Timeline of social nudity explained

This timeline of social nudity shows the varying degrees of acceptance given to the naked human body by diverse cultures throughout history. The events listed here demonstrate how various societies have shifted between strict and lax clothing standards, how nudity has played a part in social movements and protest, and how the nude human body is accepted in the public sphere.

Prehistory–1800

• 70,000 : Humans first wear clothing, a date suggested by evidence based on lice DNA which shows when the clothing louse first began to diverge genetically from the human head louse.^[1]
• 720 BC: According to one legend, an athlete (Orsippos of Megara) who discards his loincloth wins his race at the Olympic Games. A variation of the legend asserts that the loincloth accidentally falls off a runner at the Olympics who trips on it, strikes his head, and dies.^[2] So, for reasons of either improved athletic performance or for safety, ancient Greek Olympic athletes compete naked.^[3]
• : In Sparta, both women and men occasionally appear nude in certain festivals and during exercise.^[4] See Gymnopaedia.
• First century AD: Historian Diodorus Siculus records that the Celts commonly fight naked in battle.^[5] Nudity is mentioned several times in the New Testament, none of the examples give it a sexual connotation. For example, refusal to wear clothes could be a sign of insanity during this period.^[6] Nakedness was also used as a symbol of poverty or vulnerability.^{[7] [8]} There are a few New Testament references to nudity, such as (Mark 14:52) in which a young man runs away naked from the Garden of Gethsemane, and (John 21:7) where Peter is described as naked while he is fishing. Some say that the term means semi-naked, arguing that it is unlikely that a Jew would go completely unclothed in public, although others argue that fishermen in the Sea of Galilee did actually work naked.^[9]
• 100 AD–18th century: The Adamites are adherents of an early Christian sect that flourished in North Africa in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th centuries, with later revivals. They practiced "holy nudism", claiming that its members are re-establishing Adam and Eve's state of original innocence.
• 201 AD: The first known liturgy of baptism is recorded by Saint Hippolytus of Rome, which insists on complete nudity for all participants, even down to the removal of jewellery and hair fastenings.^[10] Baptism is later segregated by sex, as suggested by a scene depicted on a 5th-century lead font,^[11] but still conducted on an unclothed participant. Christian groups, including the Adamites, Carpocratians, Aquarii, and Marcosians all practice social nudity at this time .^[12]
• 393 AD: Students in ancient Greece exercise and receive instruction naked and athletes compete naked. This tradition ends in 393 AD when the Christian Emperor Theodosius I bans the Olympic Games because he considers them pagan.
• 632 AD: Quran teachings transmitted by Muhammad impose modest dress on men and women.
• : Leofric, Earl of Mercia imposes a heavy tax burden on the citizens of Coventry, England to support his grandiose public works. According to legend that is almost certainly untrue, his wife Godgyfu begs him to reduce the tax, and he tells her that she must ride naked through the city's market before he will do it. Godgyfu, remembered as Lady Godiva, accepts the challenge.^[13]
• 1185–1333: In Kamakura-period Japan, religious bathing is provided to the public free of charge with no concept of gender segregation. After the collapse of free services, a for-pay system emerges which later evolves to become the modern day sentō.

1800–1899

• • ^[14]
• ^[15]
• ^[16]
• ^[17]

1900–1974

• • • • ^[18]
• ^{[19] [20] [21]}
• ^[22]
• ^[23]
• ^[24]
  • ^{[25] [26]}
    • ^[27]
• ^[28]
• ^[28]
• ^[29]
  • • ^[30]
• ^[31]
• ^{[32] [33]}
• ^[34]
  • ^[35]
  • ^[36]
  • ^[37]
  • ^[38]

1975–1989

• • • ^[39]
• [source: N 19.3]
• [source N 19.3]
• [source N 19.3]
  • • • [source: Paul Rapoport Dec 2003]
  • ^[40]
• [source N 12.2]

1990–1999

• ^[41]
• ^[42] While this decision was only binding within Ontario, it is considered highly influential, and has been referenced and upheld several times, including in other jurisdictions.
  • • • • [source N 12.2]
• [source N 12.2]
• [source N 12.2]
• [source N 12.2]
  • • • • [source: TERA]
• [source: Terri Sue Webb]
• ^[43]
  • [source N 19.3]
• [source N 19.3]

2000–present

• ^[44]
• ^[45]
• ^[46]
• ^[47]
• ^[48]
• ^[49]
• ^[50]
• ^[51]

Repeating events

• Harvard Primal Scream at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts (once each semester)
• Rainbow Family of Living Light's annual Gathering of the Tribes for World Peace and Healing
• Solstice Cyclists, Seattle, June
• World Naked Bike Ride

See also

• Bohemianism
• Christian naturism
• Counterculture
• Culture jamming
• Direct action
• Flash mob
• History of nudity
• List of social nudity organizations
• Nude recreation
• Smart mob
• Social nudity in San Francisco
• Social nudity in Seattle

Further reading

• Book: Wight, Fred. Manners and Customs of Bible Lands. Moody Press. 1953. 9780802451750. Chicago.

External links

• Histoire du naturisme at Nateuropa.org (in French). Retrieved December 2006

Notes and References

1. Whitfield . John . August 20, 2003 . Lice genes date first human clothes . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200925214038/https://www.nature.com/news/2003/030818/full/news030818-7.html . September 25, 2020 . April 2, 2021 . Nature . en . 10.1038/news030818-7 . 0028-0836.
2. Web site: Swaddling . Judith . February 19, 2002 . The Ancient Olympic Games . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071018102500/http://discuss.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/zforum/02/sports_swaddling021902.htm . October 18, 2007 . April 2, 2021 . Washington Post Live Online.
3. Web site: 2004 . The Olympic Games . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060824060242/http://www.thehistorychannel.co.uk/site/features/the_olympics.php . August 24, 2006 . April 2, 2021 . The History Channel.
4. Web site: Plutarch . Plutarch . June 20, 2006 . Morley . Henry . Plutarch's Life of Lygurgus . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190704111457/http://www.gutenberg.org/files/18638/18638-h/18638-h.htm . July 4, 2019 . HTML . April 2, 2021 . Project Gutenberg . en . HTML . In order to take away the excessive tenderness and delicacy of the sex, the consequence of a recluse life, he accustomed the virgins occasionally to be seen naked as well as the young men, and to dance and sing in their presence on certain festivals....As for the virgins appearing naked, there was nothing disgraceful in it, because everything was conducted with modesty, and without one indecent word or action. Nay, it caused a simplicity of manners and an emulation for the best habit of body; their ideas too were naturally enlarged, while they were not excluded from their share of bravery and honour..
5. Book: Delaney, Frank . The Celts . . 1986 . 0-316-17993-0 . Boston . 31 . Some have iron breastplates of chain mail while others fight naked!, and for them the breastplate given by nature suffices. . Frank Delaney.
6. Luke 8:27
7. 11:27 NIV
8. Matthew 25:36
9. Web site: Neil . James . 1913 . Everyday life in the Holy Land . April 2, 2021 . Archive.org . London ; New York [etc.] : Cassell and company, limited . On this account the fishermen here work stark naked, with sometimes a little skull cap on their heads; and they are the only workmen in Palestine who do, for nakedness is thought shameful. This strange custom is incidentally noticed in his Gospel by John the fisherman, when he tells that Peter, before leaping out of the boat to swim ashore to his Master, 'girt his fisher's garment upon him, for he was naked.'. Neil, James. (1913). Everyday Life in the Holy Land.
10. Web site: The Apostolic Tradition of Hippolytus . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210402195817/https://www.bombaxo.com/hippolytus-the-apostolic-tradition/ . April 2, 2021 . April 2, 2021 . biblicalia . en . Then, after these things, the bishop passes each of them on nude to the elder who stands at the water. They shall stand in the water naked..
11. Web site: Thomas . Charles . The Walesby Tank . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210402201221/https://www.womenpriests.org/the-walesby-tank/ . April 2, 2021 . April 2, 2021 . Wijngaards Institute for Catholic Research. April 20, 2018 .
12. One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Adamites". Encyclopædia Britannica. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 174.
13. Web site: August 24, 2001 . Lady Godiva: The naked truth . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210128032838/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/uk/2000/newsmakers/1507606.stm . January 28, 2021 . April 2, 2021 . BBC News.
14. January 1, 2003 . Title unavailable . Travel Naturally . Internaturally . 49 . B0058WH1MK.
15. Book: Cinder, Cec . The nudist idea . 1998 . Ultraviolet Press . 1998 . 0-9652085-0-8 . Riverside, Calif. . 42210059.
16. Web site: Whiting . Sam . October 5, 2003 . Maverick / Matt Warshaw turns his passion into the definitive work on surfing . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190411214819/https://www.sfgate.com/magazine/article/Maverick-Matt-Warshaw-turns-his-passion-into-2554559.php . April 11, 2019 . April 6, 2021 . San Francisco Chronicle . en-US.
17. Web site: December 19, 2011 . A History of Naturism – Timeline . live . https://archive.today/20210406180505/https://www.bn.org.uk/news/information/about-naturism/history-of-naturism/a-history-of-naturism-timeline-r28/ . April 6, 2021 . April 6, 2021 . British Naturism . en-GB.
18. Book: Parmelee, Maurice . Nudity In Modern Life The New Gymnosophy . Noel Douglas. . 1929.
19. Siegelbaum, Lewis H. Soviet state and society between revolutions, 1918–1929. .
20. Hamburg, Gary. Rise and Fall of Soviet Communism. The Teaching Company. .
21. Russia: Down With Shame. Time. September 22, 1924. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160311123617/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,719155,00.html. March 11, 2016.
22. Gymnosophy publication by American Gymnosophical Society Yale University Library
23. Adventures in Many Lands-Autobiographical Memoirs of Maurice Parmelee, Yale University Library
24. Web site: Fiveacres Country Club Herts: History. Nudist UK. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110714211248/http://www.nudistuk.com/fiveacres-country-club-herts.php/theme.shtml?content=history&theme=age&scheme=orange&clicks=23&swin=closed&. July 14, 2011.
25. AGA statement-History, Purposeful Development and Philosophical Outlook-by Katherine & Herman Soshinsky-circa 1950, collection of Rock Lodge Club.
26. International Nude-Land Dec 1934 page30
27. Nudism in Nazi Germany: Indecent Behaviour or Physical Culture for the Well-being of the Nation, Authors: Krüger A.; Krüger F.; Treptau S., Source: The International Journal of the History of Sport, Volume 19, Number 4, December 1, 2002, pp. 33–54(22), Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group
28. News: Men were once arrested for baring their chests on the beach. The Washington Post. Petula. Dvorak. January 5, 2019.
29. Encyclopedia: Story: Naturism. Cook. Hera. Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. September 5, 2013. December 14, 2019.
30. Web site: Arkansas Law § 5-68-204 Violates First Amendment Rights . UnconstitutionalArkansas.org.
31. People v. Hildabridle 92 N.W.2d 6 (1958)
32. Web site: NZNF 60th Anniversary. gonatural. New Zealand Naturist Federation. 2018. December 14, 2019.
33. Web site: New Zealand Naturist Federation. National Library. November 24, 2019.
34. Sunshine Book Co. v. Summerfield, 355 U.S. 372 (1958)
35. http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2011/11/18/the-history-of-nude-psychotherapy/all/1/TheHistoryof/ PychCentral
36. Web site: A brief history of gonatural, New Zealand's only naturist magazine. Salter. Caitlin. Idealog. November 23, 2018. December 14, 2019.
37. Web site: The Events behind BFUSA. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20161126181326/http://bfusa.org/EventsBehind.html. November 26, 2016. March 31, 2021. Beachfront U.S.A..
38. [Nude & Natural]
39. Web site: Down to Earth Co-op homepage. The official ConFest site.
40. http://www.burningman.com The Burning Man Project
41. Ceramalus v Police. AP No 76/91. High Court of New Zealand. July 5, 1991.
42. Regina v. Jacob . 31 O.R. (3d) 350, [1996] O.J. No. 4304, No. C12668 . Court of Appeal for Ontario . December 9, 1996 . https://www.canlii.org/en/on/onca/doc/1996/1996canlii1119/1996canlii1119.html . April 10, 2021 . In order for an act to be an indecent act under s. 173(1)(a), the act must be a sexual act in the sense that the act is done for the sexual gratification of the accused or others. In this case, a reasonable bystander, fully informed of all the circumstances, would not conclude that this was the case. Secondly, the trial judge erred in the manner in which he applied the community standard of tolerance test. For these reasons I would grant leave to appeal, allow the appeal and order that an acquittal be entered. .
43. Web site: The Scandal Photo Shoot: "Berlin Naked – Liberal Capital City". dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120225003350/http://www.henning-von-berg.com/English/Wirken/gallery/reichstag.htm. 25 February 2012. Henning von Berg.
44. News: Goosselink . Dave . June 15, 2016 . Curtains for nude rugby in Dunedin? . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200804080304/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2016/06/curtains-for-nude-rugby-in-dunedin.html . August 4, 2020 . April 7, 2021 . Newshub.
45. • Web site: Nude Day . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200807154841/http://www.newzealandatoz.com/index.php/page/display/808/?name=Nude%20Day . August 7, 2020 . April 7, 2021 . New Zealand A to Z.
    • Web site: January 31, 2009 . Turning the other cheek, all for fun . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200804060134/http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/636308/Turning-the-other-cheek-all-for-fun . August 4, 2020 . April 7, 2021 . Stuff . . en.
46. • Storey . Mark . July 2011 . World Naked Bike Ride . The Nude and Natural Newsletter . 1 . April 7, 2021.
    • Web site: Hale . Jamie . June 22, 2016 . How the World Naked Bike Ride took over Portland . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210407180750/https://www.oregonlive.com/entertainment/2016/06/how_the_world_naked_bike_ride.html . April 7, 2021 . April 7, 2021 . The Oregonian/OregonLive . en.
47. Web site: Hays . Matthew . July 21–27, 2005 . Naked City . dead . https://archive.today/20120529203427/http://www.montrealmirror.com/2005/072105/diverscite4.html . May 29, 2012 . April 7, 2021 . Montreal Mirror.
48. Web site: Foley . Richard . NEWT – Naked Europe Walking Tour – 2005 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090130045100/http://www.nakedeurope.org/newt/2005/index.html . January 30, 2009 . April 7, 2021 . Naked Activities in Europe.
49. Web site: Balmforth . Richard . November 15, 2010 . Ukraine's topless group widens political role . live . https://archive.today/20210408005217/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-femen-idUSTRE6AE1FB20101115 . April 8, 2021 . April 8, 2021 . Reuters . en.
50. Web site: The AANR World Record Skinny-Dip . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100901024200/http://www.aanr.com:80/skinny-dip.html . September 1, 2010 . April 7, 2021 . American Association for Nude Recreation.
51. Web site: Wollan . Malia . November 20, 2012 . San Francisco Officials Approve a Ban on Public Nudity . live . https://archive.today/20210408012711/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/21/us/san-francisco-officials-vote-to-ban-public-nudity.html . April 8, 2021 . April 7, 2021 . The New York Times.