11. In Elizabethan England these rags would sometimes come loose and fall on the floor, prompting people (men) to call them “monstrous clouts” and “filthy rags”.
12. Ancient Jews called referred to it as niddah. During niddah women were forced to separate their unclean bodies from society, lest their icky functions contaminate men around them.
https://giphy.com/gifs/ava-gardner-plantation-text-speaks-ogdvFHlee2nZe
At some point niddah transformed to mean “sin and impurity in general,” which really tells you everything you need to know.
13. Everything they touched during this time was cleansed by a Rabbi before it was deemed ‘clean’ enough for others.
After their niddah ended, women were once again allowed into the world to touch all the things! Until 3 weeks later…
14. The French used to think period sex would lead to the birth of a “monster.”
Or, more specifically, something “puny, languid, and moribund, subject to an infinity of fetid maladies, foul and stinking.”
15. Some cultures believed period blood to be an aphrodisiac. In the African-American hoodoo tradition, it was believed that mixing period blood into a dude’s coffee would make him fall in love with you.
https://giphy.com/gifs/sororitynoise-sorority-noise-l2SpXensc5RhNzfK8
Frighteningly enough, some still do.
16. Brits in the 1800’s believed a woman on her period ruined food and turned wine into vinegar.
Seems like a good excuse to horde all the food and wine.
17. American schoolchildren in the 40s and 50 learned about menstruation by watching this Disney video:
Parenting was not really a priority back then.