Melbourne’s love affair with old traditions that have become new again

THEY’VE been around for a hundred years or more, but in Melbourne these old traditions are enjoying a new lease of life.

Women are opting to celebrate the impending birth of their babies with a baby shower.

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LIKE an old pair of jeans, old traditions are becoming new again with the rise of kitchen teas and baby showers.

Originating in the 1890s kitchen teas are believed to have taken the place of earlier dowry practices and provided goods for the marital home.

Once the bread and butter of more wealthy brides-to-be, the practice seemed to lose its popularity in the 1980s.

But slowly they are coming back into fashion.

Monique Kellett, 30, had a kitchen tea before her wedding but said it was never a conscious thought to have one and it was arranged by her bridesmaids.

“I think it’s nice to have for older guests who may not want to attend the hens party,” she said.

“I agree that it’s probably an older tradition but then if you think about the wedding day, much of what we do is because of tradition.”

Guests at a baby shower normally dine on themed treats — especially if the couple knows what sex the baby is.

Monique and her husband Ollie had recently moved into their Berwick home together, but asked guests not to bring presents to the kitchen tea — instead a plate of food and a favourite recipe that was then made into a special keepsake.

“It was more about ticking off the kitchen tea rather than getting things for the kitchen,” she said.

“Although in a nod to tradition we did play games with kitchen utensils as prizes.”

Baby showers were once held after the birth of the baby but now they are held about a month before the baby is due. Picture: iStock Image

Baby showers began to take shape in the Victorian era but normally occurred after the birth of the child.

This all changed after World War Two, during the baby boom era when expectant mothers were showered with gifts before their baby was born.

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Kelly and Luke Egginton are expecting their first child in April and Kelly along with some helpers are busily planning the baby shower for later this month.

Originally the Chirnside Park mum-to-be wasn’t sure if she wanted to have a shower at all, but changed her mind because she felt like it was a nice way to celebrate a new baby.

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“It’s a great excuse to see all your nearest and dearest before parenthood takes over most of your time,” she said.

“And my mum, sisters and bestie were very keen to help plan and throw the baby shower.”

Kelly announced her pregnancy on facebook with a little help from a furry friend.

She also announced the sex of their baby over social media.

She’s also hoping to have a modern take on the ‘traditional’ baby shower — having more of a casual get together with foods and drinks where everyone can relax.

Instead of games, guests will be asked to guess the birth date and length, weight, hair colour of the bouncing baby boy.

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“We’ll also have a name suggestion card — which really is a sneaky way to turn an activity into help for these two new parents to be,” she said.

Kelly’s mum Joyce McGowan said baby showers weren’t really popular when she was having children in 1985, 1989 and 1991.

“When we had our children I stayed about five to seven days in hospital depending on how the delivery was and we had all our friends and family come and visit us over that time,” she said.

That said, Joyce says she’s really enjoying helping to organise Kelly’s shower.

Baby showers have come into fashion again in recent years.

What other traditions are becoming new again? Comment below.

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