40 Etiquette Rules That Have Been Left In The Past Where They Belong

You finish dinner and let out a tiny, digestive burp. Perhaps you decide to lean back in a chair. Or you may just be standing around with your arms at your sides. Well, in the past, any one of these faux pas could have gotten you cast out from polite society. We’re not talking about prim and proper Victorian times, either, but as recently as the 1950s. So, do you want to know how you would’ve caused yourself and your family social ruin? These are 40 of the weirdest ways to have done it – and some of them are borderline gross.

40. Heavy-handed cologne application could spell trouble

In the Victorian era, etiquette rules covered every tiny behavior – right down to the amount of cologne that men used. Basically, guys were advised to put on as little of their scent of choice as possible. And while we have to agree that there is such thing as too much aftershave, at least you won’t be shunned socially for overdoing it nowadays.

39. Dinner party conversation? That’ll be to your right

The Victorians loved dinner parties, but conversation didn’t always cross the table. Yes, as dinner guests awaited the serving staff with their food, men could only talk to the women sitting to their right. How stifling!

38. Bridesmaids had to be wrinkle-free – and we’re not talking about the dress

Nowadays, anyone can be part of a bridal party, but the Victorians? They had much more stringent rules. An etiquette handbook from the era apparently said that a young woman getting married had to have bridesmaids to match. That meant they had to be of a similar age. Someone with wrinkles couldn’t possibly stand next to a smooth-faced woman, after all!

37. Don’t smile on the street

Here’s a turn-of-the-20th-century piece of etiquette that seems particularly shocking today. While ladies were permitted to go for strolls outdoors, laughing with their friends and having fun definitely wasn’t advised. Instead, women were expected to keep things subdued and modest until they were back behind closed doors. Enjoying yourself in public? Perish the thought!