 A handkerchief is a small, square, thin, cloth used for wiping the nose and eyes. Originally, the Romans used the "orarium" and "sudarium" to wipe their faces and mouths. These were sumptuous cloths that were impregnated with perfumeand would be worn around the neck, on the shoulder or in the hand.
The pocket-handkerchief is in fact only 400 years old. It was the ingenious idea of an aristocratic Venetian lady to cut a square out of pure flax and then to decorate it with lace. She showed it in the course of a promenade ina public garden, where the delicate handkerchief excited the general curiosity of the on lookers.
From Italy, the handkerchief soon crosses the Alps and spreads through France where it finds a great success with the lords and ladies in the court of Henry II. The handkerchief of this period was made with the most expensive fabrics, adorned with embroidery, and were objects of great luxury.
It isn't until about 1850 that Germany adopts the handkerchief, but it is only used by royalty and the very rich.
Up until the 18th century, the handkerchief came in many forms: it might be square, round, triangular, etc. One day at Versailles, Marie-Antoinette made the observation that the squared form would be more esthetically pleasing and convenient, Louis XVI therefore published a decree ordering the length of handkerchiefs produced in the kingdom would be equal to their width. (Translations of excerpts taken from : " Les Textiles, Histoires et Travailby M. and E. Theodore)
Now 150 years later the handkerchief has all but been replaced by tissue forits more mundane uses. It has even become relatively hard to find. ( Try looking for one in a department store.) But the hanky will never go completely out of style as long as brides and their moms still need to dry their eyes and have a lasting remembrance of the wedding day.
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Wedding Handkerchiefs beautifully gift boxed with original poetry. Dry your family, friends and attendants tears of joy on your wedding day. Change and personalize any New Beginnings wedding poem to suit your special needs or write your own poem and we’ll print it. More than 15 styles of handkerchiefs to choose from along with more than 50 original wedding poems. All hankies are imported from Switzerland and are of the finest quality.
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