Victorian Age - 2

Hey guys! My post about Victorian Era is going to be incomplete If I did not mention the creepy and random facts of that age. It so happens that Victorian Era with all its charm and delicateness also had a whole lot of drawbacks. This post will cover a few points about them.

Like I mentioned in my Earlier post about this Era "Victorian Age" this time was full of new challenges, classes, meanings, subtleties and a lot of drama. Fact is, people were progressing and a lot of time in this period was said to be dedicated to discovery.

A few creepy aspects and random facts about The VICTORIAN ERA are:

• During this era, the government was running a "Poorhouse" facility where all the poor, mentally ill and people rejected by society were made to live. Many of these people who lived in these dirty and unclean houses were required to work to earn their board right and sometimes families couldn't live together.
• During the Victorian Era the food was a little creepy (Note: England has the best of food now). Victorians loved to eat every part of an animal (that set me off). Brains and specially turtle soups were a favorite then.
• The population of Britain exploded from 16 million to 37 million during the Victorian Era.
• London during the Victorian Era was famed for its pea-soupers (Fogs so thick you could barely see through them). Interestingly London had suffered from thick fog since centuries. The Victorian Atmosphere is greatly enhanced by the thick smoke and this creepy environment made possible the acts of people like Jack the Ripper.
• We all know about Jack the Ripper, known as "The Ripper" slaughtered 5 or more prostitutes working in the east end. The killer's identity could never be confirmed hence the legend surrounding the murders have become a part of research and speculation till date.
• The upper class and later the middle class had no means of entertainment then. One of the popular forms was for friends and families to dress in outrageous costumes and pose for each other (Vignettes). This sounds OK but can you imagine your grandmother dressing up as a Greek Nymph while everyone applauds? It's way too creepy. For Victorians this was normal and fun.
• During this Era you would be very lucky if you found a good doctor with a clean theatre. There was NO Anasthesia, no painkillers and no electric equipments to reduce the duration of an operation. It was outright horrific to get a surgery during this era if you read the description of surgeries.
• Victorian Era had freak shows. They used to have shows where - unusually short or tall humans, weird diseases or conditions were asked to perform. These were very creepy.
• How can I forget my fav.? Thanks to Victorian Era Gothic Novels were introduced (a literature that combines both horror and romance). It was this Era that gave us such great works of terror such as Dracula, and the Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The Victorians knew how to frighten people and do it in a grand style (Hell yeah! Thank you guys, else I would have been deprived of Edward Cullen, and the Vampire Diaries) :P
• During this Era photography was new and extremely expensive. When a loved one died the victorians would sometimes get their picture with the dead corpse in their memory. This was called "Momento Mori." 

These are a few freaky facts about the Victorian Era. Well not everything is best, sometimes people have weird ways of life. Who knows, if they were alive today we might seem stupid to them.

Peace

xoxoxo

Who defines the society?

It is so mandatory for a few of us to watch what we talk. People in our society are so watchful of what others do. It's so very annoying and frustrating to keep a watch on what you do, how you behave or how you present yourself to others, and why all this? Just to entertain the damn society and keep ourselves in the good books.

People never realize what we go through. Seldom will they leave an opportunity to bring you down. Its like a lobsters world, whenever a Lobster tries to escape the small jar, the other lobsters will PULL IT DOWN. That's exactly how our society is, they are opportunists and sadists. None of them will be happy at your happiness or joys, but all of them will be happy when you're at you're lowest. People like to speculate, interfere and scandalize other's personal life. Leave alone good times, they wish they could do something to ruin the peaceful time you're having by starting some sort of unwanted gossip or drama. That's how decent the society is, That's where we live.

It's very sad to see people of higher society's judging randomly. I mean do they even take a look at their own messed up life? Similarly people from a lower society are not very receptive to broad notions. Either way everyone suffers. A young girl who wants to party late night with all good intentions of just hanging out till late cannot do so, and even if she does she has to sneakily get in the house. WHY? Because the pesky neighbor's or society are out there to ruin her happiness by talking utter crap about her being a slut, drunk, doping maybe, sleeping with someone or maybe even claiming she has an affair. The parents are well aware about their Girl and her intentions and they allow so, but when the rumors reach them, they unwillingly or maybe get carried away and stop such a life. Similarly the case with a guy.

Now not all girls and guys are the same. TRUE! But not all the guys and girls out there to ruin their family names either, right? I wish the society had some better business in life like LOOK AT THEIR OWN STUPID MESSED UP lives. People want to be left alone sometimes. The saddest part is when a person breaks down you never see people or even FRIENDS to that matter to help you out. Instead they say sad little things and speculate. They won't even say kind words or support you. Well then, lesson learnt. I mean yes we Cuss, some of them have tattoos and they drink and socialize. What is anybody's problem if they do? I mean why can't people let it be?

These people who define the society -- SCREW YOU!

What is the point of living in a society where you can't be yourself? And when you're yourself you're simply not accepted. In the end you go so confused in a way. It's because you don't know how to balance your life anymore. Do you pretend to be someone or be yourself, balancing life becomes such a STRESS! Whatever said and done, I would say, if you want to live your life, live it like you wish. People will judge, disrespect wear masks and say good things about you behind your back. Just do good, be honest to yourself. All the other people can go to hell, you're own judge.

Keep it cool! Live life king size cuz this too shall pass!
Peace
xoxoxo

Victorian Age

Whenever I talk of an era I would love to have lived in, I always end up saying "The Victorian Era". It is something that fascinates me so much. What's amazing about it is, the lifestyles, the flirting, the clothes, the drama, the creepy and vague stories, the wines and dines and of course the best of polished behavior.

Victorian Age or Era as you may put it was names after Queen Victoria and the sources say that she was very freaky and dark in her own way. Hence the Victorian Age was also as some of you may know it very dark, full of thrills, mysteries and dramatic back locks. There are many facts to be learnt from the Victorian Age (For a person like me at least, adore the mystery and subtleties).

There are so many facts and subtleties that I can't even describe to be so sweet. Well, I loved the fact that courtship was widely accepted and practiced during that Era. A man and woman had to be very careful about how they met and engaged in conversations. Balls and dances was the medium through which a young girl  was introduced to the society. Items of apparel such as fans, gloves and handkerchiefs were objects given meaning as "Love Tokens". The diamond ring that signifies innocence became popular as the engagement stone during this era.

Courtship during that era was more of a career move for men because the lady's property would be in the man's name.The Victorian times manners were as important as being educated. Some important rules and Etiquette's were:

• A single woman never walked out alone, her Chaperone had to be older and preferably married.
• If she progressed to the stage of Courtship in which she walked out with a gentleman, they always walked apart.A gentleman could offer his hand over rough spots, the only contact he was allowed with a woman who was not his fiancee.
• A lady should not attend a public ball without an escort, in fact no lady should be left unattended.
• An introduction in the public ball room must be understood by the gentleman to be for that evening only, after which acquaintanceship ceases, unless the lady chooses to recognize it any further time or place.
• Now this is Epic - A true gentleman always tips his hat to greet a lady, always opens doors, and always walks on the outside.
• A gentleman may delicately kiss a lady's hand, the forehead, or at the most, the cheek.
• Proper women never rode alone in a carriage with a man who wasn't a relative.
• She would never call upon an unmarried gentleman at his place of residence.
• She couldn't receive a man at home if she was alone. Another family member had to be present in the room.
• No impure conversations were held in front of single women.
• No sexual contact was allowed before marriage.Innocence was demanded by men from girls in his class, and most especially from his future wife.
• Dancing with the same man more than 3 times was considered as forward. However, only if there were some relation that was formed it was acceptable.

Did you all know though a woman was not allowed to say things or speak her heart but a few liberties were given to women. She could flirt with her fan. YES! Her fan! This behavior was within the protocol of accepted behavior. Here are what different signals meant. 

1. When She moved her fan fast - I am independent
2. When She moved her fan slow - I am engaged
3. When she fanned with her right hand in front of her face - Come on
4. When she fanned with her left hand in front of her face - Leave me
5. Fan open and shut - Kiss me
6. Fan half open - Friendship
7. Fan wide open - Love
8. Fan shut - Hate
9. Fan swinging - Can I see you home?

Isn't it cute? I love the entire feel of courtship and chivalry. For me a person with a chivalrous attitude is in my good books for life. These were a few trivia's about how courtship was held during the Victorian Age. This doesn't mean that everything was on a brighter side, there were a lot of negatives about this age as well. I will write about it in my next post.

Hope you all liked this post. It's something I adore since a very long time or since I could remember.

Peace

xoxoxo