Published on 2022/03/28
MIDDLE AGE AND HYGIENEurahara
Back in the middle age, at least according to doctors, bathing especially with hot water weakened the organs, leaving the body exposed to unhealthy conditions. The idea was spread that a layer of dirt would protect the bodies against diseases.
Bathing was an act punished by the church, since it was considered an unnecessary and sinful luxury.
The Spanish saying "¡aguas!" (translated as "Waters!"), comes from the old custom of throwing urine and fecal matter out the window or door of the house; it is said that some gentlemen could relieve themselves directly from their window. Any rubbish not useful for the house in question could be thrown into the street without any problem.
There were no toilets, drainage, aqueducts, cleaning staff, and no desire for hygiene, personal or public.
The streets were not paths established with stones or other material, therefore, people walked on garbage, excrement of people or animals.
The nobles who enjoyed the luxury of a moat or latrine used them to throw their waste and excrement in there.
Spoons and knives already existed by the middle age, but some foods required using the hands for practical consumption, perhaps going against the fact that hands weren't washed often.
The fan served to dissipate the bad odor from urine and feces as well as drive away the insects that approached due to the stench.
Marriages were celebrated in the month of June (the first bath was taken in May), the layers of dirt were light and easy to hide, the bride was accompanied by some bouquets of flowers to smell good.
Fortunately, all that was left behind and now we have become a little more civilized.
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