10 Most Unusual Dating Tips From History – Historical Romance

Ah, dating! It’s a whirlwind of emotions and experiences, isn’t it? Whether we’re swiping right in the digital age or asking someone out the old-fashioned way, the quest for love is as thrilling as it is baffling. But have you ever wondered how our ancestors tackled the dating game? Spoiler alert: it’s a mix of the bizarre, the creative, and the downright ingenious!

Let’s kick things off with a little historical dating advice. Picture this: it’s centuries ago, and the dating scene is anything but ordinary. From flirting with a fan to sending love letters sealed with wax, our forebears had their unique spin on romance. These unusual dating practices weren’t just about finding love; they were about making a statement in a world where social rules were as rigid as a corset!

Now, fast forward to today. We’ve got online dating apps, speed dating, and even virtual reality meet-ups. But guess what? Some of those quirky historical tactics? They’re not too different from our modern methods. Think about it: a fan’s flutter in the 18th century and a well-timed emoji in a text today aren’t worlds apart in their intent. It’s all about catching that special someone’s eye.

In this list, we’ll explore how these antique dating tips offer a fascinating lens to view our current dating dilemmas. And who knows? You might find these tips aren’t just fun anecdotes from the past but could actually add a little extra zing to your love life today.

So, sit back, relax, and let’s take a fun, informative stroll down memory lane. You’re in for some surprising revelations about love and courtship throughout history. Ready to see what dating tips our ancestors have up their puffy sleeves? Let’s get started!

10 – Flirt With A Fan

Now, this is not something you need to be famous or well-known to do! The fan here refers to the (still used) hand-held, paper device to cool yourself down with. Although around for many years, the fan first became used as a serious flirting accessory in 18th Century Europe. Canny women of the time would use fans to send secret messages out to male admirers and make themselves look more desirable. For some serious flirting when out on a date as a woman, grab a fan and learn the ancient language of love. Hiding the eyes behind a fan for example would say “I love you” to whoever you were facing.

09 – Get Yourself Down To The Marriage Market

Modern women don’t know how easy they have it! In the old days, many would be married off via something known as the ‘Marriage Market’. This old-style dating tip would certainly make it much easier to meet someone to spend the rest of your life with and with none of the usual dating pitfalls involved. This was a process that happened in ancient Babylon, where it meant that even the poorest man or ugliest woman would get a shot at love. The market worked like a regular auction where men would bid for women to marry until all were taken.

08 – Get A Secret Language

Getting yourself a date is only the first part of the problem! Once you have convinced someone to step out with you, you need to find a way to hang onto them. One great way to build a real bond between you is by developing a shared, secret language for you to use. Many people rather surprisingly used to employ Morse Code to communicate without anyone else knowing. This also came in very handy in days gone by when chaperones would often come along on dates.

07 – Don’t Get Drunk In Front Of Their Parents

Ok, so you’ve found someone who actually likes you and things are progressing nicely. Don’t relax yet – you have to impress her parents next! This is probably the hardest bit and one area that you need all the help you can get with. If there is one thing not to do, it is get blind drunk in front of them and embarrass yourself! This lesson from history is found in the case of Hippocleides of Attica in the 6th century B.C.

Competing to win the hand of a fair maiden in marriage, he was well on the way to impressing her father and getting his blessing to marry her. Unfortunately, he got very drunk one night and showed himself up so much that his marriage request was refused and the girl in question was promised to another.

06 – Keep It Practical

The modern world of romance and dating can seem overly complicated so take a tip from the ancient Egyptians. They did away with fancy, expensive ceremonies – in their society, once a woman moved her stuff into a man’s house, that meant they were married. Although expected to say together for life, they also had a very practical take on divorce. In the event of a split, the woman would simply move out but take half of the marital possessions and the children. Just don’t get caught cheating! Adultery was heavily frowned upon in ancient Egypt and usually led to a painful, miserable death.

05 – Spend Time Together

Once you have started dating someone, you need to make sure you stay strong together. No-one knew this more than ancient Germanic women of the Teutonic tribes. They would go everywhere with their husbands, even into battle and on war campaigns. The ancient Roman scholar Plutarch wrote of not only their presence in battle but also their ferocity. They would also tend to the men when they returned from a scrap and make sure they always had food to boost their energy. All this time spent together made them all pretty tight as couples as a result.

04 – Think About A Love Potion

If you’re having trouble convincing that perfect someone to go out with you, why not try a love potion? All the ancient cultures used them for this purpose and some reported great success with them. Various ingredients were used in these potions from jimsonweed to marigold. Most of the recipes were secret but they were said to make whoever drank them fall in love with the intended other person. If you can find a safe recipe, it could be worth a go!

03 – Write Your Feelings Down

If there was one ancient civilisation that you probably wouldn’t expect on this list, it would be the Vikings. After all, they were all about pillaging and extreme violence, weren’t they?! Well yes, they were but they could also be pretty romantic too. They weren’t ones to come out and say it though – instead they liked to write love poems to express their feelings. If you have trouble telling that someone how much you like them, why not get all Viking and write it down for them?

02 – Give Them A Present

A classic way to get a date or hang onto someone when you do from history is with the giving of presents to the other person. The hope is that they see just how generous and loving you are, as well as loaded! This has always been the case through time where love gifts were exchanged between couples frequently. Of course, it was not just gifts of love that made up the material exchanges around dating. Ancient dowry’s saw the bride’s father pay a sum of money or pass on a gift to seal the marriage.

01 – Get To Know About A Woman Properly

As a man, one of the real problems with dating is working out how a woman’s mind works. Of course, I’m sure men can be just as confusing for women too. A tip that might help from history is to really get to know how a woman’s body works by studying her anatomy. The famous French author Balzac was the first to suggest this. He proposed that women had excess energy contained within their body that needed to be handled correctly for a successful marriage. Doing this would ensure she did not fall prey to her carnal passions or caprices, Balzac noted.

Dating has never been easy, whenever in history you may have been doing it. As this list shows, our ancestors in history spent as much time trying to find out ways to make it easier as we do now. Hopefully, the tips here can help you out a little bit if you find that you are needing a little help with your love life.

Uncovering Love’s Timeless Secrets: A Concluding Reflection

As we wrap up our journey through the quirky dating tips of yesteryear, it’s clear that the search for love has always been an adventure, sprinkled with a bit of mystery and a lot of creativity. From the coquettish fan gestures of the 18th century to the heartfelt, handwritten love notes, our ancestors sure knew how to make a romantic statement.

But here’s the kicker: these historical dating practices aren’t just relics of the past. They’re a testament to the enduring nature of human connection, reminding us that while the methods may change, the essence of romance remains the same. So, why not take a leaf out of history’s book? Give these time-tested dating tips a try in your own love life. Who knows, a little old-fashioned charm might just be the secret ingredient you’ve been missing.

And remember, whether you’re navigating the complex world of online dating or trying out these unusual dating tips, the key is to enjoy the journey. Love, after all, is not just about the destination but about the rich, often unpredictable path we take to get there.

So go ahead, experiment with a hint of historical romance in your dating adventures. After all, what’s life without a bit of whimsy and a whole lot of love?