LIFE STYLE
The industrial revolution completely changed the lifestyle of Victorian
Britain. Suddenly,
the focus wasn't on tilling the soil or land husbandry to make a
living. Factories and commercial enterprise was the name of the game.
When Queen Victoria ascended the throne in 1837, Britain had already started its transformation into a world power. Agriculture was slowly being pushed aside for manufacturing jobs. By the end of the 1800's, 80 percent of England's population lived in cities.
When Queen Victoria ascended the throne in 1837, Britain had already started its transformation into a world power. Agriculture was slowly being pushed aside for manufacturing jobs. By the end of the 1800's, 80 percent of England's population lived in cities.
DAILY LIFE
Daily life in Victorian times was strictly regulated, with rules of etiquette that were not to be breached even during leisure time. In the mid-1800s visits to public parks, libraries and halls increased, with free access to all. However, behavior
in the park, such as picking flowers, engaging in any unbecoming conduct or public meetings was strictly forbidden. There were many indoor and outdoor activities that became ‘the rage’.
Victorian Croquet
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Hunting and sport in the Victorian Era
Fishing, game hunting and fox hunting in Victorian times continued largely unchanged from previous centuries. Cricket, rugby and soccer and competitive track events became the norm in public schools during the first half of the nineteenth century becoming popular outside of school life as well. “The twenty-four volume Badminton Library of Sports and Pastimes (1885-1895) reminds us of the sheer variety of athletic activities to be encountered during the later Victorian years: cycling, swimming, cricket, golf, mountaineering, fencing, boxing, wrestling, skating, curling, ice-hockey, boating, yachting, carriage-driving, horse-racing, steeple-chasing, archery, falconry, shooting, football, track and field, billiards, tennis, racket-ball, fishing, and hunting.
Victorian Music And Singing
Music was a favorite form of indoor recreation in Victorian times, with many a young lady expected to perform at social gatherings and functions. The piano was an emblem of social status.
A young woman could be judged as to her training and practice by her proficiency in playing the piano before a genteel audience. Among women, the piano was one of the few areas where a woman could express and distinguish herself.
The Victorians delighted in making music themselves, thousands of songs and piano pieces in styles ranging from the highly serious classics to the popular and comic music was composed and published for the amateur market, with pianos becoming more affordable to the middle classes as time went on.
A young woman could be judged as to her training and practice by her proficiency in playing the piano before a genteel audience. Among women, the piano was one of the few areas where a woman could express and distinguish herself.
The Victorians delighted in making music themselves, thousands of songs and piano pieces in styles ranging from the highly serious classics to the popular and comic music was composed and published for the amateur market, with pianos becoming more affordable to the middle classes as time went on.
Victorian Dancing
Dancing became a tradition in Victorian and pre-Victorian times. Queen Victoria helped influence its popularity by giving evening concerts. The waltz and polka were quite popular dances at balls, there were also jigs and country dances popular during this time. Ballroom dancing today is enjoyed socially and competitively around the world and its performance and entertainment appeal is enjoyed on stage, television and film.
Word Cite
"Victorians: Daily Life." English Heritage Home Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2014.
Word Cite
"Victorians: Daily Life." English Heritage Home Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2014.
Role of Women
Only women of upper and middle class have a coming out completely education signified availability for marriage. A girl's introduction into social life. They must follow rules strict set of rules outward appearance and social behavior.
Word Cite
BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.
BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.
Social Classes
There are three types of Social Classes in Victorian Era. The Working Classes, Middle Classes, and Upper Classes.
The Working Classes
The working classes people were physical labors.
THE Middle Classes
The Middle classes were performed clean work.
Word Cite
"Victorian Era Social Structure." Victorian Era Social Structure. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.
The Working Classes
The working classes people were physical labors.
- Poor living and working conditions
- Did not follow the rule of courtship
- Did not participate in social entertainment
- Had very little chance of education
- Workers include women and children
- Long work days
- Poor nutrition and health
- Often over crowed
- Poorly ventilated
- No sewage of drainage system
- Women did all their own housework then had to go do chores for more privilege
- Men in this class held jobs for the unskilled
- Children even had to work to help support family in textile mills and factories
THE Middle Classes
The Middle classes were performed clean work.
- Only men provide the income
- Consisted of bankers, shopkeepers, merchants, engineers, other professional
- Wealth come from inherited land or investment
- Include people from the church and nobility
- Rules varied base upon class
- Courtship advance by gradations
- Lower classes had opportunities to socialize at church and during holiday season
- Upper class held their own social events throughout the season
Word Cite
"Victorian Era Social Structure." Victorian Era Social Structure. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.
Etiquette & Manners
Bathing
Hair
Skin
Kissing
Bowing
Dignity
Small talk
Conduct to avoid at the ball
Card-playing
Marriage
Husbands
Train Travel
street etiquette
Word Cite
"Etiquette and Manners: Victorian Era." Etiquette and Manners Victorian Era. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.
- Upon arising, take a complete bath. A simple washing out of the eyes is not sufficient. The complete bathing of the body once each day is of the utmost importance. Not more than a quart of water is necessary, preferably rainwater.
Hair
- The head should be washed occasionally with soap and water.
- When the hair is inclined to be harsh and dry, a moderate application of bear's grease or other dressing should be used
Skin
- Beware of exterior applications of cosmetics.
- Instead, once every two or three months, take a teaspoonful of powdered charcoal mixed with sweetened water or milk. This will prove efficacious in making the complexion clear and transparent.
Kissing
- Upon the meeting of intimate friends, among ladies, at the private house, the kiss as a mode of salutation is yet common; but this is a custom which ought to be abolished for physiological and other reasons.
Bowing
- A gentleman should not bow from a window to a lady on the street, though he may bow slightly from the street upon being recognized by a lady in a window. Such recognition should, however, generally be avoided, as gossip is likely to attach undue importance to it when seen by others.
Dignity
- To greet someone by saying "Hello, old fellow" indicates ill-breeding. If you are approached in this vulgar manner, it is better to give a civil reply and address the person respectfully, in which case he is quite likely to be ashamed of his own conduct
Small talk
- No topic of absorbing interest may be admitted to polite conversation. It might lead to discussion.
Conduct to avoid at the ball
- No gentleman should enter the ladies' dressing room at a ball.
Card-playing
- If possible, do not violate the rules of the game and do not cheat. Should you observe anyone cheating, quietly and very politely call it to his attention, and be careful that you do not get excited. People who experience ill-feeling at the game should avoid playing
Marriage
- Anyone with bright red hair and a florid complexion should marry someone with jet-black hair. The very corpulent should marry the thin and spare, and the body, wiry, cold-blooded should marry the round-featured, warmhearted, emotional type
Husbands
- Always leave home with a tender goodbye and loving words. They may be the last.
Train Travel
- People with weak eyes should avoid reading on trains, and those with weak lungs should avoid talking.
street etiquette
- When crossing the pavement, a lady should raise her dress with the right hand, a little about the ankle. To raise the dress with both hands is vulgar and can only be excused when mud is very deep.
Word Cite
"Etiquette and Manners: Victorian Era." Etiquette and Manners Victorian Era. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.