LETTERLOCKING

By Mary Davis

If you are of a certain age, you likely passed a note in class folded like this or something similar.

 

Author image of a school note

You probably didn’t know you were doing the ancient art of letterlocking, though they didn’t call it that. That’s a term given, in 2009, to certain kinds of folded letters.

 

Before 1840, all envelopes had to be hand cut and folded, even in businesses. In this year, George Wilson of London was given a patent for an envelope-cutting machine, which greatly sped up the process. Even so, they still had to be folded by hand. In 1845, an envelope-folding machine was patented in England by Edwin Hill and Warren De La Rue.

 

Back side of machine-cut envelope

What did people do before envelopes were invented and more easily produced? People had to find ways to protect the contents of their letters. Sealing wax and a seal were often used to hold letters together. However, if you weren’t wealthy enough to have these luxuries or didn’t have them available, what would you do?

 

People developed intricate ways of folding letters so they didn’t come open, often by folding a flap into another part of the paper. But what if you had something super secret that you needed to send (like in a time of war or when Mary Queen of Scots was in prison) and wanted to make sure it wasn’t opened before it arrived at the destination?

 

A locked letter

Special folds, cuts, and tucks solved this problem. And if it had been opened, the recipient could tell. They would know that the enemy had the information within the missive. There were many variations of these methods.

 

A letter that had been spiral locked

In this video, you can watch a demonstration of the rare, spiral locking of a letter. It was nearly impossible to sneak open without the recipient knowing it had been tampered with. 

 

Mary Queen of Scots used this method for her final letter to her brother-in-law Henri III, King of France before her death. It was also used by Catherine de’ Medici, Elizabeth I, as well as many others in the 15^th, 16^th, and 17^th centuries.

 

I decided to try my hand at this one.

•  First, fold letter in half, bringing the short sides together. 

 

•  Open and fold about 3/4” down one long side and cut a thin strip about a 1/4” from fold, starting at the center fold and taper off before the end.

 

•  Refold paper in half with the strip pointing up.

 

•  Fold up about 3/4” on the bottom.

 

•  Fold up again in half to form a long skinny piece.

 

•  Fold in half the other direction.

 

•  Cut a slit with an x-acto knife through all layers. (Be extra careful when using a sharp knife.)

 

•  Thread the strip through the slit.

 

 

•  Flatten.

 

•  Cut another slit on the reverse side and thread it through again.

 

•  Then flatten.

 

•  Cut one more slit on the reverse side.

 

•  Thread the end through and tuck it under the first part of the spiral.

 

•  Sometimes the creator would wet this last little bit with water to cause the paper to swell slightly, making it difficult to pull back out of the slit without causing damage.

 

•  If you had wax—even from a candle—this would be a good place to put some.

 

•  Now if anyone opens it before it reaches its destination, the recipient will know.

 

Hand holding a letter that was locked

Next time you are short an envelope, try letterlocking. But don’t send it through postal system because their machine wouldn’t like this ancient art.

THE DÉBUTANTE'S SECRET (Quilting Circle 4)

Will Geneviève open her heart to a love she never imagined?

Washington State 1894

Geneviève Marseille has one purpose in coming to Kamola—stopping her brother from digging up the past. Deputy Montana has lived a simple life. But when a fancy French lady steps off the train and into his arms, his modest existence might not be enough anymore. A nemesis from Aunt Henny's past arrives in town threatening her with jail. Will she flee as she’d done all those years ago, or stand her ground in the town she’s made her home? When secrets come out, will the lives of Geneviève, Montana, and Aunt Henny ever be the same?

 

MARY DAVIS, bestselling, award-winning novelist, has over forty titles in both historical and contemporary themes. They include THE DÉBUTANTE'S SECRET (Quilting Circle Book 4) THE DAMSEL’S INTENT (The Quilting Circle Book 3) is a Selah Award Winner. Some of her other recent titles are The Widow’s Plight, The Daughter's Predicament, “Zola’s Cross-Country Adventure” in The MISSAdventure Brides Collection , Prodigal Daughters Amish series, "Holly and Ivy" in Love In Bloom, and "Bygones" in Thimbles and Threads. She is a member of ACFW.

Mary lives in the Colorado Rockies with her Carolina dog, Shelby. She has three adult children and three incredibly adorable grandchildren. Find her online at:

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Sources

https://libraryhistorybuff.com/folded.htm

https://www.origamiheaven.com/historyofletterfolds.htm

https://www.openculture.com/2018/11/the-art-of-letterlocking.html

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/letterlocking-virtual-unfolding

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-did-people-do-before-envelopes-letterlocking

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letterlocking

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210616-how-the-forgotten-tricks-of-letterlocking-shaped-history

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZRA8KZrNTQ

The Place where Jesus was Born

By Sherri Stewart

With Christmas approaching, let’s look at the church in Bethlehem where the birth of Jesus Christ is said to have occurred. Of course, Luke tells us that Jesus was born in a stable—more likely a cave or under the inn where Mary and Joseph sought shelter for the night. I discovered when I traveled to Israel that churches were built on most of the sites associated with the stories from the Bible, and the Church of the Nativity marks the spot where Jesus was born.

The Church of the Nativity sits in Bethlehem, in the West Bank just six miles south of Jerusalem. The church’s origins trace back to 327–333 AD, when Constantine and his mother, Helena, commissioned its construction. The original structure was a classic Byzantine basilica, complete with three aisles, intricate mosaics, and carefully placed altars that guided worshippers’ movements. The church escaped major damages during the Crusader period (11th–12th centuries). Part of this was due to the church’s distance from Jerusalem, and the relative insignificance of Bethlehem for the region’s strategic defense. The church’s survival during this time is the subject of legends that it was miraculously protected from such events. The Crusaders encircled the complex with a stone wall, parts of which were later incorporated into various monasteries that still stand today. https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/bas-onsite/church-of-the-nativity/

Under the Ottomans, much of the marble was plundered, possibly to be used in refurbishing Jerusalem’s Dome of the Rock. After that, the church entered a long period of decay. The central nave of the church was used for non-worship purposes, including legal proceedings and even housing Ottoman troops. Eventually, church officials regained control over the church, although over the next several centuries, it continued to fall into disrepair. (1517-1917). 

Beneath the basilica lies the Grotto of the Nativity, marked by a silver star indicating Jesus’ birthplace. Over time, various Christian denominations have added chapels and altars, creating a rich tapestry in a single sacred site. The rock shelf has been covered with marble, but the original rock may be seen around the manger. The dimensions match those of feeding troughs cut into the rock by the Bedouins.

When the original church was built in the 4th century, the Grotto of the Nativity was enlarged to make room for pilgrims and at that time a silver manger was installed. St. Jerome, whose own cave was nearby, objected: “If I could only see that manger in which the Lord lay! Now, as if to honour the Christ, we have removed the poor one and placed there a silver one; however, for me the one which was removed is more precious . . . .” https://www.seetheholyland.net/grotto-of-the-nativity/

Centuries of visitors and exposure have naturally taken a toll on the structure. Structural stress, humidity, and heavy foot traffic require ongoing care. UNESCO and international partners have stepped in to guide restoration, ensuring the church remains stable while honoring its spiritual and artistic heritage. https://nativitylover.com/church-of-the-nativity

Out of respect for this site, modest clothing is recommended—shoulders and knees should be covered in all areas of the church. Photography is generally allowed in public spaces, but certain chapels or services may restrict it. The church can be busy during Christmas, Epiphany, and major Christian festivals, while quieter periods in spring or autumn offer a more intimate experience. 

Sherri Boomershine is a woman of faith who loves all things foreign whether it’s food, culture, or language. A former French teacher and flight attendant, her passion is traveling to the settings of her books, sampling the food, and visiting the sites. She visited a Netherlands concentration camp for A Song for Her Enemies, and Paris art museums for What Hides beyond the Walls. Sherri lives with her husband Mike, her high school sweetheart, whom she married fifty-five years later. As an author and editor, she hopes her books will entertain and challenge readers to live large and connect with their Savior. Join, chat, and share with her on social media. Newsletter Facebook Twitter Instagram Website

In the Presence of Her Enemies

Former lead soprano at the Haarlem Opera, Margot Van Ormer, is the closest thing to an enemy Tamar Feldman has ever known. But when Tamar discovers Margot's four-year-old son has been mistreated in an orphanage, she rescues him and endeavors to keep him in her home until Margot is released from prison. Will her enemy become her friend, or is it true that no good deed goes unpunished?

Ilse Bergman knows that her husband, former Nazi officer, Erich Bergman, is too smart and too mean to be dead. She also knows of his penchant for pretty sopranos. It's time to make Erich pay for abandoning her. Will a certain soprano lead Ilse to her husband?

 

Every day is a Holiday: The Dining of Rome’s Privileged

by Liisa Eyerly

The Roman Empire stretched across continents, and with every conquest came new flavors, ingredients, and culinary habits. Exotic foods from distant provinces—spices from Arabia, fruits from Persia, seafood from North Africa—filtered into Roman kitchens. All classes tasted some of this diversity, but it was the elite who truly indulged. They embraced costly delicacies not just for pleasure, but for display—sometimes eating strange or downright unappetizing dishes simply to flaunt their wealth or their access to rare foreign goods.

(Just ask any Roman about garum, the infamous fermented fish sauce produced in massive coastal factories like the one depicted in the archaeological museum at Nabeul!)

If you’ve watched Roman-themed films or read some of my other posts, you know that for the upper classes a meal wasn’t just nourishment—it was theater. A feast was a social event, a political performance, and a declaration of status. As you climbed the social ladder, the food, spices, and preparation became increasingly elaborate, turning the dining room into a stage where power and prosperity were on full display.

Breakfast or ientaculum (sunrise to 8am, later for elites)

Poor - The poor needed calories for their workday and probably had very little variety in their day-old bread, cold barley or spelt porridge, and handfuls of olives augmented with occasional dates, raisins, or onions, and washing it down with cheap diluted wine or posca (a vinegar-water drink common for soldiers and the poor.)

Elite – Despite their wealth, even elites kept breakfast modest, saving extravagance for the midday prandium or the evening cena. A tasteful Roman wasn’t expected to gorge themselves at sunrise!

· The warm, tempting scent of fresh bread that Sabina, my sleuth, breathes in during her early morning walks past the public bakeries would drift just as richly through the private kitchens of the wealthy. Long before sunrise, their cooks and slaves were already kneading dough by lamplight, preparing the daily loaves that would be served with honey, costly olive oil, or soft cheeses from goat, cow, or sheep. Codrin.B / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA-3.0,2.5,2.0,1.0 & GFDL

· Porridge: although a staple on all tables, the elite would enrich theirs with honey, nuts, milk, and of course, fruit, which also topped pancakes and filled pastries.

· Fresh fruit: both local and imported would be piled on platters, cooked into jams, and squeezed into juice; fresh figs, grapes, pears, pomegranates, apples, exotic Syrian cherries, Persian peaches, and citrons, a rare citrus symbolizing status and luxury for the ancient Roman ruling elite. Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
· Eggs: boiled, fried, and in omelets made from all sorts of poultry were a common breakfast protein. Chicken, duck, goose, and rare but served as a sign of status—pigeon, dove, and peacock eggs.
· Cooked meat: Usually reserved for lunch or the evening meal but cold sausages, meat pies from the previous day, and fish was served.

This fresco is on a wall of a hallway of a Pompeii home that had a bakery in its annex. The fresco depicts a goblet of wine and various fruits, that include a pomegranate and a likely date. The pizza-like bread appears to have moretum, a cheese spread with herbs that was popular in ancient Rome. (see recipe link below)

Lunch or Prandium (Midday Meal) — (11 a.m.–1 p.m.) The Romans did not enjoy eating a large meal in the heat of the day. Lunch was generally light and informal—even for wealthy households. It was often eaten: * Sitting on a small stool * At a simple household table *Standing in the kitchen courtyard

Poor – cold meal to keep up energy – leftovers, bread (olive oil), carrots, turnips, and congealed porridge. Posca or cheap water-down wine.
Elite —
· Cold meats from last night’s dinner
· Grilled fish, shellfish, or poultry 
· Salads of lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, herbs, and olive oil
· Light pastries or sweetened nuts
· Egg dishes, omelets and custards
· Imported fruit like cherries, peaches, or figs
· Bread with honey, olive oil, and cheese
· Drinks: Diluted fine wine, Mulsum (wine with honey), Herbal drinks, and flavored waters

· Moretum —a Roman cheese spread made by mixing goat cheese with herbs, nuts, and olive oil using a mortar and pestle. It was eaten on flatbreads, much like modern dips or spreads. Some versions had garlic, resembling early pesto, while others used fruit for sweetness.

recipe https://recipes-for-life.com/ancient-roman-recipes/ 

Self-photographed by User:Bullenwächter, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

For elites, lunch was a chance to refresh and socialize—never a feast, but decidedly pleasant.

We’ve now worked our way toward next month's blog post - the grand finale: cena, the evening meal—where elite Romans truly put their wealth, refinement, and ambition on display. If you’d like to dive deeper into the fascinating world of Roman dining, I’ve explored these topics in earlier blog posts on my website, liisaeyerly.com.

In my August 2020 post, If You Eat With Your Fingers, You Might Be a Roman, I walk through the elaborate structure of elite dinners, including the ideal number of guests and the strict seating hierarchy that governed every triclinium.

And in February 2021, Grilled Sow’s Belly for Dinner, Anyone?, I highlight some of the most extravagant foods ever served at a Roman feast—among them one of my personal favorites: tender, milk-fed snails.

Together, these posts offer a vivid look at the rituals, extravagance, and surprising delicacies that made a Roman dinner an unforgettable social event.

SECRETS OF EPHESUS SERIES

Obedient Unto Death opens a gripping historical-mystery series set in the perilous world of first-century Rome, where early Christians walk a razor’s edge between faith and survival. In Fortunes of Death, fearless Christian sleuth Sabina returns—risking everything to expose murder, magic, and corruption beneath the empire’s glittering surface. With rich historical detail and powerful spiritual themes, author Liisa Eyerly delivers intrigue, danger, and hope in equal measure. Reviewer Deborah Anne raves: “Murder mystery—Intrigue—Love—Fellowship through Christ. This series has it all! Eyerly is wonderful! If you’re tired of boring—read this series! I love a good mystery!” Prepare to be hooked!

Liisa’s books have been called a cross between Agatha Christie and Francine Rivers. Her mystery novel, Obedient Unto Death, won the Eric Hoffer First Horizon Award for a debut novel and first place in the Spiritual Fiction category. The sequel, Fortunes of Death, continues with fresh intrigue and devilish twists. Liisa’s travels through Turkey, Greece, and Italy bring authenticity and color to every page, enriching her mysteries with vivid depictions of New Testament culture, history, and the people who shaped it.

Over the years, she’s been a teacher, small business owner, librarian, and lifelong learner. She and her husband live in northern Wisconsin where she channels her love of history, faith, and mystery into writing captivating and inspiring novels. Liisa’s journey into writing proves it’s never too late to follow your dreams and share your passion with the world.

Purchase her books at:
Crossriver Media https://www.crossrivermedia.com/product/fortunes-of-death/
Amazon book page https://amzn.to/3Di2gyQ

Visit Liisa at:
Her website www.LiisaEyerly.com
Author Facebook page at Liisa Eyerly Author page

Bibliography:
Wikipedia.com
Grokapedia.com
What did the ancient romans eat for breakfast? - Ancient Rome - February 24, 2023 by Ellen Hunter