Etymology. The term shower is often assumed to mean that the expectant mother is "showered" with gifts. A related custom, called a bridal shower, may have derived its name from the custom in the 19th century for the presents to be put inside a parasol, which when opened would "shower" the bride-to-be with gifts.
shower (v.) 1570s, "come down in showers;" 1580s, "to discharge a shower on; wet copiously with or as with liquid sprayed," from shower (n. 1). Intransitive sense of "take a shower" is by 1930.
Ancient Greece (the first real showers)
Utilising aqueducts made of lead piping to carry large supplies of water and using water pressure to public shower rooms, the Greeks introduced showering as a social activity for the masses and not simple as the reserve of the wealthy.
The name says it all: Instead of a bigger party where first-time parents are showered with gifts, a baby sprinkle is a more casual, relaxed gathering where the guests of honor are "sprinkled" with support and potentially smaller gifts.
a bath in which water is sprayed on the body, usually from an overhead perforated nozzle (showerhead)
A couple shower allows both members of the couple to attend and invite their friends, which means it'll likely become a coed shower with all of the guests in attendance.
Wedding showers started in the 1890s, when a hostess filled a paper parasol with small presents from the guests and turned it over the head of the bride-to-be. This idea hit the fashion pages and everyone wanted to have a “shower” of their own.
If a mother-to-be is expecting a baby soon (a year or so) after her first, “it's perfectly fine to have a second baby shower,” said Lizzie Post, etiquette expert, great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post and co-host of the podcast, Awesome Etiquette.
A baby sprinkle is just like a baby shower but scaled down. If mom is on her second, third (or fourth) child, consider throwing her a baby sprinkle instead of a full blown baby shower.
"For a celebration for a second or third or fourth baby, you might want to include only close family, call it a celebration rather than a shower, and make it clear you are inviting them to celebrate," notes Gottsman.
A daily shower isn't necessary. ' Mitchell suggested showering or bathing once or twice a week, and experts generally say a few times a week rather than daily is plenty. Also, keep showers short and lukewarm, as too much water, particularly hot water, dries out the skin.
Rather than bathing, early American colonists believed that other practices, like regularly changing their undergarments, qualified as good hygiene. Rather than bathing, early American colonists believed that other practices, like regularly changing their undergarments, qualified as good hygiene.
Fast forward to 1767, when the first patent for a shower was granted to William Feetham, a stove maker from Ludgate Hill in London. These early modern-day showers were powered by a hand pump and used less water than baths.
The flush toilet was invented in 1596, but didn't become widespread until 1851, and in 1767 Englishman William Feetham invented the first modern shower. Bathing was still not a daily ritual for many westerners during the 18th century.
According to an article from JStor, it wasn't until the early 20th century when Americans began to take daily baths due to concerns about germs. More Americans were moving into cities, which tended to be dirtier, so folks felt as if they needed to wash more often.
Sometimes referred to as the “Manshower” or the “Dad-chelor,” the male version of the baby shower has, in recent years, become a thing. (Really.) In some ways, the all-male version of the baby party resembles its female counterpart: Manshowers involve a group of (usually) friends.
A Dadchelor party, otherwise referred to as a Man Shower or a baby stag, is a party that is similar to a baby shower, but instead of being held for the mother-to-be, it is held for the father-to-be.
A coed baby shower is an event that takes place to celebrate *both the mom and the dad to-be. Traditional baby showers only focus on the mom-to-be and typically only include female guests. Whereas a coed baby shower celebrates both parents and invites both men and women to join in on the fun.
It is considered inappropriate for you or your spouse to throw the baby shower. It is considered rude to ask someone to throw you a baby shower. Typically a close friend or one of the grandmas-to-be will throw a baby shower. It is acceptable to have a sister or other family member throw the baby shower.
Traditionally, baby showers are intimate events, with the average number of attendees being about 20 and definitely fewer than 50. After you figure out who you want to invite, you'll have a baseline guest list.
Baby showers are often intimate affairs, involving the mother-to-be's closest female friends and relatives. It's best to consider which of the friends and family are going to be the most likely to want to celebrate the new baby, and also consult the mother-to-be about who she does and doesn't want on the guest list.
Weddings / By [email protected]. The bridal shower is a pre-wedding party where the bride's loved ones can gather and have a good time in honour of the bride. It's also a chance for guests to "shower" the bride-to-be with presents that will assist her and her future husband set up housekeeping.
The modern baby shower originated during the 1950's baby boom in the USA. The purpose of the celebration was (and still is) to give the mother-to-be much-needed baby items. The name baby shower comes from 'showering the mother with gifts and love'.
The word, possibly, comes from the Old English 'bryd', which in turn is derived from the Proto-Germanic verb root *brū-, meaning 'to cook, brew, or make a broth,' which was the role of the daughter-in-law in primitive families.