The social season, or Season, refers to the traditional annual period in the spring and summer when it is customary for members of the social elite to hold balls, dinner parties and charity events. Until the First World War, it was also the appropriate time to reside in the city (generally meaning London in Great Britain and Dublin in Ireland) rather than in the country in order to attend such events. In modern times in the United Kingdom, "The Season" is known to encompass various prestigious but mostly accessible events that take place during the spring and summer. Traditionally the "Scottish social season" would follow the "London social season" and take place in the Scottish Highlands. There was a social season, or some semblance of one, in British colonies, including British India, British Hong Kong, British Shanghai, British Australia, British New Zealand and British Egypt. Despite being republics with no official aristocracies, the United States and France had social seasons in the 19th century. The Dublin social season began to decline after the formation of the Irish Free State and no longer occurs today.
Social season in the United Kingdom
The London social season The London social season evolved in the 17th and 18th centuries, and in its traditional form it peaked in the 19th century. In this era the British elite was dominated by families of the nobility and landed gentry, who generally regarded their country house as their main home, but spent several months of the year in the capital to socialise and to engage in politics. The most exclusive events were held at the townhouses of leading members of the aristocracy. Exclusive public venues such as Almack's played a secondary role. The Season coincided with the sitting of parliament; it began some time after Christmas and ran until midsummer, roughly late June. Some sources say it began at Parliament's Easter session break. The social season played a role in the political life of the country: the members of the two Houses of Parliament were almost all participants in the season, as all Peers sitting in the House of Lords were by definition nobility, and many if not most Members of the House of Commons were gentry. But the Season also provided an opportunity for the children of marriageable age of the nobility and gentry to be launched into society. Debutantes were formally introduced into society by presentation to the monarch at royal court during the Court Drawing Rooms and Queen Charlotte's Ball until the practice was abolished by Queen Elizabeth II in 1958 – reportedly at Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh's insistence. Queen Charlotte's Ball ceased to function in 1976, but has been relaunched since, by former debutante Jennie Hallam-Peel, without the monarch's involvement, and with more limited uptake; debutantes instead curtsy to "Queen Charlotte's Birthday Cake". The traditional Season went into decline after the First World War, when many aristocratic families gave up their London townhouses. From then on, more society events took place at public venues, making it harder to maintain social exclusivity. The opulent coming-out party held for the 17 year-old Lady Sarah Consuelo Spencer-Churchill on 7 July 1939 at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, less than two months before World War Two was declared, has been styled by some as "the last season ever". Socialite Henry (Chips) Channon noted in his diary: "I have seen much, travelled far and am accustomed to splendour, but there has never been anything like tonight". The traditional end of the London Season is the Glorious Twelfth of August, which marks the beginning of the shooting season. Society would retire to the country to shoot birds during the autumn and hunt foxes during the winter before coming back to London again with the spring. For some time there was also the "Harrogate Season", where members of the upper classes would stop at Harrogate Spa to take in the waters on their way from London up to their shooting estates in the north.
Present day In its modern form the British Season emerged following the decline of the traditional aristocratic social season after the First World War. While sometimes still referred to traditionally as the London Social Season (especially in regard to events hosted in London), it is seen as more open than formerly; some of the events now regarded as included within it take place in other parts of the country, away from central London. Western dress codes still apply to certain events, especially those in which the monarch maintains an official role. Increasingly, many of the events now constituting the season are hosted or sponsored by large companies. Below is a list of events widely considered to form part of the modern social season.
Arts Glyndebourne Opera Festival The Proms Royal Academy Summer Exhibition West End theatre
Horticulture Chelsea Flower Show
Equestrianism Royal Ascot Cheltenham Gold Cup Badminton Horse Trials Grand National Royal Windsor Horse Show Epsom Derby Glorious Goodwood Cartier Queen's Cup
The Crown Trooping the Colour Garter Service of the Order of the Garter Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Royal Garden Parties at Buckingham Palace and Holyrood Palace
Sport
Boat Race Henley Royal Regatta Guards Polo Club The Championships, Wimbledon Cowes Week Imperial Meeting Lord's Test cricket match British Grand Prix The organisers of most events attempt to avoid date clashes, so it is generally possible to visit all of them in the same year.
Dress codes Many events of the season have traditional expectations with regard to Western dress codes.
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