World Beard Day – September 6

Beards have been around since the dawn of time—and they’ve meant different things in every era and culture. When you grow a beard today, you’re continuing a tradition thousands of years old!

In ancient Egypt, men oiled and braided their beards, sometimes even wearing false beards made of metal to show power. In ancient Greece, philosophers like Socrates and Plato proudly wore thick beards as a sign of wisdom and maturity.

The Vikings? Oh, they were all about the beard! Warriors with long, fierce beards were seen as fearless and masculine. You wouldn’t want to face a Viking without admiring his epic facial hair first.

During the Middle Ages in Europe, touching another man's beard was considered a serious offense—basically the equivalent of throwing down a glove for a duel. That’s how much honor was tied to the beard!

But not every era favored facial hair. In the 18th century, clean-shaven faces were all the rage among aristocrats. Still, by the 19th century, beards came roaring back—thanks to iconic figures like Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin. The beard became a symbol of seriousness and status.

In the 20th century, beard popularity rose and fell with fashion. You saw big sideburns in the '70s, minimal stubble in the '90s, and the full-on lumberjack look explode in the 2010s.