The Timeless Appeal of Happy Hour: Origins, Traditions, and Its Evolution Across Cultures
Introduction to Happy Hour
The phrase 5:00 PM is a common time that people get off of work. A lot of people with jobs drink alcohol and go to bars for Happy Hour. When someone says it’s 5:00 in some part of the world, it means they are ready for a drink no matter if it’s 5:00 or not. Cheers!
They say it not because they don’t know what time it is - it’s an excuse to have a cocktail because ‘it’s 5:00 somewhere!’
I keep these slippers under my desk as a destressor when I’m having a zoo of a day in the office. They always make me smile when I put them on and immediately relax.
Traditional Significance of 5:00 PM: The Rise of Cocktail Hour
In many places, 5:00 PM is the traditional cocktail hour. Additionally, many working men get off at 5:00 PM. Hell, any excuse to drink is good.
The idea of the cocktail hour dates from the 1920s, along with cocktails themselves. It was designed by east coast society women to fill in the time between afternoon tea, a practice the US elite were still emulating from the customs of the English aristocracy, and the evening’s fun activities. In other words, between 5 PM and 7 PM.
The Social Context of the 1920s
It's only a short step from designating 5 PM as the cocktail hour to the idea of saying, ‘why wait until it’s 5 PM in - say - NY, it is 5 PM somewhere in the world every hour so let the fun begin!’ Frivolous yes, but the 1920s were a reaction to the horrors of WWI and an era of loosening social constraints, especially those surrounding women. Seismic events like WWI as coronavirus today act as accelerators, and change that was happening anyway suddenly receives a turbo-boost.
Cocktails were dubbed 'It-girls,' scandalous dances like the Charleston were performed only by the wealthy, but they seemed to embody the spirit of the age. Even the poor could join in vicariously if fleetingly through the new inventions of the movies and the gramophone.
The Glamour and Optimism of the 1920s
But in any case, the 1920s were an era of optimism and hope - wage and living standards were rising. Ordinary people could afford motor cars, and new opportunities were opening up. The stock market was booming, and even shoe-shine boys were exchanging share tips as the financier and banker J. Pierpont Morgan Jr. was aghast to discover one morning as he was getting his hand-made shoes buffeted - the war was over and a bright future seemed to beckon. And then, of course, came 1929 and even more devastatingly, 1931, and then the Fed’s over-reaction and the Great Depression - and Mussolini and Hitler. And then, Europe and the world headed towards war once more.
Conclusion
Despite the social and economic upheavals, the tradition of Happy Hour still resonates with people today. It serves not just as a social lubricant but as a time to relieve stress and celebrate life's simple pleasures. Whether at 5:00 PM or any other hour, the spirit of these golden years still lingers, encouraging us to embrace the here and now, much like the comforting effect of a pair of slippers under the desk after a long and stressful day.
Remember, it's not the time of day but the spirit of celebration and connection that makes Happy Hour what it's all about. Cheers!