Highlights from my collection of nineteenth and early twentieth century photographs (cabinet photographs, cartes de visite (cdvs), albumen prints, real photographic postcards) of men with moustaches (or mustaches, depending on which side of the pond you hail from). We travel the world gleaning bits of information whilst admiring the expertly twirled moustaches on display.

Friday 22nd Movember: Montbazin, Herault

In France, April Fool's Day is celebrated in a different fashion to England. Rather than rabbits and hares, fish are the order of the day. Children and adults alike pin paper fish to the backs of unsuspecting victims and shout "April Fish" or "Poisson d'Avril". Many late nineteenth and early twentieth century French 'fantaisie' postcards feature April Fish.

But why do we all celebrate April 1st?

In most European towns New Year's Day used to be celebrated on March 25th (the Feast of the Annunciation) with a week long holiday ending on April 1st. When, by the mid 16th century, the calendar was altered and New Year's Day became the 1st January, those who still celebrated with the holiday ending on the 1st April were 'fools'...

Here's one of my Poisson d'Avril favourites, sent from Montbazin in Languedoc-Roussillon in 1911.







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