Impress Society With This Quiz on Regency-Era England

“High tea” was the norm for middle and lower Regency classes. Served between 5 and 6 p.m., it was eaten at a dining table with bread, meats, cakes, and other filling dishes. “Low tea,” or “afternoon tea,” was reserved for the upper class. It was served around 4 p.m., and attendees would have a light snack at a low table and then "promenade" — spend time in a social space like a garden or park — before their late dinner.

Parlor games were a popular pastime with the upper class. After dinner, everyone gathered to engage in a variety of physical and mental challenges. In a popular Christmas game called Snapdragon, raisins were put in a bowl of heated brandy and set on fire. The goal was to remove them and eat them without getting burnt.

Regency dinner parties were very formal in England, with guests and hosts following strict rules. “Turning the table” was a common practice to keep the conversation flowing equally throughout the night. During the first course, it was common for the conversation to move to the hostess’ left. Then, during the second course, it would switch to flow to the right.

In 19th-century England, the smallest denomination of currency was the farthing, which equaled half of one ha’penny( a quick way to say “half of a penny”). Thrupence, sixpence, shillings, bob (singular and plural), florins, half crowns, and crowns tallied up in various amounts to a pound. For example, one pound equaled two 10 bob notes. If the various denominations weren’t enough, "monkeys," "ponies," and "oxfords" were among the nicknames for money.

Divisions of social classes were a big deal during the Regency era. The nobility were at the top, composed of the lords and ladies, with a presence in the House of Lords and at court. The gentry sat below the nobility. They were wealthy landowners who made a living off of rents paid to them, were involved in politics, and went to London during the season, but likely wouldn’t be welcomed to the royal court.

During the London season, members of the elite might be expected to change their clothes several times a day, depending on the social events they attended, and there were strict rules for every style. The most formal and elaborate style of fashion was court dress — worn specifically for a presentation to the queen. Ostrich feathers were an important accessory for court dress, usually in a fan or headdress.

A time for balls, dinner parties, and romantic courting, the “ season” in London was of paramount importance to upper-class, 19th-century English society. The tradition began in the 17th century, when Parliament gathered in London and brought along their families, who needed entertainment during their stay. Over time, debutante balls were introduced, where young people of marrying age were “presented” to society.

There were three main styles of attire in Regency society. The first was “undress,” the most informal category, which was worn during the morning, or until any social events for the day. “Half-dress” could be described as equivalent to today’s business casual, and “full-dress” was appropriate for formal occasions like balls, operas, and court events.

The Regency era in England was named for the period during George IV’s rule as Prince Regent after his father, George III, fell ill. While the Regency officially lasted from 1811 to 1820, the “feel” of the era extended for a few decades before and after the period, as seen in its literature, art, and fashion. George IV was a lover of art and architecture during his time as regent and later, king.

Jane Austen wrote some of the most famous novels set during the Regency era, including “Emma,” “Sense and Sensibility,” and “Pride and Prejudice.” Her stories focused on strong female leads, a new concept at the time, and gave readers a look into the life of the gentry class during the early 1800s.