Etiquette Advice From The Past That's Truly Stranger Than Fiction

While there are many social norms we still abide by in the modern age, most of us don't spend too much time thinking about the ins and outs of etiquette, but the same can not be said about generations from the past. From strange eating rules to unusual grooming habits, how people upheld societal niceties in the past are a far cry from today's standards. The most bizarre etiquette rules from the last century are making people thankful we live in the new millennium.

1880s

Before the turn of the twentieth century women had very strict rules regarding their hair. They were expected to wear it up on all occasions or else risk seeming unladylike. That is, unless they were in the bedroom.

1890s

In this decade women were allowed to give gifts to their husbands, with several important caveats: Wives could only give presents after receiving one, and what they presented in return had to be either cheap, homemade, or both.

No Direct Questions

Also during this time period, direct questions were heavily frowned upon. Instead of asking, for example, "How are you doing?," the socially correct greeting would be to say, "I hope you are doing well.” Classy!

Hands-Off Approach

In the 1910s, parents had some weird ideas about child-rearing. Specifically, the dominant philosophy was that mothers and fathers should refrain entirely from playing with their babies until they were at least six months old — so they didn't get spoiled, of course.