Cue "Strawberry Fields Forever": In Jane Austen's beloved novel Emma, a group of friends spends one day picking strawberries, the next picnicking with them on the fictional Box Hill. At least one chapter of the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) will hold its own Box Hill Picnic, on August 13.
The article from the Northern New Jersey Patch notes that picnicking grew in popularity in Austen's time, although the picnic scene in Emma is rather tense (Mr. Knightley scolds Emma for her rudeness to another guest). Meredith Barnes, regional coordinator for the Central New Jersey JASNA group, said, "Our version is slightly different. At our picnic meeting, we usually share something from the novel that we enjoy or will start a discussion. We eat our lunches and have dessert.... Some chapters have actually gone strawberry picking while others have a more formal tea to celebrate the occasion."
While we don't need many excuses to eat large quantities of strawberries and cream, a Regency-themed outing seems a good one. If you plan to take part in a similar excursion, do let us know.