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And finally - Comment (Newsletter No 6 2003)
There may be a need to lighten the tone of this newsletter. The following, received from a friend in Australia, may help.
The next time you’re 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 and incidentally the origin of some common expressions:
• Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.
• 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."
And what do Australians mean by heritage, anyway? (Seen beside a New South Wales beach)
• Houses had thatched roofs - thick straw piled high with no wood 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 and fall off the roof. Hence the saying "It's raining cats and dogs."
• The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying "dirt poor."
• Sometimes they could obtain 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 a little to share with guests and would all sit around and "chew the fat."
• Bread was divided according to status.Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or "upper crust."
