Difference between revisions of "What is the history of going to the beach"
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==The Origins of Visiting a Beach== | ==The Origins of Visiting a Beach== | ||
| − | + | Informally, people have been swimming and visiting beaches for generations. However, beaches were not considered a place a large number of tourists, and certainly not families, would go visit during the summer months or even other times of the year. The beach was sometimes isolated from communities. During the Medieval and early Modern Period, people would see the beach as possibly a nice place to look at but people would not swim since taking ones clothes to go for a swim would be seen as immodest, for both men and women. Even children taking their clothes off and changing to swimwear would not be common. Perhaps some of the earliest records of beach-side use comes from the 18th century. Interestingly, it was not the beach but nearby spas that attracted people closer to the beach. In Scarborough, in Yorkshire in the United Kingdom, the town was known to have a natural acidic water spring that ran from the cliffs to the beach area. The spa, seen as providing health benefits mostly by wealthy individuals, led to the development of resorts and hotels in the town for people to take advantage of the natural spa. Instead of swimming in the ocean to feel refreshed, people wanted to change and dip in the spa waters. At this time already, modesty expectations made changing into swimwear somewhat complex. The first rolling bathing machines were introduced in 1735 as a way for people to change inside these areas into swimwear and then go for a swim in the spa waters. These box-like rooms could be rolled close to the beach so people would not have to be exposed too long in showing their swimwear, which covered most of peoples' bodies. | |
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==Later Changes== | ==Later Changes== | ||
Revision as of 08:53, 8 August 2019
If you live near the sea, then summer also means going to the beach and having a swim or getting a tan. This seems so natural for many of us during warm summer days. However, the beach was not always seen as a destination to relax or enjoy one's time. Things we do today at the beach would be seen as immodest and offensive not long ago. The origins of going to the beach as part of summer or even a holiday are somewhat unexpected and took time to develop into its modern form.
Contents
The Origins of Visiting a Beach
Informally, people have been swimming and visiting beaches for generations. However, beaches were not considered a place a large number of tourists, and certainly not families, would go visit during the summer months or even other times of the year. The beach was sometimes isolated from communities. During the Medieval and early Modern Period, people would see the beach as possibly a nice place to look at but people would not swim since taking ones clothes to go for a swim would be seen as immodest, for both men and women. Even children taking their clothes off and changing to swimwear would not be common. Perhaps some of the earliest records of beach-side use comes from the 18th century. Interestingly, it was not the beach but nearby spas that attracted people closer to the beach. In Scarborough, in Yorkshire in the United Kingdom, the town was known to have a natural acidic water spring that ran from the cliffs to the beach area. The spa, seen as providing health benefits mostly by wealthy individuals, led to the development of resorts and hotels in the town for people to take advantage of the natural spa. Instead of swimming in the ocean to feel refreshed, people wanted to change and dip in the spa waters. At this time already, modesty expectations made changing into swimwear somewhat complex. The first rolling bathing machines were introduced in 1735 as a way for people to change inside these areas into swimwear and then go for a swim in the spa waters. These box-like rooms could be rolled close to the beach so people would not have to be exposed too long in showing their swimwear, which covered most of peoples' bodies.