It is a funny term, isn't it? A "baby shower" doesn't involve soap and
water. It's a celebration that is generally arranged by an expectant
mother's best friends. Traditionally, only female friends and
relatives are invited (although this is changing, and occasionally men
may be guests at a shower). Light refreshments are served, games are
played, and the guest of honor (the new mother) is presented with
greeting cards, gifts for the baby (and some for herself), and the
good wishes of the group. Similar parties are often arranged for
brides-to-be; these are called "bridal showers."
"Although the custom of helping expectant parents plan for a new baby
has been a tradition for centuries, the origin of the modern baby
shower is unknown. There is evidence that ancient cultures, such as
the Egyptians and the Romans, often bestowed small gifts upon newborn
children, or presented the parents with a hand-made gift after the
child was born. However, baby showers as we know them today were not
common until after World War II - possibly one of the first
manifestations of the baby boom... The expense of a baby can put quite
a strain on a couple's budget, especially if the mother will no longer
be working. Baby showers offer a chance for friends and family to help
expectant parents with the costs of preparing for and caring for a
newborn. New parents always need both fun and practical things, and
hand-made gifts or toys create memories that last a lifetime."
Birthday Express: History of Baby Showers
http://www.birthdayexpress.com/bexpress/planning/BabyShowers.asp
"The'"showering' of a the 'Mommy-to-Be' has been popular in many
countries for hundreds of years but not in the style we know it today.
Gifts were given after a baby was born -- usually at the baby's
religious christening or at the baby's debut (it was very common until
the middle of this century that no one was invited to the house until
the baby was at least a month old because of the fear of diseases).
In the very late 1800's, Victorian ladies began having teas for mommy
but not till after the baby was born because pregnant women did not
appear in public. In the early 1900's, the teas transformed into
'showers' (based on the 'showering' of the bride before her marriage)
and umbrellas became symbolic because it was customary for ladies to
carry parasols when they attended these afternoon gatherings."
Maternity Corner: History of the Baby Shower
http://www.maternitycorner.com/mcmag/showers/history.html
So why is this celebration called a "shower?"
"In any case, the truth about baby and bridal showers is that the
'shower' in question is the same word as our morning ablution, which
was known as a "shower-bath' until around 1900. The basic meaning of
'shower' is, of course, a period of rain (or sometimes snow) of brief
and usually gentle duration (as opposed to a typhoon or blizzard).
'Shower' itself comes from a prehistoric German word, and first
appeared in English around 950 A.D.
'Shower' pretty quickly developed figurative uses, and by about 1000
A.D. we were speaking of 'showers' of leaves, bullets, stones, and
just about anything else that could fall on our heads. And, come about
1914, we find 'shower' being applied to a heap of gifts 'showered' all
at once on a lucky bride or incipient mother, usually at a
females-only social event (which was originally known as a 'shower
party')."
Word Detective
http://www.word-detective.com/052699.html
Here's a discussion of baby showers that describes the custom quite
well:
About Pregnancy: Baby Shower FAQ
http://pregnancy.about.com/library/weekly/aa101998.htm
Google search strategy:
Google Web Search: "baby shower" + "history"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%22baby+shower%22+history
I hope this answers your question fully. If anything is unclear, or if
a link does not work for you, please request clarification; I'll
gladly offer further assistance before you rate my answer.
Best wishes,
pinkfreud |
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