Merkins?

[Dure]

Why in the 19th century did Merkins get popular in Europe and in America? Just something I'm wondering about; but I read it had something to do with the wives and widows of deceased Confederate soldiers being without a means of support and selling their own hair to the Hassock makers.

 

[Dathi THorfinnsson]

Why in the 19th century did Merkins get popular in Europe and in America? Just something I'm wondering about; but I read it had something to do with the wives and widows of deceased Confederate soldiers being without a means of support and selling their own hair to the Hassock makers.

So, I google "Merkin" and it basically comes out a 'hair piece for the genitalia'. At a wild guess, this is NOT what became popular in the Victoria era - or was it even worse than I thought?

 

[Wanderlust]

No, that is what he means. Though I heard the reason it became popular was the prevalence of crabs - pubic lice to our itchy pedants.

 

[Dure]

I don't think crabs have any thing to do with it. I can see you might wear a merkin to frighten away wild animals but crabs are too stupid and anyway with those big Victorian swimming suits how could the crab see the Merkin when you went for a dip at Brighton?

 

[Ofaloaf]

I don't think crabs have any thing to do with it. I can see you might wear a merkin to frighten away wild animals but crabs are too stupid and anyway with those big Victorian swimming suits how could the crab see the Merkin when you went for a dip at Brighton?

I'm not certain if you're serious here.


Wandy's talking about these crabs.

 

[Dure]

Nah! They have seriously big crabs at Brighton, the merkins would eat little crabs like that for breakfast.