Tudor (and medieval) hygiene practices (including research comparison w/ modern)

[Evie]

Just leaving this here to help dispel the modern myth that people in earlier periods were a dirty, smelly lot:

https://newrepublic.com/article/129828/getting-clean-tudor-way

Especially interesting is the bit towards the end about the comparison between someone practicing authentic medieval living for three months (including hygienic practices) compared to someone else at the living history site practicing modern-style daily bathing but without changing body linens daily and keeping them laundered, as would have been medieval practice. Granted, having regular access to both is optimal (and it's historically documented that at least the Anglo-Saxon women found at least one thing to like about the Viking invaders, and that was that they bathed weekly in addition to changing their body linens!), but at least we needn't worry about our distant ancestors reeking to high heaven!   

[Jerusha]

As I was reading this, I kept thinking I was hearing a "familiar voice."  Sure enough, it was Ruth Goodman, and I just happened to purchase the book this came from last week.  I am looking forward to a good read!

[LucyM]

Very interesting! It makes a lot of sense. (Far more sense than the stupid list that goes around Facebook every so often about ancient practices that became modern cliches like "raining cats and dogs")