漲知識(shí)：“紳士行為”的歷史你知道嗎？

你曾好奇過(guò)為什么我們紳士會(huì)有我們特有的做派嗎?有時(shí)，了解我們的文化規(guī)范起源于何處能讓我們從新的角度欣賞它們。而在其他時(shí)候，這正好可以成為有趣的小知識(shí)。無(wú)論怎樣，我們希望你會(huì)像我們一樣覺(jué)得這些歷史趣聞?dòng)幸馑肌?

Do you ever wonder why we man do the things we do? In some cases, understanding where our cultural norms come from can give us a renewed appreciation for them. In other cases, it just makes for fun trivia. Either way, we hope you’ll find these historical tidbits as interesting as we do.

你曾好奇過(guò)為什么我們紳士會(huì)有特有的做派嗎?有時(shí)，了解我們的文化規(guī)范起源于何處能讓我們從新的角度欣賞它們。而在其他時(shí)候，這正好可以成為有趣的小知識(shí)。無(wú)論怎樣，我們希望你會(huì)像我們一樣覺(jué)得這些歷史趣聞?dòng)幸馑肌?/p>

Why do we escort women on our left arm?

為什么我們用左臂護(hù)送女伴?

When a man escorts his partner, tradition has it that he offers his left arm. This tradition originates from medieval times when men escorted women around town and through the fields. Should a threat arise or the woman’s honor require defending, the man’s sword hand (his right hand) would be free, giving him quick and easy access to his sword, worn on his left side.

當(dāng)一位男士護(hù)送他的女伴時(shí)，按照傳統(tǒng)，他要伸出左臂。這一傳統(tǒng)起源于中世紀(jì)，那時(shí)女士在鎮(zhèn)上四處走動(dòng)或在田野中穿行時(shí)會(huì)有男士護(hù)送。萬(wàn)一有危險(xiǎn)發(fā)生或者需要維護(hù)女伴的榮譽(yù)，男士慣于用劍的手(他的右手)將是空閑的狀態(tài)，這樣就能讓他立馬輕松抽出佩戴在身體左側(cè)的劍了。

To this day, the left arm rule still applies while indoors. However, with the rise of wheeled vehicles and non-pedestrian streets, the proper escorting etiquette evolved over the years for outdoor environments. Today, when escorting a women outdoors, you should position yourself on the outside (closest to the street) to protect her from traffic, mud splashing, etc.

直到今天，用左臂護(hù)送女伴的規(guī)則在室內(nèi)仍然被沿用。但是，隨著有輪交通工具和非步行街的興起，戶外環(huán)境下護(hù)送女伴的適宜的禮儀這幾年也有所演變。如今，在室外偕女伴而行時(shí)，你應(yīng)該讓自己處于外側(cè)(離街道最近)，以便保護(hù)她與來(lái)往的車輛和四濺的泥水等隔開(kāi)。

Why are the bottom buttons of our suit jackets and blazers never to be fastened?

為什么我們的西裝外套和輕便夾克最下面的那顆扣子從來(lái)不扣?

This fashion guideline is typically attributed to King Edward VII, the British monarch from 1901 until his death in 1910. Quite the gourmand, King Edward loved his food so much that the royal tailors often had trouble keeping up with his ballooning figure. One day, seeking reprieve from the confining constriction of his waistcoat , King Edward casually unbuttoned the bottom button. At that time, the King set the fashion trends and when members of his court saw his new look, they quickly emulated it. The fad spread like wildfire and within weeks unbuttoned bottom buttons were found everywhere.

這一時(shí)尚指南通常要?dú)w功于英王愛(ài)德華七世(在位時(shí)間從1901年到1910年去世為止)。愛(ài)德華國(guó)王是個(gè)十足的美食家，他對(duì)食物非同一般的喜愛(ài)讓皇家御用裁縫做衣服的速度經(jīng)常難以趕上他不斷發(fā)福的身材。一天，為了從馬甲過(guò)緊的束縛中求得放松，愛(ài)德華國(guó)王隨意地解開(kāi)了最下面的那顆扣子。在那個(gè)年代，國(guó)王就是流行風(fēng)尚的發(fā)起者，當(dāng)一些朝臣看到國(guó)王的新裝扮，他們便迫不及待地開(kāi)始模仿。這股風(fēng)潮像野火一般擴(kuò)散開(kāi)來(lái)，沒(méi)出幾周，便處處可見(jiàn)人們解開(kāi)外套最下面的那顆扣子。

We continue to honor the memory of Edward the Wide to this day. Modern suit jackets and blazers are actually designed to cutaway at the hips with the bottom button left undone. Buttoning it results in unsightly pulling and bunching of fabric at the waist and disapproving looks from your fellow gentlemen.

我們一直到今天都還在表示對(duì)身寬體胖的愛(ài)德華國(guó)王的紀(jì)念。實(shí)際上，現(xiàn)代西服外套和輕便夾克的前下擺在髖部是設(shè)計(jì)成圓角的，最下面那顆扣子是解開(kāi)的。如果你扣上了，腰部的布料會(huì)繃緊打褶，非常不雅觀，你的紳士同伴們也會(huì)露出不悅的表情。

Why do we give toasts?

我們?yōu)槭裁匆淳?

In ancient Greece, being poisoned was a real and constant fear. In order to allay this fear, at a party, the host would pour wine for his guests and then take the first drink and toast everyone to show that the wine was safe to drink. Incidentally, the term "toast" also comes from this tradition. Toasting is a reference to the toasted bread that ancient Greeks dipped into their wine to cut the acidity.

在古希臘，被人下毒是一種真實(shí)存在且不斷發(fā)生的令人恐懼的事情。為了解除這種恐懼，在聚會(huì)上，主人會(huì)為賓客們倒酒，然后自己喝下第一口，再向每個(gè)人敬酒，以示酒可以安全喝下。巧合的是，“toast (敬酒)”這個(gè)詞也來(lái)源于這一傳統(tǒng)。“Toasting”指的是古希臘人吃的烤面包，為了減少酸味，他們吃面包時(shí)會(huì)蘸酒。

Where did the custom of removing or tipping a hat as a sign of respect come from?

摘下帽子或輕觸帽子以示尊重這一習(xí)俗是從哪兒來(lái)的?

In medieval times, knights often encountered each other in full armor making it difficult to distinguish friend from foe. As a sign of friendliness, knights would lift their helmet visors, showing their faces to one another. The custom of tipping ones hat to another, as a symbol of politeness, is a direct descendant of this medieval practice. Interesting note: the modern military salute shares the same origin.

中世紀(jì)時(shí)期，騎士們遇到彼此時(shí)常常都是全副武裝，這讓他們很難分清敵友。作為一種友好的示意，騎士們會(huì)抬起頭盔上的面甲，互相讓對(duì)方看清自己的臉。沖著他人輕觸帽子作為一種禮貌的標(biāo)志，正是直接從這一中世紀(jì)慣例演變而來(lái)。有趣的一點(diǎn)是：現(xiàn)代軍隊(duì)的敬禮也起源于此。

Why do we give flowers to communicate our feelings of love, friendship, grief, sympathy and congratulations?

為什么我們要通過(guò)送花來(lái)表達(dá)愛(ài)、友誼、悲傷、同情和祝賀這些情感?

In the 1700’s, Charles II of Sweden returned from Persia, bringing with him the custom of "the language of flowers" to Europe. Different flowers communicated different sentiments or meanings to the point that entire conversations were carried out through the sending and receiving of flower bouquets. Today we usually communicate our intent overtlywith an attached note or card but the custom of sending flowers endures.

在18世紀(jì)，瑞典國(guó)王查爾斯二世從波斯歸來(lái)，把“花語(yǔ)”這樣的風(fēng)俗也帶到了歐洲。當(dāng)時(shí)，不同的花表達(dá)不同的感情、傳遞不同的信息，甚至到了整個(gè)對(duì)話都完全能通過(guò)收送花束來(lái)進(jìn)行的程度。今天，我們常常通過(guò)附上留言條或卡片來(lái)公開(kāi)地表達(dá)我們的意圖，但送花的習(xí)俗一直保留了下來(lái)。