A Regency New Year--"Begin as you mean to go on"

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day in the Regency era in England was celebrated, it seems, very much like Christmas with:

Parties and celebrations~~

Stamford Mercury Friday 10 January 1812

 Morning Post Tuesday 9 January 1810

particularly among the Royals:

Morning Post 3 January 1814

The Public Ledger and Daily Advertiser London Friday 3 January 1812

 
Gifts~~

The Courier Friday 17 January 1806

Morning Chronicle Thursday 25 December 1806

and acts of charity~~

 Hampshire Chronicle Monday 7 January 1805

 Bell's Weekly Messenger Sunday 29 December 1811

Salisbury and Winchester Journal Monday 14 January 1811

The newspapers could not avoid reporting New Year's tragedy as well:

 Norfolk Chronicle Saturday 16 January 1813

But the news from Brighton was good:

 Sussex Advertiser Monday 3 January 1814

And the new year--whatever year--promised to roll on, for rich and poor, much as the past years had done...

I hope you have enjoyed these clippings from Regency newspapers, and I wish you all a very Happy New Year!

'Til next time,

Lesley-Anne