We raise our glasses, clink them together and say “Cheers.” But do you know why this custom began ?
Across the world, people generally accompany the clinking of glasses with a toast, be it “salud” (Spain), “proost” (the Netherlands), “skál” (Scandinavia) or many others we could add to the list. All these expressions refer to health or happiness or both.
The custom of toasting your companions is thought to originate from the Ancient Greeks and Romans who would toast the gods when feasting and celebrating at their banquets. Bound up with the celebratory toast would be the desire for a long, happy life and since then, humans have expressed the same idea with by raising their glasses upwards and wishing each other well, even if we do this almost without thinking about it today.
The word “cheer” is derived from the Latin “cara” which meant face, but by the Middle Ages, the meaning had evolved and it signified mood or expression. By the late 1500’s, the word began to be linked to positive sentiments, and from there it became a toast to health and happiness.
I’m off for a drink. Cheers, everyone and all the best for 2026.
Which elements of a 21st century Christmas celebration in the UK could change in the future?
The early start
I promise you that I have actually seen Christmas paraphernalia on sale inAugust … and I wouldn’t be surprised in the least if anyone has spotted Christmas merchandise even earlier than that. It was not always this way. The commercialisation of Christmas makes it come round more quickly every year.
Once we get to the end of October and Halloween is over, on 1st November the gloves are off. It’s an absolute free-for-all with Christmas publicity, offers, gifts, decorations, and foodstuffs in your shops. These things are on your TV and in your face till the day itself arrives.
A tongue-in -cheek question ….will the day arrive when we end one Christmas and immediately start preparing for the next?
Christmas cards
Christmas cards are greeting cards that people give or send to each other to send a message which can convey love, or a religious or humourous message. In the UK it is a way of celebrating the Yuletide season.
Christmas cards became popular during the reign of Queen Victoria, like several of our other festive customs. (see https://english-stuff.com/2020/12/19/a-victorian-christmas/ ) The Christmas card industry is now worth approximately a whopping £1.4 billion.
But with the advent of digital messages, WhatsApp, AI and who knows what else, will this tradition be affected? There is still a huge quantity of Christmas cards in the 2025 post but there has been a slight decline in volume in recent years due to different consumer habits such as online messaging, plus the rise in postage costs. The Guardian published this article today: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/dec/12/card-factory-issues-shock-profit-warning-during-peak-christmas-period
But it’s not all down to AI taking over. We are also probably more aware of the environmental costs — the carbon footprint and the paper involved.
Do you think Christmas cards will become extinct as time goes by?
The first set of Christmas stamps were produced in 1966. But should we stop sending Christmas cards, will we lose our Christmas stamps too? Answers on a postcard with a Christmas stamp please.
Christmas crackers
Christmas cracker image from Openverse
If you are reading this from outside the UK, you may have no idea what this is – although the Commonwealth countries also have this tradition. Basically it’s a paper wrapper that generally contains a trinket, a joke and a paper crown. You pull the cracker with another person at each end at the Christmas dinner table. It makes an explosive sound. The contents then tumble out, hence the name cracker.
Invented in the mid-nineteenth century, crackers slowly became popular items on the Christmas table. Millions of Christmas crackers will be pulled apart this year. Yet revenue from sales has dipped slightly in recent years. This is mainly due to the tough economic climate and the fact that crackers are considered an option rather than an essential.
But it’s not all bad news, there’s evidence of innovation in the Christmas cracker business – for example, luxury crackers or joke-focused editions.
What to say about Christmas dinner? A traditional Christmas dinner includes roast turkey or a roasted joint of meat. It comes with crispy roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables (which must include Brussels sprouts even if you don’t like them), stuffing, and gravy. People also like to add their favourite accompaniments – for example, Yorkshire puddings, pigs in blankets, cauliflower cheese. And why not?
Industry data shows a decline in turkey consumption at Christmas over recent years. Fewer households are choosing turkey. Instead, they are opting for lamb, gammon or chicken.
Many members of the younger generation go one step further and ignore the traditional fare altogether – they might choose curry or pizza or Mexican food or whatever preference they have. And let’s not forget vegans and vegetarians.
Roast turkey remains part of British Christmas tradition, but its role is evolving. Fewer households are sticking exclusively with turkey, and a growing number of people are choosing alternatives or multiple mains for their festive meal. This reflects broader shifts in eating habits, costs and cultural preferences in the UK.
What do you think about these changes? Are they positive or negative?
Have you seen any other changes that could happen in the future?
This September the Oxford English Dictionary updated its entries. This includes words, phrases or new definitions of words that already existed.I love updated words as a few of these definitely indicate the way we live in the 21st century. And that’s just it, language reflects life.
Here are a handful of my favourites, in no particular order. All definitions in italics are provided by the Oxford English Dictionary.
Al desko
An adverb that indicates an activity done at a desk, inspired by the Italian phrase ” al fresco.” Anyone who has ever worked in an office can probably relate to the idea of an al desko lunch. Deskfast –“Breakfast eaten at work, typically at a desk in an office.” also makes the list.
Have you deskfasted at any time in your life?
Deplatforming
Definition: ” “The action or practice of preventing a person, group, or organization from contributing to a public forum or debate.”
Speak to Donald Trump about this one.
Binge viewing
Thanks to streaming services for this one. We all know what this is (and maybe indulge in it ourselves) but you can rest assured that binge viewing and binge-viewers are now officially in the dictionary. Its predecessor, binge watching, that is ” the practice of watching several episodes of a TV show on one occasion, usually by means of DVDs or digital streaming” was admitted to the OED in 1998.
So a binge-watch might be a one-off activity but binge viewing is next level, defined as “The activity or practice of viewing television, film, video content on social media, etc., for intensive or extended periods, esp. by watching multiple episodes of a particular programme, series, etc., consecutively or in rapid succession.
Are you guilty of binge viewing or not?
Crackalack
This one is U.S. slang, nothing wrong with that. It’s a verb generally used in present participle as in ” What’s crackalacking?” in other words, what’s going on?
You’ve got to admit that it’s also quite enjoyable. Try it out and let me know how it goes.
Asparagussy
Okay, not a terribly useful adjective if you don’t talk about asparagus a lot, but this word just rolls off the tongue if you need to describe erm, an asparagus, for example.
Take a walk through almost any British town or village and you’ll notice that pubs rarely have ordinary names, like the surname of the owner, for example. Instead, you’ll find The Red Lion, The Crown, The Swan (& maybe Something), But why?
The tradition goes back hundreds of years. In medieval England, many people couldn’t read, so pubs were identified by pictures on their signs rather than words.
At first these images were of leaves or bushes to show that these establishments sold wine. Over the years, signs began to include other recognisable elements or hot topics in daily life. A painted lion, a crown or a swan was much easier to recognize than letters on a board. Over time, those images became the official “names” of the pubs.
Certain themes were especially popular, with the Red Lion at the top of the list. Why? It is believed that James I encouraged this name to strengthen support for the new Stuart dynasty after the demise of Elisabeth Tudor.
But other animals such as stags, swans, horses, cats, dogs and foxes also figure heavily on pub signage – see below for a sample.
Royal Symbols
The Crown – One of the most popular pub names, it’s a clear indication of loyalty to the monarchy. During times when public houses also served as community gathering spots, aligning with the royal family was both patriotic and practical.
The King’s Head – A name often tied to specific monarchs. After the English Civil War, many “King’s Head” pubs displayed signs with portraits of Charles II, showing royalist sympathies. (Others, more daring, kept King Charles I’s head – literally nodding to his execution….)
The Royal Oak – Refers to a famous incident in 1651 when the young Charles II hid in an oak tree to escape capture by Parliamentarian forces after the Battle of Worcester. Naming a pub “The Royal Oak” became a subtle political statement supporting the Stuart monarchy.
The King’s/Queen’s Arms – not literally referring to body parts, but their heraldic coats of arms. Again, the establisment woud be generally easy to recognise even if you could not read, and associated with the royalty or aristocrat of the owner’s choice.
Or simply call your pub after the name of your favourite monarch – The Queen Victoria, The Prince Albert, The George. This is when the pub’s name will often give you a clue to its age. See below for two examples.
A King and a Queen – photos from Openverse
Trades and Tools
Not all pubs were about kings and crowns as many reflected the everyday lives of their patrons:
The Plough – A popular name in rural areas, symbolising the farming life central to England for centuries.
The Blacksmith’s Arms – Celebrating one of the most vital trades in a community, where metalwork kept villages running.
The Carpenter’s Arms / The Mason’s Arms – Similar trade-linked names honoured the craftspeople whose work built towns and churches.
The Woolpack – A nod to England’s historic wool trade, which was a backbone of the medieval economy.
These names served as landmarks, meeting points, and symbols of local identity. They were also practical, often chosen for imagery that could be painted on a sign and easily recognised in a largely illiterate society.
Elizabeth I was a woman who truly understood the meaning of “leader.” She strolled through the 16th century with a steely resolve that would make even the most seasoned politician quake in their velvet boots.
She was born into a family drama that could easily have been a twenty- first century reality TV show. Her father, the notorious Henry VIII of the six wives, was not known for his stable relationships. Elizabeth started life as a royal Tudor princess but only a few years later found herself in a precarious position. Her mother, Anne Boleyn, was executed, and young Elizabeth was promptly declared illegitimate. Talk about a rough start. Most people would throw in the towel, maybe become a nun or just spend their days complaining about their dad. But not Elizabeth.
Her childhood
She survived treacherous plots, imprisonment in the Tower of London as a child and constant questioning of her legitimacy. Imagine having to constantly prove you’re worthy, not just of a job, but of an entire realm. And just in case you’ve forgotten, she was a female – in a world where women were expected to defer to men without question. Only her royal bloodline made her an exception to this rule.
But Elizabeth was astute. She dedicated herself to her education, honed her diplomatic skills and watched with a keen eye as her half-siblings, Edward VI and Mary I, preceded her turns on the throne through religious wars and tumultuous times. It is difficult to imagine the importance of religion in daily life from our secular viewpoint today. Nonetheless, England faced social unrest during the reign of a Protestant King Edward VI, followed by the devout Catholic Mary I.
Elizabeth I as a young woman – image created by Panna 10.
Her predecessors on the throne
Edward VI, Henry’s much-desired son, was the first English sovereign raised as a Protestant. Edward was just 9 years old when he came to throne and governed with the help (some would say manipulation) of a regency council. It does, however, appear to be true that Edward was a fervent supporter of the English Reformation and the spread of Protestantism.
But Edward died at the age of 15. The new queen, Mary I, daughter of Catherine of Aragon, was imbued with the desire to overthrow the English Reformation, no doubt spurred on by Henry VIII’s shoddy treatment of her mother. She was then forced by her father to swear an oath of allegiance to him and repudiate her Catholic religion. When Mary became queen, her religious persecution of Protestants saw riots and rebellion and earned her the undesirable name of Bloody Mary.
When it was finally Elizabeth’s time to reign in 1558, many doubted that another woman would be able to rule effectively. “She’ll be weak! She’ll be easily manipulated!” Oh, how wrong they were. Elizabeth handled it well when she finally came to the throne and would prove her doubters wrong.
Elizabeth was sharp. She had paid attention to the religious see-sawing under the past two sovereigns. Religion was the most dangerous political issue of Elizabeth’s time. Her sister, Mary I, had burned hundreds of Protestants at the stake, while their father had broken with the Catholic Church entirely. But there were still a significant proportion of English man and women who declared themselves as Catholic. Elizabeth knew she couldn’t afford to alienate either side too much. Her solution was a brilliant, pragmatic compromise known as the Elizabethan Religious Settlement of 1559.
The Act of Supremacy: This act re-established the monarch as the head of the church, but Elizabeth chose the title “Supreme Governor” instead of “Supreme Head.” This was a clever move. It satisfied Protestants while allowing Catholics to believe that the Pope was still the “Head” of the universal Church, a distinction that made it easier for some to accept her rule.
The Act of Uniformity: This act set out what the English Church would look like. It introduced a new Book of Common Prayer that combined elements of Catholic and Protestant services. Churches could still have some decorations and priests wore traditional vestments, which appeased many Catholics. But the services were in English and the doctrine was Protestant. Elizabeth famously said she wouldn’t “make windows into men’s souls,” meaning she was less concerned with what people believed in private, as long as they outwardly conformed to the Church of England. This “middle way” was a masterpiece of political manoeuvring that prevented the kind of religious civil war that was tearing apart other European nations.
For more details on Elizabeth I’s religious settlement, there is this video on YouTube : The Religious Settlement 1559.
The Thorn in Her Side: Mary, Queen of Scots 👸🗡️
While Elizabeth was busy masterfully running the show, she had one major rival who presented an existential threat to her reign: her Catholic cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots. Mary had a claim to the English throne through her grandmother, Henry VIII’s sister, and many English Catholics considered her the rightful queen. Mary was a constant focal point for plots and conspiracies to overthrow Elizabeth.
The Ridolfi Plot (1571): A plan hatched by an Italian banker to have the Duke of Norfolk marry Mary, assassinate Elizabeth, and invade England with Spanish troops. It was, of course, foiled by Elizabeth’s brilliant spy network, led by her spymaster, Francis Walsingham.
The Babington Plot (1586): This was the final nail in the coffin for Mary. Conspirators planned to assassinate Elizabeth, and Mary was caught red-handed when her coded letters approving the plot were intercepted and decoded by Walsingham’s team.
The discovery of this plot gave Elizabeth and her court the irrefutable evidence they needed. After decades of hesitation, Elizabeth was finally persuaded to sign the death warrant. The execution of Mary in 1587 was a monumental moment. While deeply controversial, it eliminated the most significant internal threat to her rule and removed a rallying point for Catholic rebels both at home and abroad.
The threat from Spain and the Spanish Armada
Following Mary’s execution, Philip II of Spain decided to launch a massive invasion to depose Elizabeth and restore Catholicism to England. He assembled a gigantic fleet of 130 ships, known as the “Invincible Armada,” and set sail in 1588. The victory for England was due to a mix of English naval skill (they had faster, more manoeuvrable ships) plus a dose of sheer luck. English fire ships were sent into the Spanish fleet, causing chaos, and a strong gale known as the “Protestant Wind” scattered the remaining Spanish ships.
Elizabeth I overseeing the defeat of the Spanish Armada
The defeat of the Armada was a colossal victory for England and for Elizabeth personally. It wasn’t just a military win; it was a massive propaganda triumph. It was seen as a sign of God’s favour for Elizabeth and the Protestant cause, solidifying her power and cementing her image as a truly legendary queen.
She delivered one of her most famous speeches to her troops at Tilbury, declaring, “I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king.” It’s a perfect encapsulation of her entire reign – a powerful woman in a man’s world, who not only survived but thrived.
Elizabeth’s reign was a masterclass in political pragmatism, especially when it came to the deeply divisive issue of religion. But she was also clued up on the economy.
A New Deal for England: Economic Control 💰
Elizabeth I inherited an economy in somewhat of a mess. Her predecessors, particularly her father Henry VIII, had “debased” the coinage by secretly reducing the gold and silver content to pay for wars. This caused high inflation and a lack of trust in the currency. One of Elizabeth’s first acts was to launch a major recoinage. She recalled all the old, dodgy coins and replaced them with new, high-quality currency. This was a massive win and helped stabilise the economy and restore public confidence.
She was also incredibly fiscally responsible. Unlike her father, she hated costly wars and tried to keep England out of foreign conflicts. This allowed her to reduce the national debt and even build up a surplus. When money was needed, she relied on loans from wealthy subjects and more efficient tax collection rather than burdening the general populace.
She also laid the groundwork for England’s future as a global economic power. She encouraged overseas trade and granted charters to new trading companies, like the famous East India Company in 1600. These companies had a monopoly on trade in certain regions, which was a brilliant way to bring wealth back to England and challenge Spain’s dominance.
She also implemented the Poor Laws, which, while harsh by modern standards, created a standardised system of poor relief for the first time, funded by local taxes.
The Original Independent Woman 👑
The new queen was a true master of the long game, especially when it came to her personal life. Her refusal to marry wasn’t just a quirky personality trait; it was a calculated political strategy.
Elizabeth I and her suitors
It was a brilliant, decades-long negotiation. She could play different European powers against each other without ever having to submit to a husband, who by law would have been the head of the household and, by extension, the kingdom. She famously declared she was “already bound unto a husband which is the Kingdom of England,” cementing her image as the “Virgin Queen” who sacrificed her personal life for her country. This powerful piece of propaganda made her seem selfless and untouchable.
Elizabeth had made a wise choice in William Cecil, who was her chief advisor and who accompanied her for most of her 45-year reign. She was neither perfect nor a saint, but they she put England on a path to stability and prosperity. This post is only a very brief journey through some of her main achievements.
She was a woman who kept her power and independence at a time when women were regarded as little more than men’s property or playthings. Certainly not their equals. She was renowned for her political acumen, sharp intelligence and strong will. Her intelligence and determination not only secured her place in history but also set a standard for strong, independent leadership that still resonates today.
What do you think made Elizabeth I such a successful ruler – her political skill, her intelligence or her sheer willpower?
Would you say that that our longest serving female queens – Elizabeth I, Victoria, Elizabeth II, are generally perceived in a positive light?
Humans are funny creatures. We drink, we tell stories and then we invent dozens of different ways to say we’re drunk. One word is never enough. After all, “tipsy” isn’t the same as “smashed.” Language loves nuance, and apparently, so do we when we’ve had a few.
So, pour yourself something (or just grab a coffee if it’s too early), and let’s go on a tour of all the colourful, ridiculous, and occasionally historical ways we talk about being drunk.
Why So Many Words for “Drunk”?
We don’t have 30 different ways to say “hungry.” But when it comes to alcohol? Whole thesauruses have been filled. Why? Because drinking has always been social and humans get creative when they’re social.
Slang also softens things: “buzzed” sounds way cuter than “intoxicated by alcohol.” At the same time, exaggerations like “hammered” or “legless” help us laugh about what’s essentially a messy state of affairs.
Basically, we’ve been turning drunkenness into a language playground for centuries.
Classic & Common Synonyms
Let’s start with the words almost everyone recognises:
Tipsy – Polite, harmless, maybe even a little charming. Tipsy is someone y at a wedding, complimenting everyone’s outfit.
Buzzing – Very casual, very safe. Imagine a glass of wine after work.
Smashed / Wasted – No ambiguity here. If you’re “smashed,” you’re not going anywhere
Plastered – Old-school, but still used. “Plastered” suggests gravity is not on your side.
These are the solid, dependable workhorses of drunk-slang, which most Brits would use and recognise. And remember there are levels of drunkenness – “tipsy “suggesting a much lower level of inebriation than ” smashed”, “wasted” and “plastered” ( all conditions which we are not actually recommending, you understand.)
Colourful & Creative Slang
But there are some expressions which are basically cartoons in themselves:
Hammered – Precisely what happens to a nail after the hammer.
Sloshed – Conjures the delightful (or horrifying) image of liquid literally sloshing inside you.
Three sheets to the wind – A nautical phrase from the 1800’s, meaning the sails were not under control and the ship was lurching unsteadily.
Legless – A straightforward favourite in Britain, because in that state, you’ve got no legs left to stand on.
They’re vivid, they’re silly and they make you laugh even when you’re stone-cold sober.
A ship lurching on the sea – Deviant Art image created by Panna10
Creative Modern Additions
Fast forward to the 21st century and slang keeps evolving……..
Turnt – Popular in hip-hop culture, meaning hyped and drunk (or otherwise mentally altered).
Zooted – A blend of high and drunk, usually from drugs and alcohol.
The word “lit” meaning “drunk” dates back to the early 1900s long before Instagram existed. Nowadays it is used by to describe anything that looks fun and exciting.
And let’s be honest, in a few years we’ll probably have TikTok-inspired slang we can’t even imagine yet.
The Serious Side
Okay, drunk slang is hilarious, but drinking itself isn’t always. There’s a big difference between a glass of wine after work and and being “soused” on a Tuesday night. The fun words work best for silly, social situations, but are not always appropriate for more serious situations, where alcohol may have been the cause of a more serious incident. The words “inebriated”, “intoxicated” or ” impaired by alcohol” are generally used in these cases.
So, enjoy the humour, but know when to swap “sloshed” for something more thoughtful. Remember that depending on both the level of formality and drunkenness these words are not all interchangeable.
Conclusion – Your Turn!
From “squiffy” to “bladdered” to “stewed,” we’ve basically written a whole dictionary of words for “drunk”. And it’s still growing – every generation seems to invent more.
So next time you’re tempted to just say “drunk,” maybe try out something more colourful. Personally, I like “sozzled.”
👉 Pub Trivia: According to slang historians, English has more words for being drunk than for any other condition, even being in love. Make of that what you will.
How about you – what’s your favourite word for drunk?
Trends come and go. Flared trousers, permed hair, avocado-coloured bathrooms… But when it comes to names in England, some have stood the test of time so well that they’ve been on the guest list for christenings, weddings and school registers for centuries. Let’s take a look at the stalwarts of English first names.
A Quick Stroll Through History
Names in England have always been shaped by big cultural forces. Medieval times leaned heavily on saints and the Bible – for instance, John and Mary. However, interestingly. the name Jesus was seen as a holy name that was too sacred to be used – although it is widely used in Spanish/ Hispanic culture where its use is seen as an act of devotion.
But back to England. The Tudors and Stuarts sprinkled in a dash of royal glamour – enter William, Elizabeth and James. Victorians loved names that sounded a little grand, romantic and dignified. Many were influenced by the Bible, classical literature, royalty and a taste for flourish- look at Augustus, Leopold, Theodore or Clementine, Lavinia and Florence. Fast forward to today, and while some baby names might mirror the latest teen heartthrob or YouTuber, the classics are still quietly holding their ground.
Thomas – A steady favourite since the Middle Ages. From doubting apostles to Tank Engines, Thomas has kept its friendly, approachable charm.
John – Once the name in England. For centuries, if you called “John!” in a medieval marketplace, half the crowd would turn around. Even if it’s not topping charts anymore, it’s still there in respectable numbers.
William – The Normans brought it over in 1066, and the English never let it go. Royals, poets, explorers… William’s got pedigree. Also in disguise as Will, Billy, Liam – take your pick.
James – Biblical, royal, and endlessly adaptable. Jim, Jimmy, Jamie – all still around.
The Girls Still in Style
The Darnley portrait of Elizabeth 1 – Wikipedia Commons, in public domain
Elizabeth – Thanks to a certain Virgin Queen, this name has royal sparkle. Add in the endless nicknames (Liz, Lizzie, Beth, Ellie, Eliza…) and you’ve got staying power.
Mary – Queen of the popularity charts for centuries. Once so common that it’s said half of 16th-century England answered to it. Today, less so, but still timeless. (And has also morphed into Marie, Maria, Mariah…)
Margaret – Worn by saints, queens, and the odd prime minister. While fewer babies are being christened Margaret these days, its modern cousins (Maggie, Megan, Maisie) keep it alive.
Catherine/Katherine – Another regal choice with saintly roots. Kate and Katie keep it fresh in modern-day England.
How Names Stand the Test of Time
What’s the secret? Adaptability. John morphed into Jack. Elizabeth reinvented herself a dozen ways. Even Margaret found new life in Megan. The names that survive aren’t rigid – they’re shapeshifters.
Meanwhile, some names that once ruled the roost – think Mildred, Ethel, Gertrude (or the 20th-century Gary )haven’t yet managed a comeback. But you never know. Stranger things have happened.
The Modern Charts
Computer Generated Image – yes, I know that Ellie is there twice. This proved quite a challenging image for Chat GPT to create.
According to the Office for National Statistics, names like William, James, and Elizabeth are still hanging in there. John and Mary might be backstage at the moment, but you’ll still meet plenty of Jacks, Wills, and Ellies running around the playground. The classics never really leave us; they just slip into new disguises.
So, whether you’re a William, Elizabeth, Thomas or Mary, you’re part of a long, noble tradition of names that have survived medieval plagues, Tudor court dramas and celebrity culture. Trends may change, but these names are as English as a cup of tea and a queue.
Let me know in the comments if your name made the timeless list, or are you waiting for a revival in the popularity of your name ? Do you like or dislike your name?
We tend to imagine the Victorians were all top hats, stiff collars and serious faces, but it’s a fact that they also had a sweet tooth. By the late 1800s, ice-cream had become the ultimate street food. For just one penny, you could enjoy a refreshing scoop from a colourful street cart on a hot day. Enter the penny lick.
The idea was simple. Vendors would place a blob of ice-cream into a thick little glass with a shallow dip at the top. You’d lick it clean (hence the name), hand the glass back, and off it would go to the next eager customer. Sadly, the Victorians were not so aware of the importance of hygiene or the existence of germs. This, combined with lack of pasteurised milk ( yet to be a legal requirement ) and the prevalence of common diseases like cholera and tuberculosis, meant passing around the same unwashed glass turned out to be a recipe for disaster.
The penny licks were banned in London in 1899 after a medical report linked the re-use of unwashed glassware to the rise of tuberculosis. Along came a much better idea: the edible cone. Not only was it safer, it was also tastier and you got to eat the container as well as the ice-cream.
The Ice-Cream Cone
But who invented the ice-cream cone? As usual, the story is not clear cut. One idea is that Ernest Hamwi, a Syrian immigrant in New York, improvised an ice-cream from a Syrian pastry, called zalabia, in 1904. Another theory credits the invention of the cone to Italo Marchiony, an Italian immigrant in New York, who created ice-cream containers made from dough, although they were more cup-shaped than actual cones.
Another earlier contender was Agnes Marshall, who ran a cookery school in London and published The Book of Ices in 1885. The publication comprised 170 sweet recipes with ice-cream figuring prominently. A later offering, her Book of Cookery in 1888, made reference to an edible cone and was called a cornet. Although the cornet was actually designed to be eaten using cutlery, Agnes Marshall is also regarded as a pioneer of ice-cream cornets. In 1894 the follow-up to The Book of Ices arrived, namely Fancy Ices – see book cover above.
So next time you’re happily munching on a ice-cream, spare a thought for the Victorians. Without their dodgy glassware, we might never have had the immense joy of the cone. Are you an ice-cream lover?
On the evening of 7 August 1606, the halls of Hampton Court Palace glowed with candlelight. The Great Hall, hung with rich tapestries, was filled with the rustle of silks and the low murmur of voices as courtiers found their seats. Outside the palace walls, England still trembled in the wake of the Gunpowder Plot, a failed attempt to assassinate the king and topple his fragile new dynasty. Inside the hall anticipation hung in the summer air: Shakespeare’s company was about to unveil a brand-new play.
This performance was no ordinary entertainment. Written in haste, sharpened by politics, and laced with supernatural dread, Macbeth was carefully tailored for its royal audience – King James I, the Scottish monarch who had inherited the English throne just three years earlier. Shakespeare knew his patron’s obsessions: the divine right of kings, the dangers of treason and a personal fascination with witchcraft. The play that would unfold that night would flatter, warn and captivate in equal measure.
As the actors prepared to summon thunder and witches onto the stage, few in the room could have guessed that they were about to witness the birth of one of the greatest tragedies in the English language – a story of vaulting ambition and bloody consequence that still grips audiences four centuries later.
🏰 The Backdrop: England in 1606
When Shakespeare’s players stepped onto the stage at Hampton Court, the court was still haunted by the spectre of treason. Only months earlier, in November 1605, the kingdom had narrowly avoided catastrophe when a band of Catholic conspirators attempted to blow up Parliament and kill King James I in what became known as the Gunpowder Plot. The king had survived, but the shock lingered. England was jittery, suspicious and deeply aware of the fragility of peace.
James himself was still a relatively new monarch on the English throne. In 1603 he had inherited the crown from Elizabeth I, uniting Scotland and England under a single ruler for the first time. His accession had promised stability after the long Tudor age, but it had also brought unease. James was a foreign king to the English, unfamiliar in manner and accent, and he faced the constant challenge of proving his legitimacy.
This was the tense world into which Shakespeare offered his new tragedy. Macbeth was no simple tale of murder and ambition. It was a mirror held up to a kingdom still recovering from conspiracy, where questions of loyalty, kingship and divine authority were painfully fresh.
🎭 Why Macbeth? Politics Meets Theatre
Shakespeare was no fool. He knew that a play performed for the king had to do more than entertain; it had to flatter, reassure and, if possible, speak to the monarch’s deepest concerns. Macbeth was crafted with this purpose in mind, weaving together themes that aligned perfectly with King James I’s interests.
First was the matter of ancestry. James traced his royal line back to Banquo, the noble companion of Macbeth in Scottish legend. In the play, Banquo is portrayed as virtuous and unjustly murdered, while his descendants are prophesied to inherit the throne. For James, this was more than a clever plot point – it was a theatrical confirmation of his right to rule, projected in flickering candlelight before the entire court.
Then came the witches. James had a personal fascination with witchcraft, even publishing his own treatise on the subject, Daemonologie, in 1597. He believed witches had conspired against him, and his fear of the supernatural was well known. By placing three sinister witches at the heart of the story, Shakespeare tapped directly into his king’s obsession,blending entertainment with a subtle nod to James’s authority as the man who could confront and defeat such dark forces.
Finally, the play was a stark warning against regicide. In the wake of the Gunpowder Plot, England needed no reminder of the dangers of treason. Yet Macbeth drove the point home with visceral clarity: the murder of a king unleashes chaos, guilt and ruin, while the rightful line of succession endures. For James, it was a political reassurance staged as gripping drama.
In short, Macbeth was more than a tragedy. It was a play of loyalty and legitimacy – a performance that fused Shakespeare’s genius with the anxieties and ambitions of his age.
⚡ The Performance: Sights, Sounds, Sensations
As the candles dimmed and the first lines echoed through Hampton Court’s Great Hall, the audience would have felt a chill that had little to do with the summer air. Shakespeare’s actors conjured a storm with the crude but effective stagecraft of the day – rolling cannonballs to mimic thunder, rattling sheets of metal for lightning, stamping feet to suggest the earth itself trembling. Out of the shadows emerged the three witches, hissing their riddles and chants. For a court still haunted by whispers of real sorcery and conspiracy, the effect must have been spine-tingling.
The action unfolded with a pace and brutality that set Macbeth apart from Shakespeare’s earlier histories and comedies. The murder of Duncan, though never shown on stage, was made palpable through the imagery of blood-stained hands, daggers that seemed to hover in the air and Macbeth’s tormented soliloquies. The courtiers would have watched in uneasy silence, perhaps casting sidelong glances at James himself during scenes of treason and regicide.
The performance was intimate, too. Unlike the bustling Globe Theatre, where audiences of commoners shouted and jostled in the pit, this was a royal performance in a confined, candlelit space. Every whispered line, every flick of a dagger, every flicker of flame would have carried weight. The courtiers were also participants in a carefully staged ritual of power, loyalty and warning.
By the time Macbeth fell and Malcolm reclaimed his throne, the message was clear. Kingship was sacred, rebellion doomed, and order would prevail. Just the reassurance King James wanted to hear. Yet beyond its politics, the play had cast a darker, deeper spell, one that would outlast monarchs and dynasties.
🌒 Legacy and Influence
That August night at Hampton Court was only the beginning of Macbeth’s long life. What began as a performance tailored for a king soon became one of Shakespeare’s most enduring tragedies, staged in playhouses, palaces and eventually on screens around the world.
Its themes of ambition, tyranny, and fate proved timeless. Though written to flatter James I, Macbeth transcended its political moment. Audiences saw in it not just a sermon on loyalty but a haunting exploration of the human hunger for power and the ruin it brings. From Cromwell’s England to the Victorian stage, from modern theatres to classrooms today, the “Scottish play” continues to resonate wherever people wrestle with corruption, violence and guilt.
Over the centuries, Macbeth also gathered a reputation as a cursed play. Actors whispered that disasters stalked its productions, from accidents on stage to mysterious deaths in the cast. Some blamed the witches’ spells, said to be real incantations lifted from folk magic. Others thought its violent energy simply courted misfortune. Whatever the truth, the legend only added to the play’s mystique, ensuring that its power to unsettle extended far beyond its script.
In this way, the candlelit performance of August 1606 became more than a royal entertainment. It was the spark that ignited over four hundred years of fascination, fear, and admiration. In short, a tragedy that once summoned, could never be banished back into silence.
🔮 Macbeth‘s enduring spell
Macbeth has never truly left the stage. Its witches still unsettle, its daggers still gleam, and its questions about power and fate are just as urgent today. What began as a carefully crafted performance for King James has become a universal tragedy, performed and reinterpreted for centuries.
Every August, when we look back at this moment in English history, we glimpse not only a king and his court but the birth of a story that still speaks to us across four hundred years, A reminder that unchecked ambition can unravel even the mightiest of crowns. A message still relevant today.
Shakespeare wasn’t just a master of storytelling and poetry – he was also a supreme wordsmith when it came to insults. His plays brim with creative, humorous and razor-sharp put-downs that still sting or make us laugh centuries later. From the jabs of Iago in Othello to the biting wit of Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare proves that language can be both elegant and deadly.
The Art of Shakespearean Insults Unlike today, Shakespeare’s insults often use elaborate metaphors, inventive compounds and colourful adjectives. They don’t just offend – they paint a picture. For example:
“Thou pribbling ill-nurtured knave!” (Henry IV, Part 2)
Pribbling implies petty or insignificant, ill-nurtured suggests poor upbringing, and knave is a lowly scoundrel. The insult is layered and theatrical.
“Peace, filthy worm.” (Timon of Athens)
Short, direct, and visually repulsive. Shakespeare could make a simple word like worm feel devastating.
Common Ingredients in Shakespeare’s Insults
Compound adjectives: “Fool-born,” “puny-headed,” or “lumpish”
Animal imagery: “Dog,” “hedgehog,” “toad”
Bodily references: “Pox-marked,” “pox-ridden,” or “beetle-headed”
Misdirection or irony: Using a word with double meaning for both humor and sting
The Fun of Modern Usage Incorporating Shakespearean insults into modern conversation can be both hilarious and classy. Imagine telling someone:
“Thou art as fat as butter!”
“Peace, thou pribbling dizzy-eyed hedge-pig!”
Not only does it elevate your language, but it also gives your insults a literary flair.
20+ Hilarious Shakespearean Insults
Thou pribbling ill-nurtured knave! (Henry IV, Part 2)
Peace, filthy worm. (Timon of Athens)
You scullion! You rampallian! You fustilarian! (Henry IV, Part 2)
Thou art as fat as butter. (Henry IV, Part 1)
Thou art unfit for any place but hell. (Richard III)
Your brain is as dry as the remainder biscuit after a voyage. (As You Like It)
Thou art a boil, a plague sore. (Timon of Athens)
Thou lumpish hedge-pig! (Henry IV, Part 1)
Thou spongy hasty-witted miscreant! (Henry IV, Part 2)
More of your conversation would infect my brain. (Cymbeline)
I do desire we may be better strangers. (As You Like It)
You have no more brain than I have in mine elbows. (Troilus and Cressida)
Thou art a flesh-monger, a fool and a coward. (Hamlet)
Methink’st thou art a general offence and every man should beat thee. (Much Ado About Nothing)
Peace, thou knotty-pated fool! (Romeo and Juliet)
Thou art a very ragged wart. (Henry IV, Part 1)
Thou art as loathsome as a toad. (King Lear)
Your wit’s as thick as Tewkesbury mustard. (Love’s Labour’s Lost)
Thou art a boil, a plague-sore, an embossed carbuncle in my corrupted blood. (King Lear)
I do wish thou were a fool, that thou mightst be honest. (Twelfth Night)
Thou art a boil, a scurvy, plague-sore, filthy, nasty knave! (Henry IV, Part 1)
Shakespearean Insult Generator – create your own insults!
Instructions: Pick one word from Column A, one from Column B, and one from Column C. Start with “Thou” and string them together. Instant Shakespearean burn!
Column A (Adjective)
Column B (Adjective)
Column C (Noun)
Bawdy
Beetle-headed
Apple-john
Churlish
Clay-brained
Canker-blossom
Clouted
Dizzy-eyed
Hedge-pig
Fawning
Earth-vexing
Knave
Goats-milk
Fat-kidneyed
Maggot-pie
Knotty-pated
Hedge-born
Miscreant
Pribbling
Ill-nurtured
Rampallian
Saucy
Milk-livered
Scullion
Spongy
Pox-marked
Toad
Vain
Tardy-gaited
Varlot
Example insults:
Thou spongy hedge-born toad!
Thou knotty-pated dizzy-eyed scullion!
Thou bawdy fat-kidneyed miscreant!
Shakespeare didn’t just write tragedies, he wrote savage burns. 🔥 Which insult fits your mood today? I invite all you creative people out there to create your own versions and drop me your favourite in the comments.
english-stuff.com 
You must be logged in to post a comment.