Etiquette!
The above articles about etiquette cover different aspects of the following subjects:
Party Etiquette - Code and Rules
For bride to be and the host
How to throw a party! Correct Etiquette
Etiquette - Thank you cards
History and Origins
Etiquette! Planning! Gift Registry
Party Hosting Hints, Tips and Ideas!
What is a Bridal Shower?
Definition of a Shower. The word 'shower' is used to describe a party of friends assembled to present gifts (usually of a specified kind) to a person; "her friends organized a Bridal shower for her when she was expecting". The great Bard himself, William Shakespeare used the word to convey 'a copious supply bestowed'.
"He and myself have travail'd in the great shower of your gifts".
Timon of Athens: Act 5
William Shakespeare
Bridal Shower History and Origin
The History and origin of the Bridal Shower tradition was started by an Austrian immigrant named Franz Schauer, who settled in New York during the late 18th century. Franz Schauer was a silversmith, engraver and merchant looking for his fortune in America. There is little information about Franz Schauer however his name is mentioned in a book which was published in 1759. The book contained pictures of "plates from drawings by Susanna Sophia Betzin and engraved by von Franz Schauer". It was the first book to have hand colored plates drawn by a woman. This leads us to believe that the history and origin of Bridal Showers commenced sometime after 1759, but well before 1800. Franz Schauer specialised in silver an engravings but he was also a merchant. Selling his silver was his main priority and it was Shauer who came up with the brilliant idea to encourage the wealthy upper-classes of New York to give silver gifts to newborn babies. The tradition of giving gifts to new babies dated back thousands of years to the ancient Romans and Ancient Egyptians. Franz Schauer no doubt capitalised on this tradition by encouraging sales of his silver merchandise which could be personalized by engraving! The tradition of giving Showers for wealthy mothers-to-be started in America during the evolved. The popularity of this type of party steadily grew as the wealth of people increased, especially following WW2. It has now become an American tradition which is being adopted across Europe, especially in the U.K.
