5. Calling Cards for Every Visit
During the 18th and 19th centuries, fashionable society expected visitors to leave calling cards upon visiting a home. This complex ritual determined social ranking and relationships, a practice detailed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The cards, often elaborately designed, served as a formal introduction and were essential for maintaining social connections. The etiquette surrounding their use was intricate, with specific rules governing when and how they should be left, reflecting the rigid social structures of the time.
