April - and The Order of the Garter

Dear Readers,

These days Garters & Garter Belts are used primarily as dress adornment accentuating the sexuality of women, satisfying fetish and signalling an 'invitation' with alluring, fancy, seductive (and expensive) ladies underwear.

Was it always thus?

Garters and Garter Belts probably originated as a functional form of 'clothing' in pre history. Primitive man (and woman) needed somewhere to put their 'cutting tool' when running & chasing prey through the bush, gathering food or moving camp. A simple belt, sheath and tie at the leg - as a gunslingers holster - no doubt sufficed. If a suitable bug repellant plant or bark was used they may have also been a useful 'barrier' to some insects wanting to nest in a nice warm soft place LOL.

The concept developed no doubt over time and history, with both men and women using its practicality. Not only to hold up more clothes & stockings with their advent, but also for clan or group identification with different distinctive types (e.g. Knights leg armour straps). And of course continuance to hold things, particularly daggers & knives, the main eating utensil after fingers in medieval times. No intimate dinners in those days, communal eating in the Great Castles and Great Houses of the time were the go and you had to bring your own cutlery.

Women, ever the seducers, may have given their handkerchiefs to men for them to tie around their arm giving their public favour to them - such as Knights at jousts or in Battle - but giving her garter - secretly, unseen and private - offered a much more intimate favour on their return. Yummy.

Weddings used to be very public affairs. After the ceremony and festivities Bride and Groom would retire to the bedchamber, guests would follow to physically witness removal of the Garter by the groom - symbolic of her de-flowering and loss of virginity. A free for all then ensued with guests grabbing as much bridal clothing as possible, sometimes even ripping bits of it off the bride, but the Garter was the major piece. "Tossing the Garter" and  "Tossing the bridal bouquet" at weddings today originate from this ye olde custom.

http://www.hudsonvalleyweddings.com/guide/tossing-the-bouquet.htm

King Edward III (1327 - 1377) founded the most Noble Order of the Garter (around 1344 to 1348), the oldest and highest of the honours system in the UK. The story goes that while dancing at Court the Countess of Salisbury's garter slipped and came off. Amid snickering of the courtiers the King picked up the Garter and said "Honi Soit qui Mal y pense" (Shame on him who thinks evil upon it). The remark had a double meaning: Shame on him who thinks evil regarding sexual favours granted with the Garter - as Eddie III was a notorious womaniser (so probably lots of unknown decendents around the world with a claim to the British Monarchy) - and Shame on him who thinks evil regarding his claim to the French throne - for which he started the "100 Years War' between Britain and France. Actually this dynastic war lasted 116 years on and off and remains to this day the foundation of a sort of love hate relationship (or at least a certain friendly rivalry) between the two countries (c'est ne pas chez Elle?).

As a matter of interest he started the Order of the Garter - a unique, small, intimate, privileged and close band of Nobles and Knights around him, supposedly dedicated to chivalry and honour - based on the Arthurian Round Table concept and the principle that you keep your friends close but your enemies or potential enemies closer. He did not want any of his Barons switching sides during the war depending on who had the upper hand. Our guess is that he used the idea of the 'Garter' to be symbolic of closeness and intimacy.

So next time you are hobnobbing with the high and mighty 'Sir or Lady Whoever', just imagine them naked - except of course for the Garter round their thigh & just below their groin.

In the meantime what's changed, we think perhaps not so much.

hugs and kisses

dolltime

Commentary and opinions expressed are those of the author for entertainment purposes only and are not to be taken necessarily as authoritative.