Oooh I love reading about these sorts of things. I always find it surprising as to why society follows certain things.

Bit off topic but, I know that wedding dresses used to be light blue until Mary Antoinette got married and she wanted something different so went with a white dress. And also she is jill in the nursery rhyme Jack and Jill. And on the wedding front that flowers used to be smelly herbs to ward off evil spirits but they were replaced by flowers because of said smell.

We have pics of Dh's father as a child in dresses (actually the girls' going home from hospital outfit is one of his dresses). I personally find it sad that we still dress our babes in colours that have such gender stereotype in them (boys are stronger and worth more than girls etc).

Mind you I happily rebel against this at every chance I get.