The 1500's
- Uncle Kram
- Posts: 5991
- Joined: Wed Nov 16, 2005 12:34 pm
The 1500's
Here are some interesting facts about the 1500s:
Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor.
Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.
Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water.
The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children, Last of all the babies.
By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it.
Hence the saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water."
Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath.
It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and off the roof.
Hence the saying "It's raining cats and dogs."
There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.
The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt.
Hence the saying "dirt poor." The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on the floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until when you opened the door it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entranceway. Hence the saying a "thresh hold."
In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while.
Hence the rhyme, "Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge
in the pot nine days old. "
Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special.
When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could "bring home the bacon." They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and "chew the fat."
Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content
caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.
Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or "upper crust."
Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky.
The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait to see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a "wake."
England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a "bone-house" and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the "graveyard shift") to listen for the
bell; thus, someone could be "saved by the bell" or was considered a
"dead ringer."
Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor.
Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.
Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water.
The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children, Last of all the babies.
By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it.
Hence the saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water."
Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath.
It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and off the roof.
Hence the saying "It's raining cats and dogs."
There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.
The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt.
Hence the saying "dirt poor." The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on the floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until when you opened the door it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entranceway. Hence the saying a "thresh hold."
In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while.
Hence the rhyme, "Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge
in the pot nine days old. "
Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special.
When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could "bring home the bacon." They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and "chew the fat."
Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content
caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.
Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or "upper crust."
Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky.
The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait to see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a "wake."
England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a "bone-house" and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the "graveyard shift") to listen for the
bell; thus, someone could be "saved by the bell" or was considered a
"dead ringer."
THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN PUN
-
- Posts: 15777
- Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2005 3:51 am
The 1500's
This was cool!
Except the bath part....that's just rank especially if you start thinking about...stuff....yeah....that. Eww.:-3
Except the bath part....that's just rank especially if you start thinking about...stuff....yeah....that. Eww.:-3
The 1500's
that was some cool reading, but I agree with Red, the bath part..ughh ewwwwww.
"Girls are crazy! I'm not ever getting married, I can make my own sandwiches!"
my son
my son
- WonderWendy3
- Posts: 12412
- Joined: Thu Nov 09, 2006 7:44 am
The 1500's
I really enjoyed that, and knew about the stinky people back in the day...ewweeee, I couldn't imagine ONCE a year???? I freak out if I go a day without a shower...
That was Great, thanks Krammy!!:-6
That was Great, thanks Krammy!!:-6
The 1500's
Uncle Kram;653983 wrote: The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children, Last of all the babies. The 1500s? Don't tell me about the 1500s. That's an exact description of my early years. The bath was thin and galvanized, hung on the wall of the back yard and was carried in every Friday to sit in front of the fireplace where the water for it was boiled up on the coals. Emptying it afterwards was a major exercise and involved heavy jugs with handles. There were six in my family, and I was last but one to use it each week.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
- along-for-the-ride
- Posts: 11732
- Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2005 4:28 pm
The 1500's
Thanks, Uncle Kram. That was very interesting.
Life is a Highway. Let's share the Commute.
-
- Posts: 15777
- Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2005 3:51 am
The 1500's
I hope this isn't threadjacking but Uncle Kram's post reminded me about some things I learned in school about medieval times. Foremost, that the clothing they wore back then was considerably heavy and changed only a few times a year. We were told there were these things called "marital screens" build into the clothing that allowed for sex and bathroom visits.
People are freaky. Just freaky. :-3
People are freaky. Just freaky. :-3
The 1500's
makes me glad to be alive now....:p
- chonsigirl
- Posts: 33633
- Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2005 8:28 am
The 1500's
Those lovely facts I shall keep on mind, when I reach medieval times in my class this summer. That stuff is great to tell students................:wah:
The 1500's
Spot wishes to point out to the world in general that he is not, despite the way this thread has turned, medieval, and that he is currently consulting his lawyer.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
- Uncle Kram
- Posts: 5991
- Joined: Wed Nov 16, 2005 12:34 pm
The 1500's
spot;654239 wrote: Spot wishes to point out to the world in general that he is not, despite the way this thread has turned, medieval, and that he is currently consulting his lawyer.
Is he in the Society of Gentlemen Practisers in the Courts of Law and Equity ?
Is he in the Society of Gentlemen Practisers in the Courts of Law and Equity ?
THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN PUN
The 1500's
Uncle Kram;654273 wrote: Is he in the Society of Gentlemen Practisers in the Courts of Law and Equity ?
The complainant is far less trammelled by the petty conventions of training or knowledge than the Society demands of its membership. His advocate will, however, be an exceedingly Big Name where recompense for loss of reputation is concerned.
The complainant is far less trammelled by the petty conventions of training or knowledge than the Society demands of its membership. His advocate will, however, be an exceedingly Big Name where recompense for loss of reputation is concerned.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
- Uncle Kram
- Posts: 5991
- Joined: Wed Nov 16, 2005 12:34 pm
The 1500's
spot;654277 wrote: The complainant is far less trammelled by the petty conventions of training or knowledge than the Society demands of its membership. His advocate will, however, be an exceedingly Big Name where recompense for loss of reputation is concerned.:wah:
THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN PUN
-
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Fri Dec 28, 2007 12:33 pm
The 1500's
Life was just awful back then.
The 1500's
yeah... people take the amenities of living in this time for granite all the time.
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