When introductions of women were made, the older woman in the household was Mrs. Lastname. If there was an older female in the house she was Miss Last name. The next female was Miss First Name and a youngest child was just called by her first name. At what age did the Miss Last name gain that distinction. Was it because she was considered an old maid at that time or because she was the eldest daughter?
Also, what is Michaelmas.
2006-08-07 04:51:57 · 9 answers · asked by darkdiva 6 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Ok the rule is (or rather was I've got sisters and it never worked this way for us).
Mother is called Mrs Last Name
Eldest Daughter is called Miss Last Name
any other daughters are called Miss First Name.
Only when eldest daugher gets married, does next eldest daugher become Miss Last Name.
Michaelmas is one of the old quarterdays in England, it represents the feast of St Michael the Archangel and was the 29th September. Hence the autumn flowering Michaelmas daisies.
2006-08-07 05:10:06 · answer #1 · answered by UKJess 4 · 14⤊ 0⤋
The two above writers are correct. That is why there was quite a scandal if a younger daughter married first. Have you read Pride and Prejudice? When Lydia is married she insists on entering the house before Jane and Lizzie as she now has precedence over them.
Quarter days, such as Michaelmas (short for Michael's mass) were days when tenants paid their rent to their Lord. The other days were Ladyday; Midsummer and Christmas. I only remember Michaelmas as I was taught as a child that you should never pick blackberries after Michaelmas as they had been overlooked by the devil.
2006-08-07 08:25:51 · answer #2 · answered by happyjumpyfrog 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go with UK Jess. And let me add this. It was a clear way of identifying the status of the different "misses" in the households, as the oldest daughter was expected to marry first and then that brought each daughter up a notch towards being eligible for marriage. The daughters who were called just by their first names were not considered of marriage age yet and the designation warned the gentlemen callers asto who was and who was not "fair game", as it were.
2006-08-07 05:46:37 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A little girl is called Miss FIRST name when she is at home with her parents and not of marrying age. She attains the Miss LAST name when she is of marrying age.
2006-08-07 04:57:46 · answer #4 · answered by Marvinator 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't know answer to your main question but Michaelmas is Christmas!!!
2006-08-07 04:56:52 · answer #5 · answered by l 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
maybe when she reached her 21st birthday,and i only know Michaelmas daisy
2006-08-07 04:57:38 · answer #6 · answered by dumplingmuffin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
call em miss if aint married
Michaelmas is a pagan festival
2006-08-07 04:55:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I need a couple asprin.
2006-08-07 04:58:29 · answer #8 · answered by wzzrd 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What the ?
2006-08-07 04:55:46 · answer #9 · answered by Blurb 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋