The Day of the Big Crinolines...

... or the Great Crinoline Day, depending on which word in Stora krinolindagen that you stress, I thought it was the latter, but Big Crinolines make more sense, when you think about it.
Anyhow, it was an event that took place the 13th of June that I helped to organize, and it was a great day, even though it has taken me some time to write anything about it. The era of the day was 1840-1860, and it took place here in Linköping. I'm very glad that there were so many that thought it would  be worth the trouble of travelling to come and join us, and hopefully they enjoyed the day as well.
We had a picnic, and of course I brought all plastic containers, but I was running out of time, so I used what I had at home. I'm sure the victorians would've too, if they'd had plastic. There was also a dance recital by Folkungagillet that showed us some 19th century dances and held a short lesson with us.
About my outfit
I'm a bit disappointed with myself for not completing an entire outfit, I have the skirt, I have the bonnet, and in my wardrobe hangs a yet to be finished bodice in the same fabric. I didn't have a corset, I didn't have any petticoats, not even a ridicule, and I'm wearing roman sandals! But that was a conscious choice, because I cannot stand having warm feet. I want them not too cold, not too warm, and it was 25 degrees that day, so yeah... comfort before time accuracy when it came to the shoes.
However I must say that there was no elitist atmosphere, which was great, because we wanted everybody who chose to participate to feel welcome and I want to applaud that I think that was the case.
Now for some pictures, and for the sake of not messing things up, I've used Åsa Peterson's pictures, and she's also made some blog posts about the day. A lot of the pictures that I chose are already there, but these are my memories of the day.

Not everything was fun and games. Here is some very serious fan-fencing going on! To the death! (No, not really, it was very much fun and games.)

Always make sure to cuddle with your girlfriend, even during photo time!

Me, me, me!

Me playing some nine-pin bowling or kegel

Girlfriend playing som nine-pin bowling

Group shoot, but without Åsa, the initiative taker of the day.

Here you can check out Girlfriend's blog post about the day (and blog of course). The bowling ally is called Wallenbergska kägelbanan, and is an original från 1868, and in (fun) fact, the ally Skansen has is a recreation of this one, I've heard.
Finally, today is my birthday, and I got a small little present from Historiska kompaniet, this one in particular because of my involvement of the day, and I thought it was suiting to show here. It is a small box of matches, and very suiting for the Day of the Big Crinolines. But it was a great day, so if it happens again next year, which I hope, I think we should call it The Great Crinoline Day.