Beauty and hygiene is divided into nine separate pages-Beauty. They had chairs with lids to cover a hole cut in the seat. Because of this, unpleasant smells were common even though they came up with some pretty interesting ways to mask offending odors. Members of royalty dressed in shirts with puffy sleeves as a way to hide their perfume-dotted handkerchiefs. The Government also took steps to try to improve public health and hygiene and issued a fine of £30, which was huge for this period. A bell attached to the end would ring if a corpse were indeed really not a corpse at all. Just because something wasn't patented until 1857 doesn't mean they weren't being made. 1500s During 16th century England, gerontophobia or age bias was very strong. I love that you sit and drink wine by torchlight. Even today, my folks follow this regime and I can vouch for the fact they never smell. In 1388 the English parliament issued the following statute in an effort to clean up England and improve Middle Ages Hygiene: Last, but not least , the women of the house followed by the children and babies were given access to the tub of water. Some graveyards got into the habit of hiring workers just to sit in the graveyard at night to listen out for the ringing of bells. Below is the write up for the Hygiene and Cosmetics Class that I taught at Lilies War 30. During the 1500’s, England was a small country and finding enough room to bury the dead was difficult. Sincerely Stephanie Carroll www.stephaniecarroll.net. During the 1500’s, England was a small country and finding enough room to bury the dead was difficult. Isn't it nice and relaxing to drink from a goblet under the stars? Adventures seem to find me quite often. The first toothbrushes were not even invented until the 1800’s. There was no running water, you did not have indoor toilets, and there was no toilet paper. Rich spices were used by … The 1500’s was a century marked by many changes in religious thought, art, and traditions. I followed the link from a bulletin you posted in MySpace.You might be interested to know that here in 1791 Vienna, some of us indeed have flushing toilets. in the late 1970's in southern ohio we lived in an old farm house. I've now subscribed and look forward to your future posts. The family with whom we lodged had a toilet with one lever that aimed the water down and another that aimed the water up! All that I'm missing is my crown, although my neighbors have dubbed me the Queen of Tender Court (where I live) I love it! hygiene was severly poor, due to the poor hygiene diseases like cholera and influenza spread very quickly and consequnetly killed 1 in 20 british people in the 1500's. It was mentioned in a Jane Austen feed I read. Before that, you were considered clean if you washed your hands, face, and changed your shirt ("linen") for a clean one. The Facts . Skin was often dark and dirty. A good, thick layer of grime and dirt could protect you! The Ebers Papyrus, a medical document from about 1500 B.C describes combining animal and vegetable oils with alkaline salts to form a soap-like … One paragraph from this post just inspired a scene in my current medieval WIP!Shannon. Even the water from wells could be contaminated, and no way to purify such water had yet been discovered. Toilets … On the whole, though, medieval dental hygiene was based on the same concerns as today—white teeth and fresh breath—and medieval people developed some reasonably effective ways of maintaining both. Toilet paper. Via/ Internet Archive. Hundreds, thousands! its disturbing that men find this sexy. Cities were crowded, considered dirty, and often … I attended a lecture on the history of bathing and personal hygiene in America at the University of Pennsylvania given by a professor there who had published a book on the subject.The practice of taking a weekly bath only became commonplace after the Civil War. No one at that time understood the importance of proper hygiene in preventing dental decay , and the first modern toothbrush would not be invented for several hundred years. Fortunately, the WC has a window, which helps with odors.I first encountered a flushing toilet when I was a child and performing in Paris. During the 1500’s and 1600’s, bathing was considered a luxury, and most people took baths a few times a year. Hygiene and Cosmetics in the 16th Century Getting Clean: In the Early Modern Period there was still a pervasive idea that disease and bad humors entered the body though open pores of the skin as well as… I always wondered about the shaving of the legs and arm pits myself. The Spanish set foot in the Gulf of Mexico. Medieval medicine is widely misunderstood, thought of as a uniform attitude composed of … I have always wondered how people lived 200 years ago and after reading what you wrote, it makes me very grateful what we have today! On the whole, washing the body was never looked at as a way to rid the skin of germs that cause disease and sickness. Still other sources recommended washing the hair and scalp one or two times per week.Before shampoo was common, people just used soap, which often left the … It was generally believed that water opened up the pores of the skin allowing disease to enter the body. I forgot to leave you my address:http://mozartmagnus.blogspot.com. on A12). Many of my French ancestors had as country wives (committed but not legalized marriages, à la façon du pays) first nations women. MozartVienna, What a dough head I am. Bathing especially seems to have gone in and out of popularity through history. My folks are in their 80's and talk about bathing once a week, usually on Saturday (so they'd be clean for church the next day.) Without the knowledge of modern medicine, it was not uncommon to bury someone while they were still alive. Hey Chicks!Yea the urine is just gross! In this article, you will encounter a variety of customs and ways centered on topics, such as hygiene, food, and social status. The Europeans later used toothbrushes made from horse hair and badger hair. Women wore long, full Those that tried used the following methods: Medieval: * Rinsing mouth with water to remove gunk from mouth. Filling a big tub of water, it was the man of the household who got first dibs at taking a bath. During the Renaissance most of the English population resided in rural areas. As always! the british during their empire, cottoned on to the fact that this may be a good idea, instead of using perfume and defacating and urinating in pots under their beds. :). Great post! – The Family, Sex and Marriage in England, 1500-1800; Lawrence Stone; page 304. Liza Picard describes the laws, trends and standards of hygiene that determined who wore what in Elizabethan England. During the sixteenth century London approximately doubled its size to 200,000 inhabitants, which by today's standards seems small. Unfortunately, some graveyard workers encountered unwelcome surprises when opening coffins , scratch marks decorating the inside lids of the coffins. Thanks for the great information about teeth brushing and deodorant. I guess they figured if it wasn't broken, why fix it, eh?Love the blog! Don't forget that the usual way of disposing, certainly of urine, was to tip the full chamber pot into the street. Fashion of the 1500-1600's in England Peascod doublets became popular, as well as leg-of-mutton sleeves, short capes, and more vertical caps often decorated with feathers. http://historyundressed.blogspot.com/2008/04/taking-waters-in-bath-england.html, A Compendium of Common Knowledge: 1558-1603, The Darcy Saga: Glossary of Regency Terms, Places, People & Things, Fantasy/Medieval Character Jobs or Occupations, Poet's Corner: Ancient Poems, Ballads and Songs of the Peasantry of England, The Knighthood, Chivalry & Tournament Resource Library, "Costume Design and Illustration" (google books), "A Journal of Travels in England, Holland and Scotland" (google books), Costume History at The Costumer's Manifesto, "Costume in England: A History of Dress to the End of the Eighteenth Century" (google books), "John Cassell's Illustrated History of England" (google books), Author Sarah Parr's Historical Research Links, Karen Larsdatter's Medieval & Renaissance Material Culture Link Pages, Sherts, Trewes & Hose (Medieval Underwear), The Ladies' Monthly Musuem (article from 1819 on Fashion), Article from 'The Ladies' Monthly Museum' (Regency Magazine), View the video featuring Eliza's historical undergarments. I need more...write faster. I was in Italy a few years ago and encountered a business which still had the "hole in the floor" style toilet. :c)~Kimberly, Eliza, another fantastic post of yours! While this is very informative it should be called the history of hygiene in Europe. Shannon, thank you so much for your comments. This was a great blog, very informative (and not for the faint of heart! During the marriage of people living in the 1500’s, brides carried bouquets of flowers to cover up their body odor. I will have you know now, that I do manage to jump in every day, even if for only 5 miniutes lol!Thanks for sharing!!! Oh, don't get me started on getting soaked in bathrooms. In present times we are obsessed with bathing. It gives a wonderful insight into what life would have been like in the Regency---including the chamber pots, baths and everything else. I started reading Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to see how all this wonderful information can be incorporated in a story that is a pleasure to read. A Ladies Time of the Month. I might want to come home to a hot shower every once in awhile, and some deodorant. It was very fascinating to read your article, Eliza! Does anyone know if it started earlier? Beneath is a pipe that takes the waste out. My mom refers to it as a whore bath. The diet in England during the Elizabethan era (1558–1603) depended largely on social class. Although I have a tub in my home, I do enjoy soaking with a couple of friends once a week in the public baths in order to discuss music and local gossip.I will be putting a link to your excellent website immediately; you can count on regular visits from me as well.Ihr Freund,W.A. The first toothbrushes that resemble modern day toothbrushes were used by the Chinese in 1498 and later spread to Europe. Thanks for the book suggestion Molly, I will have to check it out! Thanks for sharing.Andrea :O), Oh, and the French dentist and the urine?? There was a general shortage of labourers which meant wages were high and rents low. What a cool history of personal hygiene. Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa at this time. Hi Marlene, with a surprise like that I'm surprised you didn't come out soaking wet :)Thanks for sharing! Whenever I have to use a port-o-potty I'm in and out in seconds, touching as little as possible, and then vigorously rubbing the hand santizer all over my body, lol. Some books on hygiene and beauty towards the end of the Victorian era suggested that people with oily hair should wash their hair every two weeks or soand those with normal hair should wash it once per month. Very descriptive post, Eliza. I guess back in those days no one lingered with a book the way my hubby does now, LOL.I especially loved the part on dentistry and tooth care.Excellent blog, I'll stop by again soon! Knowledge is power but I also believe knowledge bring about good hygiene!!! I know it's been about seven or eight months since someone has posted here, but I think it's still very interesting. Yuk. **Pant** Waving fan furiously in front of face...Mozart! Late autumn and winter were also when animals were usually slaughtered for food, so freshly butchered beef, pork, mutton, and similar meats would be available for the wedding … Upon discovering the gruesome end that some people met, a new tradition emerged , tie a string to the wrist of a corpse that traveled to the surface of the grave. This is what some of my ancestors did. I've had to use an outhouse once while camping. How cool is that!! by Ella Morton May 24, 2016. In England and Wales the population grew from 5.7 million in 1751, to 8.7 million in 1801 to 16.8 million by 1851 (Morgan, 2004: 23). No thanks!You are most welcome to come drink wine under the torchlights!!! Many people wonder how women treated their time of the month before the invention of pads. Nor used a stinking box. When you lifted the cover you found a porcelain pot to use as your toilet. The rich ate meat and white bread, the poor ate dark bread. Oh and I I think I need to come by too and sit with you under the torch light! In the agricultural communities of medieval England, the most popular months for weddings were January, November, and October, 1 when the harvest was past and the time for planting had not yet arrived. *G*)My dad is in his 80s so I grew up on his tales of outhouses, how bad they smelled in the summer and how cold they were in the winter. History was be quite fascinating, sexy, intriguing and all together delicious. Free thought was still restrained because the church restricted certain ideas and practices that they deemed unholy. this is so wrong, the european world were filthy in the middle ages and throughout histories, in islam and in india, it was part of religious ritual to wash every day and after sex and going to the toilet. Soaps, razors, perfumes? We are so spoiled today, aren't we? Starting in 1517, the Protestant Reformation brought the European Christian reform movement. In this article, you will encounter a variety of customs and ways centered on topics, such as hygiene, food, and social status. These women accompanied the fur traders. It is always fun to see what situations you can get into in bathrooms in Europe - at least for me. I remember in 1965I was in France and stopped at a restaurant. An English copy from the early 15th century advises that: Women have purgations from the time of twelve winters to the time of 50 winters, although some women have it longer, especially those with a high complexion who are well-nourished with hot meats and hot drinks and live very much in leisure. Thank you! Thank you Cheripye!Yes gum is easier, lol and I couldn't live without my toothbrush either!Good luck with your first manuscript!!! But, that particular time, I was smart enough to step back. Ingenious way to hide the pot. I'm so glad that I was able to help, I want to read what you're writing! I'd love to hear some of your adventures! Instead of toilet paper, people would typically use clumps of grass or hay for cleaning. Great posting (as always)! Can you just imagine the bacteria and germs people were putting in their mouths? As you pointed out, Eliza, the eldest got the tub first and then each kid by turn took a bath.