Prince Jean of Bourbon-Parma

Daily life

Rise of modern household appliances

Household appliances were rare in 1950, with only about 7.5 percent of households owning a refrigerator and 8.5 percent a washing machine. By 1968, these numbers surged to 72.4 percent and 50.1 percent, respectively.

Work

Industrial labor dominance in 1962

In 1962, industrial workers were the largest group, making up 39 percent of the total working population.

What people wore

Trousers were rare for women

For much of this period, trousers on women were rare and socially unconventional for daily life, often restricted to casual settings like holidays or specific professional environments.

Music

Village Dances and Local Orchestras

In the 1950s and 1960s, rural village dances often featured a live orchestra of three or four musicians, typically including an accordionist, a drummer, and sometimes a saxophonist. Admission often cost a few francs, with proceeds supporting local associations or festival committees.

At the table

Rise of processed convenience foods

Between 1952 and 1962, the consumption of potato mash and canned soup exploded, with the latter increasing by 182 percent.