The “At Home” day was a weekly ritual where gentlewomen hosted specific social calls indicated on calling cards. These invitations communicated rank, intimacy, and social etiquette down to who could visit and when. Guests should arrive within a narrow time window and address their host according to strict protocols. Missing the scheduled window or arriving uninvited was a social faux pas that could damage reputation. This custom reinforced class boundaries, as only those “in the know” could navigate the rules. Women’s roles as social gatekeepers added nuance to class performance and domestic power. “At Home” rituals highlight how etiquette governed Victorian interactions as much as wealth did.
This practice offers a window into how everyday etiquette reinforced class structure.
It shows class wasn’t just economic—it was performed through ritual and decorum.
Did you know Victorian calling card etiquette specified exact days and hours for acceptable visits?
[Wikipedia, turn0search20]