Curious Rambler

The tabloids of the day called Marie Antoinette “Madame Deficit” and pinned France’s financial woes squarely on her shoulders. But was that really fair, or did she get a bad rap? The Queen justifiably had a reputation for excessive spending, but it was distorted by political propaganda, exaggeration, and bad timing. The real Marie Antoinette was more complicated – and more interesting – than the…

The Affair of the Diamond Necklace History is full of scandals, but few sparkle like the Affair of the Diamond Necklace. This story features an outrageously expensive necklace, a clueless cardinal, a clever con artist, and a queen with a bad reputation– although in this case she did nothing wrong… but got blamed anyway. Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette A Gift Fit for a Queen?  Marie Antoinette…

Gouda: The City Behind the Cheese The charming little city of Gouda Gouda is a small, picturesque city located just south of Amsterdam. It looks typically Dutch with its canals and narrow streets. Then, of course, there’s the lively central square where the traditional Gouda cheese market takes place every Thursday morning during the spring and summer months. Horse and wagon waiting to be…

A Viking King, a Kentucky family, two mysterious children in England, and Victorian wallpaper… What’s the link? This month’s Curious History Review is all about color – specifically blue and green. It all started when I was pairing my wireless mouse to my computer. I wondered, “Why is Bluetooth called Bluetooth?” That simple question led me to a Viking King, Harald Bluetooth, and the surprising…

We all know that Bluetooth is what allows our various devices to talk to one another. But have you ever wondered about that odd name – Bluetooth? Well, as it turns out, the name was inspired by a 10th-century Viking king called Harald Bluetooth.  But why name a modern wireless system after a Viking king? The answer is a fascinating blend of history, symbolism, and the idea of unification. Let’s…

Is there anything more comforting than a nice, steaming hot cup of tea? Whether you’re having a bad day, settling in with a good book, or simply trying to figure out whether milk goes in first or last, tea has a way of making everything feel a little more manageable.  It’s also steeped in history, folklore, rituals, and even the most legendary tea address in London. Over the past few years, I’ve…

Have you ever looked up at a gothic cathedral and found yourself staring into the stony face of a strange creature — half-human, half-something else? Gargoyles and grotesques have been watching us from the walls and rooftops of Europe’s great churches for centuries. And the more you look, the more fascinating they become. Over the years I’ve written a few articles that have become rather popular…

In the 1800s, few colors captured the Victorian imagination quite like the new vivid green color called Scheele’s Green. It symbolized nature, health, and modernity – the perfect complement to a stylish Victorian interior. But behind this beautiful hue lurked a sinister secret. The very pigment that brightened the walls was laced with arsenic, and under certain conditions, it could poison the…

Spring is in the air, and curious histories are popping up like posies in the park. The Curious Rambler has a new newsletter-style format that I hope you’ll enjoy. This month, for your reading pleasure, I bring you four fascinating stories and a Curious History calendar: Let’s dive right in… All the spring blooms here in England got me thinking about a curious Victorian custom of sending coded…

What Is the Victorian Language of Flowers? The Victorian language of flowers – also known as floriography – was a system that allowed people to communicate emotions through flowers. Each blooming stem had a specific meaning, so a bouquet could express love, jealousy, friendship, or even rejection without a single word being spoken. When Flowers Spoke Louder Than Words With the help of popular…

A mysterious face carved into Palazzo Vecchio has long been linked to Michelangelo. Now, a newly discovered sketch could turn this Renaissance legend into reality. In September 2019, I wrote about a bit of “graffiti” which is carved into the front of Florence’s Palazzo Vecchio. Through the ages, the small carving had been attributed to Michelangelo, but has never been any real evidence. No one…

Easter is one of the most recognizable holidays of spring. Children hunt for brightly colored eggs, chocolate bunnies line store shelves, and families gather to celebrate. However, many of the traditions surrounding Easter are surprisingly strange: Why does a rabbit deliver eggs in America? Why do church bells sprout wings and fly over France? And what could possibly explain a giant cart full of…

What did Medieval towns do when rodents were eating their grain or insects were feasting on their grape vines? They didn’t call the exterminator or pop to the shop for a can of powder or spray… They took the little critters to court. That’s right, they took them to ecclesiastical court. These were legal courts that dealt with moral and religious matters – and apparently, that included mice, rat,…

History isn’t always about battles or political intrigue. Sometimes, it can be about how something as simple as passing wind can change a life or affect society.  Today we’ll be looking at the lives of four historical men and see their relationship with this bodily function. We’ll see how farting could earn you fame, exile, spiritual peace, or inspire new ideas. Roland the Farter and King Henry…