Story: Picnics and barbecues

Participants in the ladies-versus-gentlemen tug-of-war at a Scandinavian picnic in 1896 pose for the camera. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, community picnics were special occasions that people dressed up for. The organisation of games reflected the social ordering of the time. There were competitions between groups such as men and women, bachelors and 'Benedicts' (married men), masters and journeymen, and between members of different friendly societies.