When we look back throughout history, we are often told the epic sagas of larger-than-life heroes. From the boughs of the battlefield to the halls of the White House, it is our natural inclination to spend our time of study focused on those whose lives are now the basis of legends. But while it is easy to get caught up in the fanfare and fabulous stories of how our nation came to be, it is equally critical to humanize those who, although we may not know their names or their stories, still serve as just a vital piece of our history. By taking a look back at some of the customs, habits, and quirks of generations gone by, we can better understand what day to day life may have looked like for those who paved the way for the nation we enjoy today. In the spirit of connecting with those who came before us, let’s today take a look back at what a summer’s day may have looked like for our 18th century predecessors.
Just as with generations today, contending with the summer weather was no joke for our friends of the past. Difference being, however, those living all those years ago didn’t have air conditioning to help beat the heat! So what, then, was an 18th century family to do when the unrelenting summer temperatures? As it turns out, many of the summer traditions of yesteryear still persist today! Like so many of us, early Americans beat the heat by engaging in outdoor fun like swimming, fishing, and taking walks along the water. And while beating the heat in the great outdoors has its perks, the people of this time also had to contend with the risk of bugs, pests, and other outdoor annoyances that modern conveniences have allowed us to evade. As you’ll find, relief from the summer season in the days gone by often involved a strategic approach to work with, not against, the elements.
As history reminds us, much of beating the summer heat before the invention of modern conveniences involved a carefully curated system of processes and practices which helped to make these seasons more manageable. From the way homes were built to the construction of the clothes worn on a daily basis, practicality and function was at the core of design choices. For example, homes were often built with an abundance of strategically-placed windows, which could help to create a breeze and bring in some much-needed fresh air during those stagnant summer months. Families would also install tools like mosquito nets to assure that while they were letting the cool breeze in, they were also keeping bugs at bay. Clothes were also carefully constructed to use materials like linen, silk, and other lightweight, breathable options that kept the ladies and gentlemen of yesteryear feeling easy and breezy in spite of the blazing sun.
Despite challenges from the weather, summertime was still a time of great abundance for those living in the 18th century. From a garden overflowing with home-grown goods to vast fields full of grain and other sustenance, summertime was a time of fruitful flourishing. In the warm months, families would take special care to assure that while the weather was still temperate, they would take the time to store up food and other goods to last all winter long. While the modern inventions of today have made year-long sustenance a feasible and accessible goal, there is much that we can learn from a slower, more cyclical life that is rooted in the seasons.
As the old adage goes, the more things change, the more they stay the same, and there is an abundance of parallels we can find between the summers of today and the way seasons were spent several decades ago. What remains steadfast throughout the generations is the adaptability and impervious nature of the human spirit, the very sense that drives us to embrace the challenges of each season and emerge each time stronger than the last. While the summers of the 18th century harken back to a simpler time, there is much we can learn from our friends of years gone by. So today, take a moment to step outside, embrace the sun, and enjoy a taste of a simpler, seasonal life.
