At Versailles it was a custom for the ladies who had been presented to the royal family to pay court on New Years Day. According to the Comte de Mercy this is the day which Madame du Barry payed court to Antoinette, along side the duchesse d'Aiguillon and Maréchale de Mirepoix. On New Years Eve he spoke to the dauphine, alerting her to the fact that du Barry would be meeting with her the following day and asking that she act with grace towards the King's favorite.
There are other traditions to observe though! Some such as this date back as far as Roman times and perhaps even further: give a gift on New Years Day, for good luck. This does not need to be a fancy gift, some nuts, fruit or sweets would do!
A later tradition is one for New Year's morning; children would receive sweets to ensure they had a good (sweet) year.
Enjoy the parties tonight and have a lovely New Year!! Best wishes from the Gossip Guides!
Interesting post, thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!!
Ah, the champagne glass. Was its shape truly patterned after MA's breast?
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful New Year!
Happy New Year, and happy birthday too!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year + happy birthday!
ReplyDeleteHow did you ladies know it is my birthday! Thank you!!! I am very excited to party with style tonight! I also received the 3rd season of the Tudors as a gift, hurrah!
ReplyDeleteBest~Lauren
Happy birthday and happy new year Lauren - I hope you have a great night!
ReplyDeleteNew Year and a birthday. Well! I think that calls for some celebration. Have a Happy New Year and a fabulous birthday!!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you! Thank you for your wonderful blog!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year and Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteI always learn the most fabulous things on your blog.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year! Happy New Decade!
I wrote about the Marie Antoinette-Du Barry New Year incident in my review of Madame du Barry by Jean Plaidy:
ReplyDeletehttp://misadventuresofmoppet.wordpress.com/2009/12/09/royal-mistress-challenge-jean-plaidys-madame-du-barry-part-one/
If you scroll down there's a link to a great Youtube montage of versions of the confrontation, starting with Norma Shearer as Marie Antoinette.
Happy New Year everyone and happy birthday Lauren!
You received The Tudors Season 3? You have no idea how jealous I am! ;)
ReplyDeleteHave fun watching.
Happy Birthday and best wishes for the New Year! Your site is so fun and informative!
ReplyDeleteLauren, I just saw the posts about your birthday. Happy Birthday and best wishes for 2010! And yes, your site is an absolute treat. :) Keep up the great work!
ReplyDeleteI just want to thank all of you for taking the time to stop by the Guide! I really hope you had a great new years eve and let's all try and stick to the 2010 resolutions we made!
ReplyDeleteI am very excited about this year and hope to hear more from you!!
I know this is completely random.. but I was just reading through your blog, because well, I love it.. and I noticed the picture of the champagne looked familiar?
ReplyDeleteWell, I may be wrong. but it looked like a screenshot of my video "The Fame" I made to Marie Antoinette. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-d28_CsPPw)
Which made me very happy that you watched it! (:
So thankyou!
@Miss_Natalie
ReplyDeleteYES I love your video! It is one of the best MA movie ones on youtube :o)
I wish I could edit videos but I have no clue how! So thank you for making such a lovely tribute to the 2006 movie. Hope to see you around and do share your 2 cents & 18th cent. knowledge with us!
~Lauren