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All the Ways We’ve Wiped: The History of Toilet Paper and What Came Before

At the onset of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, store shelves were quickly emptied of toilet paper, revealing the commodity’s prominent, yet unspoken role in modern‑day society. Although humans have cleaned their bottoms for as long as they have walked the Earth, “three‑ply” and “extra‑soft” didn’t always describe toilet hygiene. Before the introduction of mass‑produced, commercially […]

Victorian‑Era ‘Vinegar’ Valentines Could Be Mean and Hostile

In the Victorian era, and into the 20th century, lovers exchanged elaborate lace‑trimmed cards on Valentine’s Day, expressing their undying love and devotion with sentiments and poems. For those not on good terms, or who wanted to fend off an enemy or unwanted suitor, “vinegar valentines” offered a stinging alternative. “To My Valentine / ‘Tis […]

Who Were the Six Wives of Henry VIII?

King Henry VIII ruled England for 36 years (1509‑1547), presiding over the beginnings of the English Renaissance and Protestant Reformation. But it’s the monarch’s tumultuous romantic life, rather than his politics, that have kept him in the spotlight. Henry VIII is best known for his six wives, and several mistresses he kept on the side. […]

Some of the Earliest Christmas Cards Were Morbid and Creepy

In the 19th century, before festive Christmas cards became the norm, Victorians put a darkly humorous and twisted spin on their seasonal greetings. Some of the more popular subjects included anthropomorphic frogs, bloodthirsty snowmen and dead birds. “May yours be a joyful Christmas,” reads one card from the late 1800s, along with an illustration of a […]