• Home
  • Audio/Podcasts
  • Austensites
  • AV/E-Texts
  • History
  • Links
  • Novels
  • Original Sources/19th C. Texts
  • Social Customs During the Regency
  • Teacher/Student
  • Writer/Literature Resources

Jane Austen's World

This Jane Austen blog brings Jane Austen, her novels, and the Regency Period alive through food, dress, social customs, and other 19th C. historical details related to this topic.

Feeds:
Posts
Comments
« Jane Austen and the Vicar of Dibley
Taking Care of a Gentleman’s Clothes: Regency Fashion »

The Breeching Ceremony of a Young Boy and His Rite of Passage: Regency Fashion

April 11, 2013 by Vic

Over a year ago I read a fabulous blog post on the Regency Redingote entitled  Boy to Man: The Breeching Ceremony. The article is thorough and I was quite satisfied with its information until I ran into this quote, written by Jane Austen in 1801 to her sister Cassandra:

Mary has likewise a message: she will be much obliged to you if you can bring her the pattern of the jacket and trousers, or whatever it is that Elizabeth’s boys wear when they are first put into breeches; so if you could bring her an old suit itself, she would be very glad, but that I suppose is hardly done.”

This short passage told me much more about the topic and I decided to pursue it further.

Portrait of William Ellis Gosling, 1800 , Sir William Beechey, R.A. Image @Wikipedia

Portrait of William Ellis Gosling, 1800 , Sir William Beechey, R.A. Image @Wikimedia Commons

During the 18th century boys and girls were dressed alike in baby clothes during their infancy and in petticoats as toddlers. In Beechey’s image, our modern eyes would not identify the infant as a boy unless he was labeled as such.

John Russel, Boy with spaniel. Image @ Christie's.

John Russel, Boy with spaniel. Image @ Christie’s.

At some point, the boys** would be placed in skeleton suits or a form of pantaloons and a frilly tunic. Their hair was still worn long and they still lived in the nursery, if the household was wealthy enough, or were overseen by women – their mothers, older sisters, grandmothers, aunts, nursemaids, etc.

Fathers rarely stepped inside the nursery, the province of women.

Fathers rarely stepped inside the nursery, the province of women. In this idealized scene, the infants are guided on leading strings and a special “cage” that enabled toddlers to learn to walk. Image, source unknown. (Does anyone know the provenance?)

Between the age of 4-6, they would have their hair shorn and graduate to wearing trousers. This important event was marked by a breeching ceremony, a significant milestone in a young boy’s life. I can liken it to my first communion at the age of six. It was an event so important and memorable that I can still vividly recall my pretty white dress and veil, and the details of receiving my first communion wafer and celebrating the occasion with close family and friends. I felt different after that day, and in that way can relate to the pride that 18th and 19th century boys must have felt as they changed into the clothes that marked their first step to manhood.

The modern eye would regard these two children as girls. Lydia Elizabeth Hoare (1786–1856), Lady Acland, with Her Two Sons, Thomas (1809–1898), Later 11th Bt, and Arthur (1811–1857) by Thomas Lawrence   Date painted: 1814–1815. Image @National Trust Collection

The modern eye would regard these two children as girls. Lydia Elizabeth Hoare (1786–1856), Lady Acland, with Her Two Sons, Thomas (1809–1898), Later 11th Bt, and Arthur (1811–1857)
by Thomas Lawrence
Date painted: 1814–1815. Image @National Trust Collection

The breeching ceremony had little to do with social status and was practiced across all class lines. The rich could afford any amount of new clothes for their children, made by tailors or seamstresses, no doubt, but at the start of the Industrial Revolution, the cost of clothing was still prohibitive for even the gentry, the class to which Jane Austen’s family belonged. As Jane Austen so often mentioned in her letters, clothes were generally remade and recycled rather than discarded. Ribbons, buttons, lace, or other embellishments were added to update a garment, and sleeves were reshaped or cut down to size, and hems raised or lengthened as current fashion required. If the garment was no longer suitable for one person, it could be cut down to size for someone who was smaller. The refashioned garment was worn and patched until it was given to the poor or used as rags.

Jane Austen’s comments about her sister-in-law’s request to Cassandra to bring back a pattern to share or an old suit for her boy’s breeching ceremony now makes sense. The women of the house sewed the clothes (for mass production of garments and textiles was still in the future), and shared patterns and borrowed sartorial ideas from each other. Hand me downs were de rigeur, I am sure, for most parents of that era with large families could scarcely afford new clothes for each of their many children.

Thomas Lawrence English (Bristol, England 1769 - 1830 London, England) Sir Walter James, Bt., and Charles Stewart Hardinge, 1829. Image @Harvard Art Museums

Thomas Lawrence
English (Bristol, England 1769 – 1830 London, England)
Sir Walter James, Bt., and Charles Stewart Hardinge, 1829. Image @Harvard Art Museums

Regardless of social standing, all boys,  even those from the lower sorts, would receive a new pair of breeches around the age of six (four to six, to be more precise). The breeching event provided a cause for private celebration, to which family and friends were invited. For the parents, this ceremony also acknowledged that their child had survived past infancy. In an age when so many children died before reaching their majority (almost a fourth of them would die before the age of 10), the breeching ceremony might well have been the only significant event in a young boy’s life. In addition, he received a set of brand new clothes – a milestone indeed!

To put a perspective on how a parent felt about this event, Samuel Taylor Coleridge proudly writes of his son Hartley’s breeching ceremony in 1801:

Hartley was breeched last Sunday — & looks far better than in his petticoats. He ran to & fro in a sort of dance to the Jingle of the Load of Money, that had been put in his breeches pockets; but he did [not] roll & tumble over and over in his old joyous way — No! it was an eager & solemn gladness, as if he felt it to be an awful aera in his Life. O bless him! bless him! bless him!” – Samuel Coleridge to Robert Southey, November 9, 1801

Portrait of Two Boys in Green and Red Velvet Suits by Ramsay Richard Reinagle

Portrait of Two Boys in Green and Red Velvet Suits
by Ramsay Richard Reinagle

What a vivid description! Relatives and friends, including the godparents, showered the young boy with coins and gifts. This ceremony marked an important occasion in which the boy left the world of women (nursery). After this momentous event, his father would become more involved with his upbringing or he would be mentored by other men in his life. He might be placed in a nearby boarding school with the young sons of other gentry, such as the one that Rev. Austen ran, for example, or in a more prestigious school if his parents were richer. Opposed to a young boy of the same age, a little girl’s life remained essentially the same – she would learn the art of running a household and catching a suitable man, but her young male counterpart would learn the art of running an estate or, if he was a second son, the skills required to make his way in life. (Click here for a modern image of breeches.)

THE CHILDREN OF RICHARD CROFT, 6TH Bt.,c.1803, by John James Halls, R.A.  In this image one can see the three stages of boyhood - petticoats, skeleton suit, and jacket, shirt, and trousers.

THE CHILDREN OF RICHARD CROFT, 6TH Bt.,c.1803, by John James Halls, R.A. In this image one can see the three stages of boyhood – petticoats, skeleton suit, and jacket, shirt, and trousers.

**The type of clothing that young boys wore after the breeching ceremony depended on the century. During the 17th century, children’s clothes looked like miniature versions of adults. Young boys wore waistcoats, shirts, breeches, stockings and leather shoes. But by the time Jane Austen and Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote their remarks in 1801, childhood was extended. Little boys wore skeleton suits until the age of nine, and then were graduated into more adult like clothing. Sons of the working class and poor did not wear skeleton suits, but wore clothing that resembled that of their farmer and laborer fathers.

More on the Topic:

  • The Well-Dressed Regency Boy Wore a Skelton Suit on this blog
  • Baby Jane Austen’s First Two Years on this blog
  • The Conservation of Edward Austen Knight’s Childhood Suit: Chawton House Library on this blog
  • Recommended reading: Boy to Man: The Breeching Ceremony

Other links and resources:

  • What is Masculinity?, by John H. Arnold, Sean Brady, 2011
  • Thicker Than Water: Siblings and Their Relations, 1780-1920, Leonore Davidoff, 2012
  • Clothes and the Child: Handbook of Children’s Dress in England 1500-1900 by Anne Buck (Aug 27, 1996)
  • Huck’s raft: a history of American childhood, By Steven Mintz

Share with others:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Posted in jane austen, Jane Austen's World, Regency Life, Regency Period, Regency style, Regency World | Tagged breeching ceremony, Male Regency fashion, Regency Fashion, Samuel T. Coleridge | 15 Comments

15 Responses

  1. on April 12, 2013 at 00:29 Sarah Joyce

    Such an interesting article! My observation is that elements of this practice continued until fairly recently. I have an idealized studio photo of my grandfather at the age of 3 or 4, taken in 1902 in England, in which he is dressed in a white cotton dress, and with very long, ‘prettified’ hair. You would assume that this photo was of a little girl. A photograph taken at about the age of 6 or 7 show him with shorn hair and breeches, standing at attention. It would appear that this practice continued even just prior to WWI…& possibly later?


    • on April 12, 2013 at 00:44 Vic

      The practice certainly continued through the early 20th century. My father had long locks when he was a little boy, but he was breeched quite early – at the age of 3 or 4 tops.


  2. on April 12, 2013 at 05:26 Jessica

    Thank you for your blog. I am always fascinated and intrigued by your subject matter and how it is presented.
    I have a portrait/ painting of my Great-Grandfather adorned in velvet and lace. His hat is grand and he has golden ringlets. My sins have found it difficult to understand why their ancestor, who in later photographs appears very much a man’s man, looks so angelic and feminine as a child. I look forward to sharing your article with the family so they can understand the concept of the male right of passage and the Breeching Ceremony. l


  3. on April 12, 2013 at 05:34 HJ

    Leaving aside the symbolism, I am intrigued by the practicalities. It is my observation that it is much easier for babies to crawl when they are wearing leggings of some type (a babygrow or dungarees or trousers etc.) rather than skirts, which get in the way. Also, it seems to me that leggings are warmer than skirts, in cold climates like England’s. So to me it’s surprising that all children were wearing petticoats etc. rather than all children wearing breeches!


    • on April 12, 2013 at 20:33 Snickers' Mom

      Perhaps easier to change whatever they used for diapers?


  4. on April 12, 2013 at 07:15 Mary Ellen

    Wonderful paintings — thanks for bringing that all together —


  5. on April 12, 2013 at 10:00 Annabel Mallia

    Very informative. I had always supposed the children depicted to be girls. Now I know better! Thanks


  6. on April 12, 2013 at 10:56 Sophia Rose

    I had heard ‘breeching’ mentioned before and had a general idea about it. Thanks for sharing these details.


  7. on April 12, 2013 at 13:11 lmadden42

    I have a picture of my uncle, born in about 1915 with my grandmother. He’s in a dress with long curls. I was surprised when my mother first told me he was not a she. So it looks like the custom didn’t die out with the turn of the century.
    It reminds me more of the still extant Jewish tradition. Among many Orthodox Jews young boys’ hair is not cut until their third birthday. The ceremony called, an “upsharin” (I’m not totally sure of the spelling) is accompanied by a celebration. And, unlike the introduction of the “baby naming” and “bat mitzvah” for girls to give some roughly equivalent attention to birth and puberty, there is nothing equivalent for girls.


  8. on April 12, 2013 at 17:09 Jennifer Redlarczyk

    Thanks for posting. The pictures are wonderful! Jen Red


  9. on April 12, 2013 at 22:48 Eileen Landau

    My father-in-law, born in 1915, was dressed in petticoats with long, corkscrews of blond hair. It was the custom and no one thought anything strange about it. Sometime around his 5th birthday he was wearing knickers and his Samson locks were shorn! And he did look angelic!


  10. on April 12, 2013 at 23:23 revolutionarypie

    A studio photo of my father at around age 3 shows him in a white dress and with long curls (like the first commentor’s grandfather), but this was in the mid-1930s, in Belgium. I don’t know if he was dressed that way on a daily basis, however.


  11. on April 14, 2013 at 09:48 The Breeching Ceremony of a Young Boy and His Rite of Passage: Regency Fashion | Murosymuebles's Blog

    […] The Breeching Ceremony of a Young Boy and His Rite of Passage: Regency Fashion. […]


  12. on April 18, 2013 at 11:48 History A’la Carte 4-18-13 | Maria Grace

    […] The Breeching Ceremony of a Young Boy and His Rite of Passage: Regency Fashion […]


  13. on April 22, 2013 at 14:10 The Breeching Ceremony of a Young Boy and His Rite of Passage: Regency Fashion | historical tales

    […]  Read story […]



Comments are closed.

  • Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

    Join 6,694 other followers

  • Follow Jane Austen's World on WordPress.com
  • Blog Stats

    • 14,696,679 hits
  • Editing Constancy: A Jane Austen Story

    Book cover of Editing Constancy

    Click on this link to read an excerpt of Gerard Charles Wilson’s most recent book. You can download the Kindle version of the book from Amazon.com

  • The Obituary of Charlotte Collins by Andrew Capes

    Click on image to read the story.

  • Comments

    “My idea of good company…is the company of clever, well-informed people, who have a great deal of conversation.” – Jane Austen, Persuasion

     

    Gentle readers: Please feel free to post your comments and continue the conversation!

    Regretfully, due to SPAMMERS, we will no longer accept comments on posts that were published over 30 days ago. In some instances, links will be removed from comments as well.

  • Administrators and Contributors

    Vic Sanborn, founder of this blog, is supported by a team of talented and knowledgeable writers about Jane Austen and the Regency era. They are:

    • Tony Grant,
    • Brenda Cox, and
    • Rachel Dodge.

    Click on their names to enter their own blogs.

    In addition, we thank the many experts and authors who frequently contribute their posts and opinions, and who continue to do so freely or at our request.

  • The Anne of Green Gables Devotional by Rachel Dodge, one of this blog’s writers!

    Find a book  description and order information on Rachel Dodge’s website. Click on this link.

    Find a review of the book by Brenda Cox, another JAW author, on her website. Click on this link.

  • Podcast Reviews: First Impressions-Why All the Austen Haters Are Wrong

    Image of Victorian woman listening to a podcast with earphonesIn this podcast series First Impressions (59 episodes so far), hosts Kristin and Maggie hilariously discuss the brilliance of Jane Austen and how her novels give us unparalleled insight into our own lives and characters. There’s no shame in loving (and obsessively re-reading) Austen’s novels, which are just as fresh and relevant as they were 200 years ago. Kristin and Maggie are here to give a big [lady] finger to any haters who say otherwise!

    Click here to enter the site.

  • Pin It!

    Follow Me on Pinterest
  • Top Posts

    • Social Customs During the Regency
      Social Customs During the Regency
    • Highclere Castle Floor Plan: The Real Downton Abbey
      Highclere Castle Floor Plan: The Real Downton Abbey
    • Men's hair styles at the turn of the 19th century
      Men's hair styles at the turn of the 19th century
    • Awkward! The Regency Court Gown: Regency Fashion
      Awkward! The Regency Court Gown: Regency Fashion
    • Regency Fashion: Men's Breeches, Pantaloons, and Trousers
      Regency Fashion: Men's Breeches, Pantaloons, and Trousers
    • Ladies Underdrawers in Regency Times: Regency Underwear
      Ladies Underdrawers in Regency Times: Regency Underwear
    • The heaving Regency bosom, or was it? Some facts laid bare.
      The heaving Regency bosom, or was it? Some facts laid bare.
    • You can watch Persuasion 2007 online
      You can watch Persuasion 2007 online
    • Regency Hygiene: The Bourdaloue
      Regency Hygiene: The Bourdaloue
    • Regency Fashion: Keeping Hems Clean
      Regency Fashion: Keeping Hems Clean
  • Recent Posts

    • New Beginnings at Chawton Cottage
    • A Day in Catherine Morland’s Bath
    • The Contents of a Lady’s Reticule: Part 2
    • The Contents of a Lady’s Reticule: Part 1
    • Merry Christmas to All: A Jane Austen Christmas
  • Bookmark

    Add to DeliciousAdd to DiggAdd to FaceBookAdd to Google BookmarkAdd to MySpaceAdd to NewsvineAdd to RedditAdd to StumbleUponAdd to TechnoratiAdd to Twitter
  • Links to Jane Austen Blogs

    Click here to enter the page. Topics include Regency fashion, historic foods, Jane Austen societies, British sites, related topics. Click on image.

  • Find Jane Austen on Google

  • This blog has no commercial purpose

    Any ads you see are placed here by Wordpress. I make no profit off my blog. I do receive books and DVDs for review.
  • Hello, my name is Vic and I live in Maryland, USA. I have adored Jane Austen almost all of my life. I am a proud lifetime member of the Jane Austen Society of North America. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. I do not accept any form of cash advertising, sponsorship, or paid topic insertions. However, I do accept and keep books, DVDs and CDs to review.

    If you would like to share a new site, or point out an error, please email me. (Yes, I am fallible. I'll own up to my mistakes and will make the corrections with a polite smile on my face.) Write me at

    gmailbw

    Thank you for visiting my blog. Your comments and suggestions are most welcome.

  • Copyright Statement

    © Vic Sanborn and Jane Austen's World, 2010. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Vic Sanborn and Jane Austen's World with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
  • Top Posts & Pages

    • Social Customs During the Regency
    • Highclere Castle Floor Plan: The Real Downton Abbey
    • Men's hair styles at the turn of the 19th century
    • Awkward! The Regency Court Gown: Regency Fashion
    • Regency Fashion: Men's Breeches, Pantaloons, and Trousers
    • Ladies Underdrawers in Regency Times: Regency Underwear
    • The heaving Regency bosom, or was it? Some facts laid bare.
    • You can watch Persuasion 2007 online
    • Regency Hygiene: The Bourdaloue
    • Regency Fashion: Keeping Hems Clean
  • Page copy protected against web site content infringement by Copyscape

Blog at WordPress.com.

WPThemes.


Cancel
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
%d bloggers like this: