Genealogy Chat

HISTORY LESSON: Next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be....... Here are some facts about the 1500s: Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath about May and still smelled fairly good by June. However, they were starting to get a little pungent, so bride carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odour. 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 slats or sheathing underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the dogs, cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip off the roof - hence the saying 'raining cats and dogs' Since the ceiling was straw, 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 really 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. 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, then start over the next day. Sometimes the 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 would be lucky enough to be able to buy 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 little chunks to share with guests and would all sit around and "chew the fat."

Thanks for that, i like to keep all these little snippets, it is what makes family history interesting. Ann Glos

Thank you John......I really enjoy your messages ....always useful and informative.

I also find your messages very interesting to read. We've got a leaking roof at the moment, but I guess water coming into the dining room is better than the local bug population dropping in for a visit. :~)

What's that saying.....a peck of dirt before you die! No wonder they died so young!!!! Reckon it was a barrel full!!! Jackie

Nice to know you all like. I will put another one on tomorrow, if you wish

Very informative, especially as I thought the rhyme was "pease pudding hot pease pudding cold......." Also in cookery books there is a recipe for "pease pudding"