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Jessica Edouard

~ Aspiring Historical Romance Author

Jessica Edouard

Tag Archives: Romance

Baby, you’re so vain…

19 Friday Jan 2018

Posted by Jessica Edouard in Blabbering, Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Blogging, Fiction, History, Medieval Life, Myths, Novel, Research, Romance, Words, Writers

8715_248_115-krakow-poulaine

Is that your shoe or are you just happy to see me? 

An obsession for foot attire is nothing new in the world of fashion. Here we see two men of medieval nobility somewhere between the 14th & 15th century wearing what is known as the Crackowe, in the 13th century the phallic based shoe line was called a Poulaine and understood to extend to a length of two feet. 

A medieval pissing contest if you will, ‘my poulaine is bigger than yours.’ 

Gentlemen, gentlemen, please…

If we think catcalls are crude can you imagine having one of these wiggled in your direction when walking from point A to B? oh’ no you didn’t.

In latter years, even parliament got involved limiting the vulgar display to sizes worn based on social status. If your yearly income did not meet the said requirement, you were prohibited from wearing the footwear at all.

The term “Satan’s Claw” is not only a movie title in the seventies but a reference to the unendearing shoe to the Christian church and considered God’s revenge in the form of the Black Death since no other explanations were found.

The lovely slipper is also the major contributor to the term, “playing footsies.” 

(I may have just regurgitated my lunch.)

It seems media, as much as I’d like, can’t be entirely blamed for the insecurities of humankind. Lacking self-esteem is seen historically in men and women looking to boost their attractive qualities and sexual prowess in a multitude of expressions. Need I mention cod-pieces or how women were known to bleed themselves in order to gain the perfect shades of white.

Power of suggestion, popularity, social status…this ugly wheel of self-deprecation keeps progressing and churning no matter our evolution.

I pray one day we truly understand the deeper meaning of life.

“You have always been enough.”

Write On! ❤ Jess

PS: If you’d like to join me as I complete my Nano project in the month of February, I created a group called Feb’YoWriMo. No pressure writing, just encouragement.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/287548135103603

 

 

 

Halt, who goes there?

23 Tuesday May 2017

Posted by Jessica Edouard in Blabbering, Novel, Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

#AmWriting, Authors, Blogging, Characters, Genre, Meme, Novel, POV, Readers, Romance, Words, Writers

hark

Ready for a great debate?  Continue reading →

#GoodTimes

04 Wednesday Jan 2017

Posted by Jessica Edouard in Blabbering, Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

#AmWriting, Characters, Historical Romance, Medieval Humor, Meme, Paranormal Romance, Picts, Romance, True Humor, Writers

photo_by_nightingalestorm13-d7g2vmg

Ellyn Catherine Archer

I hoped for something a little more…lol!

Let’s Talk About #Woad Baby!

20 Wednesday Jul 2016

Posted by Jessica Edouard in Blabbering, Novel, Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Am Writing, Authors, Characters, Debut Author, Dragons, Fantasy, Historical Romance, Novel, Paranormal Romance, Pict History, Picts, Romance, Scotland, Scotland Romance, Writers

pict-main.jpg

Thank you, BraveHeart, for showing us woad’s unsubstantiated use in native Scotland. Hopefully, that paint you applied was not mixed with semen as a wild, I read it on the internet so it must be true, story goes…

But did you know-

Woad is a plant that flowers yellow and has beautiful full green leaves. When made into a tea you can extract its pigment which is blue. Of course, you knew that, but what about the fact that the plant was commonly used as an antiseptic and now is being used to help fight breast cancer?

Or that when used as a dye the plant is famous for fabrics, preventing colored cloth, not only its famed blue, from fading in direct light or by heavy washing. The seeds, de-winged, produce an oil that can be used for making soap. Hey, I thought everyone was dirty back in the early centuries. Not so.

Also, woad is perfect for using in magic rituals when you find yourself shape-shifting and or determining past lives. Chinese medicine hails its valor for curing throat ailments and the common cold. Although beyond goats, the plant is not edible for livestock.

In the 1500’s Queen Elizabeth issued a proclamation, “Against the sowing of Woade.” Too much land was being used to cultivate the crops and not being used for harvesting grains. The plant does grow wild but during the time of food shortages and famine, no one person could sow more than 20 pounds yearly. A single parish could have no more than 40-60 acres.

Continue reading →

In the land of “I do.”

01 Friday Jul 2016

Posted by Jessica Edouard in Blabbering, Novel, Uncategorized

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

#AmWriting, Authors, Characters, Concept, Cool Wedding Facts, Debut, Debut Author, Historical Romance, Novel, Old World Weddings, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Picts, Romance, Writers

 

Did you know these crazy facts about ancient world weddings?

 
Melded together over the years, different cultures and their customs have created a hodgepodge ceremony we now engage in our declaration of ultimate love. So let us peek at a few.

 
Wedding vows did not take place within the church or religious houses. The commitment occurred at the bride’s home, her intended’s household or outside the chapel door, blessed inside after the initial ceremony. Celts preferred to remain outside among nature and barefooted, connected to mother earth.

 
Hand-fasting was a trial arrangement. No need for pre-marital jitters here, after a year and a day the agreement between the two to either split or to make their union official would be finalized. To get married no formal contracts or ceremonies were necessary. Simply giving your consent freely and stating your commitment was enough to see you dually hitched.

 
Public contracts were necessary later in history due to legal claims and other religious changes.

 
Blue, brides in Western civilizations more often wore a blue gown on their wedding day as was associated with faithfulness, purity and later the Virgin Mary. White was not a favored color until after the 19th century. Did you know the color white was worn by French Queens while in mourning? No, I did not.

 
Bridesmaids were a needed distraction. These women were required to dress in a similar fashion to confuse malicious spirits intent on harming the bride, and that is not all. The bride’s bouquet contained herbs warding off these same intended party crashers whose goal was to curse the blessed virgin. Well that, and if covered by a veil these evil machinations would be unable to see their intended target. That or scared off by wedding bells. Duh!

 
Groomsmen were the protectors of the lucky woman from thieves out to steal her dowry, her person or even her life, ensuring the maidens timely arrival to the ceremony in all aspects, including the potential runaway. The best man often had the role of ultimate guardian and remained armed and ready to protect the groom from perhaps angry family members who may try to intercede the wondrous event, retrieving an abducted sister, daughter or cousin. Hence the groom and groom’s man kept their right hands free in case needed for defense. Forgiveness was a possibility with the cooling off period of a honeymoon or the groom coughing up some mullah and doling out a bride’s price.

 
I will not spoil our romantic versions of love within a marriage or the freedom of marrying by choice, most often quite rare. 

 

That is where your historical romance authors come in to tell a fine tale! 

 

Write On! ❤ Jessica

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