You've just found out one of your friends is getting hitched.
After the squeals of delight, a close inspection of the
engagement ring and
some repressed urges to let her know what she's getting herself
in for, it might occur to you that you should probably throw your
friend a shower. After all, you're hoping she'll do the same for
you, aren't you? And, if she already has, you'll really look like
a wench if you don't reciprocate. But before we provide the ins
and outs of shower-throwing, a little history is in order.
What
is a shower?
A
daily bathing ritual with the purpose of removing dirt, grime,
and other filth off the personal corpus. It scares us that you
were not aware of this.
OK,
smart-alec, so what is a WEDDING shower?
Oh,
that! Well, literally, a "shower" refers to the multitude
of good wishes and, more importantly, gifts showered upon the
guest of honor. It is said that the first wedding shower can be
traced back to the Dutch, where a young girl fell in love with
a poor (but generous) miller, who had shared his possessions with
some villagers who had fallen on hard times. Her father, furious
with his daughter's "poor" choice, refused to bestow
a dowry (a sum of money or goods) necessary for the couple to
establish a home. When word of this spread through the village,
the community came together and "showered" the couple
with gifts, so they could begin their life together, and a tradition
had begun.