Vintage summer in 15 steps!

I believe that there are some things from the way people lived in the past that we should bring back. While we have advanced a great deal socially over the decades (and that is a positive thing) the truth is that, with rapid technological progress and changes in how we interact with one another, we have also lost certain aspects of life that I think were beneficial.

Personally, in my lifestyle, I try to incorporate things from other decades into my life, selecting the good and leaving the bad behind! In this blog, I'd like to share some of the things I do in my life and other ideas about what to do in summer to make it a little more traditional!

1- Digital detox.

Yes, it's clear that this was going to be the first step. You can't experience a summer like those of the '50s, '80s, or 2000s if all you do is spend time on the computer. I'm not saying this arrogantly, this is the step I find most difficult.
It's hard because today's society pushes you to use all the technology possible, all the time, but little by little I'm getting there.

To do this, you don't have to give up all technology, just reduce it. Do things like read, paint, go out, etc. You can also go back a bit in the technology you use, for example, taking photos with an instant or digital camera instead of your phone, watching television instead of using social media, etc.

2-  Travel in vintage style.

Summer travel has always been popular. Sometimes it is possible, sometimes it is not, but when the opportunity arises and you decide to travel, consider how people used to do it.

To begin with, it all depends on where you are going and how you are getting there. For example, if you are travelling by car, you can listen to the radio instead of relying on downloaded music or apps, and you can take the time to stop at interesting places along the way. If you are flying, arrive at the airport early and enjoy a coffee before departure. If you are travelling by boat, take a moment to slow down and admire the sea.

When choosing accommodation, try to prioritise hotels, campsites, motels, or regulated holiday rentals. Nowadays, Airbnb properties are taking over many areas, making it increasingly difficult for local residents to afford housing, which is a real shame. So, try to travel in a more traditional way and choose accommodation that is both legitimate and ethical.

3- Eat seasonally.

Eating seasonally has proven benefits for both physical and mental health. These days, many people seem to have forgotten that, but it is something we can easily return to.

To eat seasonally during summer, focus on fresh foods such as salads, pasta dishes, savoury pies, ice cream, cold soups, rice dishes, and grilled meals. Leave roasts, hearty soups, stews, and similar dishes for autumn, when cooler weather returns.

Among the most common summer vegetables are tomatoes, corn, zucchini, cucumbers, eggplants, and peppers.
Popular summer fruits include apricots, peaches, watermelon, cherries, blueberries, melon, mangoes, pineapples, and coconuts.

Some traditional summer activities connected with food include baking with seasonal fruit, sharing light dinners with friends or family, and enjoying barbecues in the garden.

4-  Vintage pool and beach days.

Beach and pool days have always been a summer tradition, although some aspects of the experience have changed over time.

In the past, people often spent long hours at the beach or pool, sometimes the entire morning, the entire afternoon, or even the whole day. They usually brought everything they needed with them, and sun protection was very important. At the time, there were fewer options available and awareness of the risks associated with sun exposure was still new.
Activities were much the same as they are today: swimming, playing games, sunbathing, reading, walking, meditating, and listening to music or the radio. People also played simple pastimes such as crossword puzzles and word searches.
Beach etiquette was widely understood, both in interactions with other visitors and  lifeguards.
Snacks were also an important part of the day, with ice cream, cold drinks, and other snacks.

Many of these habits remain familiar today, but the growth of technology and a more individualistic lifestyle have contributed to the loss of some.

5-  It's all about the aesthetic.

It may seem like a superficial silly thing, but over time I've realized that the aesthetics of retro eras make it much easier to immerse oneself in them. 

Personally, I mix aesthetics from various decades in my daily life, especially the 1920s, 1950s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. You can do the same and incorporate several styles, or choose just one.

For inspiration, you can search on Google, Pinterest, old magazines, etc. I recommend creating a mood board, they're really helpful. I have mood boards for everything!

Other ways to incorporate the summer aesthetic of your chosen decade into your life include wearing clothes in the style of that era (one of my favorite things, to be honest) and decorating your house, room, or space in the way it was traditionally done.

6-  Media helps lots.

What better way to have a retro summer than to consume retro media! There are many summer options to watch, read, and listen to this summer (I might even start a blog post about this soon, actually), so you'll never run out of things to choose from.

Let's start with books. There are many novels with summer vibes or based during summer, some examples are The Great Gatsby, Bonjour Tristesse, The Summer Before the War, The Greengage Summer...

As for television, people used to watch a lot of midday documentaries, romantic movies set in summer (for example, Summertime, Picnic, or A Summer Place if you're looking for vintage romance, or retro rom-coms like Grease, Summer Lovers, or Dirty Dancing), and a lot of summer horror movies, mainly slashers (like Friday the 13th, I Know What You Did Last Summer, or Club Dread). Children watched more cartoons than at any other time of year, except for Christmas, of course.

Regarding the music, it was very varied depending on the genre and the era, it's more difficult to specify or give concrete examples. I can only recommend researching music from other times and keeping what you like best.

7-  Activities.

There are countless activities you can do this summer to step back in time a little. Most of them are just screen-free stuff, but I still want to mention them, it is easy to run out of ideas from time to time.

Reading is a great example. During summer holidays, people spent lots and lots of time reading, books, magazines, or newspapers. Watching television was also common. Sports were so common to, both individual and team-based. Some people attended gymnastics, dance, or zumba classes, while others took advantage of the season to go swimming. Many joined football, basketball, or other sports teams.

Artistic activities were also popular. People learned to play an instrument, sing, or dance. Some joined theatre groups or writing clubs, while others spent hours painting, drawing, or exploring other artistic expressions. Journailngl was another common activity, about anything, really!.

People also took plenty of photographs with their cameras to make albums. For more technologic things, many played video games with friends on consoles or even arcades, although usually for much shorter hoursa than today.

Summer was often seen as an opportunity to learn something new, a language, a practical skill or a hobby. People spent a great deal of time outside their homes, going for walks for example.  Usually people spent lots and lots of time with their partners, friends and/or family. They visited parks, cinemas, cafés, and shops; went dancing; hosted gatherings at home; attended sporting events and cultural activities; and generally made the most of their free time.

Many classic summer activities were also an important part of the season: eating ice cream, garden parties, spending time at the pool or beach, going to the funfairs, stargzing and simply enjoying the long, warm days. In general, seasonality used to be much more important than it is today. People made the most of seasonal activities.

8-  Summer camps.

Summer camps still exist today, although they're less popular than they used to be.
Those camps where you went with a group of strangers to spend the day playing sports, swimming in the pool, lake, or river, and telling scary stories, among other things. If you're a teenager, there are plenty of options for you, but you might be surprised to learn that these camps also exist for adults of all ages! And don't forget that you can also organize your own camping trip in a rural house with your friends!.

9-  The festivals.

Summer is festival season, and it's been that way for ages! Especially in the '60s and '70s they were a huge hit! They're fantastic, you can go with your partner or friends, find a festival or concert that interests you, and you'll see you'll have a great time. Just remember to stay safe!

10-  Participate in the community.

At least if you can! Sometimes it can be complicated.

If you are able to, some options include volunteering, helping out at your local council, meeting up with or helping your neighbors, participating in initiatives in your town or city, etc.

These things used to be done much more often before.

11-  The classic summer cleanse.

It might seem like a more boring tradition than others, but it doesn't have to be! For generations, a major physical and spiritual cleaning was done each season. The most important were those in spring and autumn, but winter and summer cleanings also had their place throughout the year. 

During the summer cleaning, the entire house was tidied and cleaned, even the corners and under the furniture! This was also a time to clean textiles like quilts and curtains to take advantage of the sun and dry everything faster. It was also a good time to sell, donate, or throw away anything that was no longer needed. A spiritual cleansing of the house was also common, according to the person's beliefs (prayers, incense, meditation...it all depended on each person's spiritual path).

12-  Summer jobs for the young.

Many teenagers and young adults used to take advantage of the summer to do some kind of summer job, especially as private tutors, shop assistants, lifeguards, waiters, or babysitters. 

These days it's more difficult than before to find temporary jobs like these, at least without them taking up 100% of your time, so it's hard to blame young people for not getting or wanting these jobs. Although, what can I say? I'm only 20 now, anyway, but I really think so.
Even so, I wanted to include this position because it's undeniable that it was very common back then.

13-  Relax a lot more than nowdays.

Summer used to be a season of both hustle and bustle (and some work) and rest; it was a very important duality. These days, we've focused too much on the hustle and bustle and forgotten a bit about relaxation.

Rest more. I'm not going to tell you to do absolutely nothing and spend all day lying in bed, or to get up at one in the afternoon, but you can allow yourself to take a nap now and then, relax with low-intensity activities, or get up half an hour or an hour later than usual!

Don't put so much pressure on yourself to "make the most of summer." I personally fall into this trap a lot, and the truth is, all you achieve is more stress and less enjoyment. We shouldn't forget that summer is just another season, as enjoyable and productive as any other, and there's no pressure to do anything. Besides, it's a time to take advantage of and rest before autumn and the return of the darker part of the year, which is equally wonderful, by the way!.

14-  Differentiate the different summer stages.

Perhaps one of the things we've lost most about how summer used to be is the seasons.
The seasons have distinct phases that are completely different; their energy is different, the activities, the weather, the clothes to wear, everything changes! In this case, I'll talk about the most basic divisions of summer.

Early summer: here, there's still a lot of that spring-like weather. The countryside is probably in a transitional phase between the two, and it's not as hot, great for eating ice cream, taking walks, cleaning the house, planning your summer...

Mid-summer is best for the beach or the pool, gatherings with friends and family, trips, etc. Here, the weather is the hottest of the year. Clothing is increasingly made of lighter fabrics, and you'll probably have to be more careful about heatstroke. This is also when there are fairs, events, activities, etc.

Towards the end of summer, it's mostly about relaxing here. The days are getting shorter, and nature itself, just by looking out the window, reminds you that autumn is approaching. You might want to wear cardigans or thicker pants, but it's still summer! Keep that in mind, and begin planning your fall!.

15-  Time for spirituality.

Modern society distances you as much as possible from spirituality, and I mean any kind of spirituality.
In the past, spiritual life tended to play a much more central role in everyday life, and this was true throughout the year. Every season carried its own spiritual significance, although the meaning naturally varied according to each person's beliefs and path.

For example, those who belonged to abrahamic religions often used the summer months as an opportunity to attend church, synagogue, mosque, or temple more regularly, spend more time in prayer, and study sacred texts.

Those who follow pagan traditions also have many ways to connect with the season. As a pagan myself, I can say that seasonality is highly significant within many pagan paths. Summer is often associated with themes such as duality, cleansing, reflection, growth, celebration, and connection with the natural world.

Of course, these are only two examples, and I do not want to go into too much detail. The broader point is that spirituality, during summer, as well as throughout the rest of the year, often held a more important place in people's lives than it does for many people today.

This is the end of this blog post, I hope you enjoyed it! If you did, I invite you to follow my blog; it's about traditional lifestyles, and I plan to write many more posts like this, including seasonal ones!.

Anyway, until next time, and if you have any other ideas or recommendations, feel free to leave them in the comments! Goodbye!.