At midnight on December 31st, throughout the English-speaking world, the song “Auld Lang Syne” is sung practically everywhere. This song — actually a poem by Robert Burns — is indelibly linked to New Year’s celebrations, but what does it mean? You’ve all seen Billy Crystal in Harry met Sally: “Does that mean that we should …
Category Archives: Ideas
And Now for Something Completely Different.
Finnish Wife Carrying Competitions Rosov Ronkainen, a notorious Finnish man from the 1800s, is known for stealing both women and food from nearby villages. He required his accomplices to go through an obstacle course while carrying something heavy on their backs to be sure they could handle the stolen bounties. Now, Finland has both a …
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The Other East India Companies
When we talk about 18th Century trade monopolies, the big three (British East India Company, Hudson Bay Company, and the Dutch East India Company). The era of Spanish hegemony in trade was well in the decline by 1700 but what about the other imperial powers. Let’s not forget that France, Austria, Demark, Sweden, and Portugal …
Lords a Leaping…
Social Stratification in English Society Under English Common Law, you are entitled (in some situations) to a “Jury of your Peers.” As Americans, we frequently misinterpret “peers” to mean people like us. This is because with the adoption of the US Constitution in 1787, we officially renounced all references to “peerage” and titles of nobility …
The Philadelphia Tea Party
We all know that on December 16, 1773 protestors boarded the Dartmouth, the Eleanor and the Beaver, ships of the East India Company, and threw their cargo of tea into the Boston Harbor but this story neither begins nor ends in Boston. The idea for the acts of defiance against the British Empire was birthed in Philadelphia at …
Chanukah in Colonial America
What religious story most resonates with the spirit of the American Revolution? Yes, there are many stories in many religions that people overcoming atrocities and oppression. But consider for just a moment the story of Judah Maccabee. In the late 6th century BCE, the Persian emperor Cyrus the Great let the Jews go home after …
The 2026 Calendar of Events
While I am still accepting bookings, here are the events currently on the docket fo the Regimental Brewmeister in 2026: 2026 Calendar of Events for Regimental Brewmeister[1] January 4Battle of PrincetonPrinceton BattlefieldJanuary 24History MattersINHPJanuary 28Talk on Importance of Taverns in Colonial AmericaBlue Ball TavernFebruary 28Tavern NightRittenhouse TownMarch 21Tavern NightHermitage MuseumApril 9Talk on Women Spies of …
Historical Tidbits — Washington resigns as Commander in Chief
When reenacting or acting as a historical interpreter, its good to have a few historical dates and stories to share. This series will publish a few. December 23, 1783 Washington resigns as Commander in Chief “Having now finished the work assigned to me, I retire from the great theatre of action; and bidding an affectionate …
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Britain’s Failed Attempt at Peace Talks
Stunned by Britain’s defeat at Saratoga and fearing that its former colonies would enter into an alliance with France, Lord North reversed direction in early 1778 and proposed to Parliament that Britain send a peace commission with powers to negotiate with the Continental Congress. Parliament approved the “Royal Instructions to the Peace Commission” on 16 …
Historical Tidbits — Encampment at Valley Forge
When reenacting or acting as a historical interpreter, its good to have a few historical dates and stories to share. This series will publish a few. December 19, 1777 Encampment at Valley Forge With the campaign season ending and cold weather rapidly approaching, Washington moved his army into winter quarters. For his winter encampment, Washington …
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Michael Carver -- Historical Interpreter/Reenactor 