Charivaris

• What is charivaris?

  Charivaris is:

  • A ritualised mechanism of informal social control with roots in medieval times.
  • Ranged from good-natured ribbing to lethal violence.
  • Offenders were dragged from their homes and paraded through the streets.
  • Parades often led by women or youth and included discordant or rough music.
  • This could end in warnings, extortion, beatings, tarring and feathering, and death.
• How was charivaris used and in what circumstances?

  It was used to express community disapproval in response to (but not limited to) particular social offences: adultery, domestic violence, unwed mothers, and "unnatural" marriages. It was also used in the other side of the spectrum: political protests and endorsement, labour protests, and wedding night celebrations.
• How charivaris a clash of formal and informal social control?

  In the places with established formal justice systems, charivaris were strongly opposed by authorities as they:

  • Undermined mechanisms of formal social control.
  • Caused disturbances.
  • Congested streets.
  • Threatened the safety and property of citizens.
• What class of people engaged in charivaris the most?

  The class of people that engaged in charivaris the most were the lower classes. It first lost popularity in urban areas and eventually died out in rural areas.