Catherinette

Catherinettes was a traditional French label for women of twenty-five years old who were still unmarried by the Feast of Saint Catherine (25 November). A special celebration was offered to them on this day and everyone wished them a swift end to their single status.

Catherinettes in Paris on rue de la Paix in 1932

Origin

Since the Middle Ages women had been under the protection of St Catherine (whilst Saint Nicolas cared for the men). Women participated in group devotion to the saint and were responsible for the confection of a beautiful headdress to "cap" her statue each year on 25 November. Young women left the group when marrying, hence "capping Saint Catherine" became synonymous with "still being a single woman at/after 25". Following the changes in the status of women and marriage in society, this custom progressively died all over France, with the exception of the hatmaking and dressmaking trades, wherein unmarried women, after they turned twenty-five, would attend a ball on St Catherine's Day in a hat made specially for the occasion; to wear such a hat was referred to as "capping St Catherine" (coiffer sainte Catherine).

Although the term has become rather old-fashioned in France, it is still sometimes used to refer to 25-year-old single women.

The derogatory terms spinster and old maid used to be used in a similar context in the English-speaking world. In modern China, the slang term sheng nu describes "leftover women".


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