre-order today if you want to be sure it's on your reading device right away.

The Woman Behind the Man

Post by Doris McCraw

writing as Angela Raines

Photo property of the author

We all grew up hearing the stories of the great men, and this post is not denying their contributions. Instead, this is looking at the women in their lives and what impact that relationship may have had. 

For this post, I will be focusing on Verner Z. Reed and his wife Mary Dean Johnson Reed. The two made quite a difference during their lives.

Reed, born in Ohio and raised in Iowa, worked on the family farm to help the family, which consisted of thirteen children. Originally, Reed began as a journalist in Chicago at the Times. He later moved to Colorado when his half-brother came seeking a cure for his TB. 

It was in Colorado that Reed flourished. He saw a need for housing in the new town of Colorado Springs and created a business, along with his father and brother to build houses. He also wrote promotional brochures for the city.

In the 1890s as Cripple Creek was booming he took on promotional duties there. He also worked with Winfield Scott Stratton and it was he who helped broker the sale of Stratton's 'Independence' mine to an English syndicate. As a result of his efforts, Reed garnered one million dollars for his work. 

Mary Reed 
from Find a Grave

Reed married in 1893 and after his death in 1919 he left an estate worth around twenty million. Mary used the wealth on various philanthropic endeavors. Even with all she'd done, it was said she added another six million to the estate by the time of her death in 1945.

Much like Julie Penrose and other 'widows' of the wealthy, Mary did much to use the wealth for the benefit of many. In honor of National Women's History Month, Mary and other women like her are worth the effort to learn their story. There is more to be found and written about Verner and Mary Reed, but that is for the future. 

In my novella, "Angel of Salvation Valley" the love of a good woman makes all the difference.

At the top of the ridge, Drew was even more impressed with what he saw. Nestled against the southwest corner was a small cabin, the door facing the entrance to the valley, with glass windows on either side. A small ladder on the outside led to a small hatch entrance above the door. Wooden shingles covered the roof, but Drew saw there were a couple that needed replacing. Still, it was a well–made and cared for home.

"Home I haven't had a home since...," Drew paused, "no point in going down that path," he said, averting the pain he knew would come. As his words died, he heard a sound from the northern part of the valley. The echo of his own words, even though spoken softly to himself, were coming back to him.

Fearing being overheard, Drew started to move from the top of the ridge when he noticed movement in the western area of the valley. Intrigued, he stopped. Coming toward him was a lithe, dark–haired woman. Her movements were easy, as were those of the huge brown and black dog cavorting beside her. Sweet laughter filled the air as she bent to speak to the dog.

"Looks quite the storm over toward the north, Rafe," her voice carrying clearly across the valley to where he was hiding. "Good thing we have a snug place to stay. Still, it would be easier if I didn't have to do everything myself."

The dog looked at her, shook his head, and sneezed.

"What's that you say, you help me?" The words drifted up, followed by another peal of golden laughter.

Drew found his heart responding, it'd been so long since anyone around him had expressed such joy. It was bittersweet, for it reminded him of his mother. Shaking his head to clear those thoughts away, he returned his gaze to the woman and dog. He had no business finding anything nice about this woman, if in fact she was the one. Logic told him she was; he instinctively wanted it otherwise. He was here to kill her and gain his freedom, nothing was more important to him than that. Still, a piece of his heart was softening.

Amazon

Doris Gardner-McCraw -

Author, Speaker, Historian-specializing in
Colorado and Women's History

Angela Raines - author: Telling Stories Where Love & History Meet

Books: Angela Raines Books

LEGENDS AND SYMBOLS OF ST. PATRICK'S DAY - By Annee Jones

 

Legends and Symbols of St. Patrick’s Day

By Annee Jones 

Where did February go??  It seems to have flown in and out quicker than dandelion fluff!  St. Patrick’s Day is coming up March 17^th.  Does anyone do anything fun to celebrate?  When my daughter was a little girl, after she fell asleep the night before the holiday, I would sprinkle green glitter or confetti through the house to look like the trail of a leprechaun!  I’d place a little pile of chocolate coins at the end.  For an extra fun surprise, I’d add a bit of green food coloring to the toilet water, hee hee!  Of course, we’d then have to cook green eggs, green pancakes, and eat green food together.  It was such a fun way to spend time together. 

St. Patrick was actually a 5th-century missionary to Ireland and later served as bishop there. He is credited with bringing Christianity to parts of Ireland and is one of the country’s patron saints.  Saint Patrick's Breastplate is an Old Irish prayer of protection that is attributed to Saint Patrick.  It is one of my favorite hymns (I’ve included the words below).

The shamrock is known as one of the symbols of this holiday.  It is said that St. Patrick used the three-leaved clover to demonstrate the three-part nature of God. 

Have you ever wondered why you’re supposed to wear green on St. Patrick Day, and why you might get pinched if you don’t?  This tradition began in the early 1700’s.  It was thought that wearing green would make one invisible to leprechauns, fairy creatures who like to pinch anyone they see not wearing the color, which is one of the colors of the flag of Ireland. 

According to Irish folklore, a leprechaun looks like a little old man and dresses like a shoemaker with a cocked hat and leather apron.  They are cranky tricksters who mend the shoes of Irish fairies.  The fairies pay the leprechauns for their work with golden coins, which the leprechauns collect in large pots–the famous “pots of gold.”  Supposedly these pots of gold are hidden at the ends of the rainbow.

Perhaps you might enjoy coloring some rainbows and shamrocks (there are many free printables on the internet) and hanging them in your windows this year? 

Until next time, wishing you the “Luck O’ the Irish!” 

I bind unto myself today

The strong Name of the Trinity,

By invocation of the same,

The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this day to me for ever.

By power of faith, Christ's incarnation;

His baptism in the Jordan river;

His death on Cross for my salvation;

His bursting from the spicèd tomb;

His riding up the heavenly way;

His coming at the day of doom;*

I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power

Of the great love of the cherubim;

The sweet 'well done' in judgment hour,

The service of the seraphim,

Confessors' faith, Apostles' word,

The Patriarchs' prayers, the Prophets' scrolls,

All good deeds done unto the Lord,

And purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today

The virtues of the starlit heaven,

The glorious sun's life-giving ray,

The whiteness of the moon at even,

The flashing of the lightning free,

The whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,

The stable earth, the deep salt sea,

Around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today

The power of God to hold and lead,

His eye to watch, His might to stay,

His ear to hearken to my need.

The wisdom of my God to teach,

His hand to guide, His shield to ward,

The word of God to give me speech,

His heavenly host to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin,

The vice that gives temptation force,

The natural lusts that war within,

The hostile men that mar my course;

Or few or many, far or nigh,

In every place and in all hours,

Against their fierce hostility,

I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan's spells and wiles,

Against false words of heresy,

Against the knowledge that defiles,

Against the heart's idolatry,

Against the wizard's evil craft,

Against the death wound and the burning,

The choking wave and the poisoned shaft,

Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,

Christ behind me, Christ before me,

Christ beside me, Christ to win me,

Christ to comfort and restore me.

Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,

Christ in hearts of all that love me,

Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,

The strong Name of the Trinity;

By invocation of the same.

The Three in One, and One in Three,

Of Whom all nature hath creation,

Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:

Praise to the Lord of my salvation,

Salvation is of Christ the Lord.

Sources:

https://sciencemadefun.net/blog/from-shamrocks-shenanigans-traditions-of-st-patricks-day/

https://www.prayerfoundation.org/st_patricks_breastplate_prayer.htm

 

 About Me:

Annee Jones is an inspirational romance novelist who enjoys sharing her heart and imagination with others.  She is passionate about writing stories that offer hope and encouragement and likes to think of her books as “romance filled with faith and a sprinkle of fairy dust!”

Annee is also a professional book reviewer for Publishers Weekly in the genre of faith-based fiction (fun tidbit: she writes many of the editorial reviews you see on Amazon).

Professionally, Annee works as a disability counselor where she helps her clients navigate through complex medical and legal systems while rediscovering their wholeness in Spirit.

Connect with Annee here:

www.anneejones.com

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAnneeJones

https://www.facebook.com/groups/anneescozycorner

Available For Pre-Order Now:

 

Please Welcome Jo-Ann Roberts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sweet Americana Sweethearts is pleased to announce that 

author Jo-Ann Roberts has joined the blog. 

About Jo-Ann Roberts

Born and raised in western Massachusetts, Jo-Ann Roberts was fascinated by America's Old West and always felt she was destined to travel on a wagon train following the Oregon Trail.

With her love of history and reading, she began reading historical romance during high school and college. A firm believer in HEA with a healthy dose of realism, Jo-Ann strives to give her readers a sweet historical romance while imparting carefully researched historical facts, personalities, and experiences relative to the time period. Her romances take her readers back to a simpler time to escape the stress of modern life by living in a small town where families and friends help one another find love and happiness.

She would love for you to sign up to receive her newsletter. Please CLICK HERE.

To learn more about Jo-Ann and her current books, please visit to her page by CLICKING HERE.

Jo-Ann will post on the fourth Thursday of the month beginning in April. 

Please welcome her.