Etiquette at Athen’s Baby Ball

Neither King or Queen took part in the dance, but the Princes and Princesses did and seemed to enjoy tbe Ball as much as any of the children. Of course they had to pay strict attention to the rules of etiquette in choosing their partners, only the members of distinguished families being eligible. – Pictured above, Queen Olga, or “Grand Duchess Olga Konstantinovna of Russia, Queen of the Hellenes” – Photo source, Pinterest

The Baby Ball at Athens, Part 2

Attended by Children Invited by the King and Queen – A Night at the Royal Palace – How the Ball is Conducted – 

Little Princes and Princesses

The King and Queen sat in chairs, covered with canopies. Presently the Master of Ceremonies, no other than one of the cabinet ministers, gave a signal and the Royal orchestra struck up the opening polka which is a favorite dance among the Greeks. Immediately there was a great clanking of spurs and swords as the officers came forward to ask the little ladies and there older sisters to dance. Many of these officers are present every year, some coming from the ships stationed near Athens, but most of them belonging to the standing army. You can imagine how proud the little girls are to be led out by one of these splendid men in uniforms, brilliant with silver bands and cordons. And now you see why I thought the little Greek boys did not have as good a time as their sisters! Although I had learned to dance very nicely in America, I had great trouble at this ball, not because the steps were difficult, they were just the same as ours, but because of the way they danced them. For instance, in the waltz they only turn one way, and never reverse, and they turn about three times as fast as we did. The result was I soon got very dizzy, and once or twice nearly fell to the floor. The little Greek girls, however, did not seem to mind a bit and whirled about perfectly happy. With them, dancing is a second nature and they seem to know the most difficult steps instinctively from babyhood. Besides that, they have private dancing masters to make them perfect in all the movements. 

A charming scene it was as all these black-haired, dark-eyed little gentlemen and ladies whirled about to the inspiring music, while King George, Queen Olga, and all the grand people of the Court looked on in smiling approval. There are very few fair haired girls in Athens, a child with golden curls being regarded almost as a curiosity. Many of the girls are pretty, and all of them are graceful, but tbey are sure to grow up stout like their mothers, and to fade while they are yet young. Most of them are clever linguists, speaking French and other languages fluently, but few of them, or even their parents, can read the ancient Greek, which is very different from that spoken today. While the children dance tbe King conversed with his Ministers or with guests of importance and the Queen sat in the midst of the ladies of the Court, often pausing in her talk to bestow a smile or a kind word upon some little child who would never forget this mark of favor. King George, being a German by birth, and consequently fair, does not look at all like a Greek. On this occasion, he wore his cavalry uniform, which was almost completely covered with stars and crosses.

Neither King or Queen took part in the dance, but the Princes and Princesses did and seemed to enjoy tbe Ball as much as any of the children. Of course they had to pay strict attention to the rules of etiquette in choosing their partners, only the members of distinguished families being eligible. Among all the Princesses, my favorite was the Princess Marie, who seemed always so good natured and unaffected. She was only a young girl at this time and as fond of romping about the gardens as any of us. One day a friend of mine chanced to be walking in the royal grounds when the Princess, knowing her by name, came running up, her face all aglow and said: “I want you to write your name in my birthday book. Mademoiselle; to-day is my fete, and I want to know when yours comes.” My friend glanced at the book, and saw that the signature of the Prince of Wales was in the line directly above where she would have to write. His birthday chanced to come on the same day as her own. Rather embarrassed, my friend hesitated to comply with the request. “But Princess,” she said, “I have no pencil.” “Never mind,” said Princess Marie, “I will get you one from papa's study.” With this, the Princess went running back into the palace and presently came flying down the steps again, her hair tossed and tumbled, the perfect picture of simplicity and kindliness. In her hand, she carried a long pencil which she held out to my friend, saying: “Here it is, now you can write your name.”

Brightest among all the dancers at the ball and most lovely, so it seemed to me, was the Princess Marie as she danced in the cotillion which began at one o'clock and ended the ball. It was led by the Crown Prince Constantin, who. being heir to the throne, has been brought up entirely among the Greeks, and belongs to the Greek church. Like his father he is quite stout, and resembles the Germans more than the people be will he called upon to rule. Among the other royal dancers in the cotillion was the Princess Alexandra,who, about a year later, made the first love match among the royal children when she was betrothed to the Grand Duke Paul of Russia. She, too, is a decided blonde. The cotillion lasted until two o’clock, and then all these proud little girls and boys kissed each other good night, and were bundled on home by their mamas and chaperons, very happy in the memory of a pleasure that marked an epoch in their lives. Mabel Moffett, Los Angeles Herald, 1895

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia 

Greek Royal Children's Court Ball

The little girls are led out by the officers... – The invitations signed by the Prime Minister read as follows: “Their Majesties, the King and Queen of the Hellenes have requested the presence of at the palace on the day of this month.” 

The Baby Ball at Athens

Attended by Children Invited by the King and Queen.
A Night at the Royal Palace – How the Ball is Conducted – 

Little Princes and Princesses

The greatest event in the life of a little Greek girl is the Children’s Court Ball which takes place at the Royal Palace in Athens every year in the Autumn. Of course little boys also attend this Ball, but they do not have as good a time as the girls for reasons which I will presently explain. About three hundred children make their debut at this grand affair every year, the average age for their first appearance being ten years, although I have seen little girls there as young as eight. These newcomers, however, are not the only children present for those who have attended in previous years are allowed to go again until they become big girls and boys, in fact until they are quite grown up. So highly do they prize this privilege of dancing before the King and Queen that young ladies of twenty do not scorn to be seen on the floor with their little brothers and sisters. No little Athenian girl or boy may be present at this Ball except on an invitation addressed personally by the Prime Minister. And this honor is reserved for the children of distinguished families and those whose parents belong to the diplomatic circle.

Great is the excitement, therefore, among these ten year old young ladies and young gentlemen of Athens as the time approaches for the invitations to be sent out. Many are the eager faces at the doors and windows of Athenian homes watching for the mounted soldier in green and red uniform, whose mission it is to distribute the precious missives. These are engraved in French, on square cream-colored cards enclosed in envelopes bearing the large red government seal. The invitations signed by the Prime Minister read as follows: “Their Majesties, the King and Queen of the Hellenes have requested the presence of at the palace on the day of this month.” I shall never forget the day when my invitation came, and how my heart beat as the soldier drew up his big black horse in front of the American Consulate where I was living. I can still see him taking the paper from his knapsack —the paper that had my name inside, and I remember how imposing he looked with his chin held in the strap from his cap, and his long sword at his side. I was just eleven years old.

The etiquette of the court is very strict about dress, and the girls’ costumes are carefully prepared sometimes for weeks in advance. The frocks are of white silk or satin covered with lace, the skirt reaching to the knees. The waist is cut low with short sleeves, and with these are worn long silk mits to match the sash and stockings. The hair is usually worn flowing loosely down the back, or knotted with a bow of ribbon. All Greek children wear a tiny chain around the neck with some medal given them at their baptism. This, and a few bracelets are the only trinkets that may be worn at the Children’s Ball. All the girls wear little bronze dancing shoes strapped up over the ankles, just allowing the stockings to bs seen. An odd feature of the ball is that the children never carry flowers the costume for the boys is more easily disposed of as most of them attend either military or naval schools, and simply wear their full dress uniforms.

The Ball always takes place on a Sunday evening, this being a gala day in Athens, and by eight o'clock a long line of carriages fillet with children and their mothers or chaperons is drawn up in front of the King's palace. The palace stands in the heart of the city, and is a large white marble building not very imposing, but placed in the midst of beautiful gardens. At the door, a gorgeous flunky receives the children and escorts them into an ante-room, where two of the Queen‘s Maids of Honor inspect the little Debutantes. This is merely a matter of form, for it rarely happens that any one of the little girls receives anything more severe than a smile of encouragement.

I was a little frightened as we entered the palace and was surprised to see the self-possession shown by most of the Greek children. I suppose they were more accustomed than I to the idea of being ushered in before a genuine King and Queen. The large Ballroom used on this occasion is in the interior of the palace. It is an immense room with a ceiling like the dome of a cathedral. The walls are beautifully frescoed, and long gallery runs the entire length of the sides. At one end is a raised platform on which, as we came in, were seated the Royal family, conversing with various ambassadors in full dress... to be continued – Mabel Moffett for Los Angeles Herald, 1895

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia