Popular Rituals Of The Victorian Era

Featured in most victorian homes in the entry way - which usually included a mirror, a bench or pair of chairs, and perhaps a hall tree for walking sticks, umbrellas, coats and hats - was always a table where parcels could be left and more importantly, where a silver tray or porcelian receptacle sat for receiving calling cards.

Men kept their cards usually in their vest pockets, while women carried theirs in elegant cases sometimes made of silk or leather, ivory, tortoise shell or silver.

Etiquette dictated that a married woman would leave her card for the lady of the house along with her husband's card, even if he wasn't with her. She also left a card for each of her adult daughters.

Like the fan, the calling cards carried meaningful messages. If a young man should present a young lady with his card asking if he might escort her home, she could either rest her fan on her right cheek, meaning "yes" or she could return the card with the appropriate corner turned up indicating yes or no. Or she could hand her card to the chap she most wanted to accompany her.

• A vistor folded down the upper right hand corner if she came in person.
  
• A folded upper left corner indicated she stopped to leave her congratulations.
  
• A folded lower right corner said goodbye.
  
• A folded lower left corner offered condolences.
  

The card was carried to the lady of the house on the tray so she would not only know who the caller was, but the purpose of the call.

It was a highly ritualized social grace of the time, with rules set forth in etiquette books.

Graphics by:BACKGROUNDS BY MARIE