Cicisbeo

Okay kiddo, so do you know what a boyfriend or girlfriend is? Yes, right? So, a long time ago, in Italy, there was a tradition called Cicisbeo. It was like having a boyfriend or girlfriend, but not really.

Let me explain it to you. You know how sometimes mom has a male friend and dad has a female friend and they go out for a walk, dinner, or movie? Cicisbeo was something similar but happening between married or engaged women and gentlemen.

Now, don't get confused - this didn't mean that they were breaking any rules or doing anything wrong. It was just a way to have someone to talk to, to spend time with or go with to social events.

In Italy at that time, it was considered dishonorable for a woman to go around alone without a male chaperone, especially if she was married or engaged. So, Cicisbeo was like a socially acceptable way for a woman to take another man around with her, especially if her husband or fiancé was too busy or not interested.

But this didn't mean that they were having romantic affairs. Cicisbeo was all about companionship and a way to escape from the daily household work. It was like having friends of the opposite sex.

So there, you have it, a Cicisbeo was like a friend of the opposite sex, who would chaperone married or engaged women to social events, without any romantic attachment.