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Why most neighbourhoods have lawns in front of the homes?

Ian Lee Technology

" The Unbelievably and rather Pointless Origin of the Modern Lawn. "

 So, I was driving in my neighbourhood the other day and everyone's lawn looked nice. That got me thinking, why do most neighbourhoods have lawns? 

Turns out that if you were a super rich European aristocrat a few hundred years ago, you had to find a way to show off just how ridiculously wealthy you were. Your mansion was big, your fancy clothes were probably a fire hazard, and your art collection was already impressive. But what else could you possibly do to make sure everyone knew you were a big deal? That is where lawns were invented.

The perfectly manicured, utterly useless patch of green grass that takes up half the front of your house? It started out as a flex! 

The original lawns were not for playing catch or hosting barbecues, they were a bold statement that you had so much land and so many servants that you could afford to dedicate a huge amount of space, time, and labour to something that produced absolutely nothing. 

It was an anti-farm. It was a place where no food was grown, no animals were kept, and the only purpose was to look pretty. Lawnmowers were not around back then so all mowing was done by hand, a backbreaking and constant job. Imagine having a staff of people whose sole purpose was to keep your useless grass looking perfect. If you could do that, it meant you were truly at the top of the social ladder. 

Lawn mowers were only invented in the 19th century, which made it a little easier for the not-quite-so-rich to get in on the action. This is how the suburban lawn, as we know it, was born. 

Do you not you think it is a funny thought that your weekly chore is a direct descendant of a centuries-old aristocratic brag?! 

So, the next time you are pushing a lawnmower on a Saturday morning, just remember: you are not just cutting grass. You are participating in a long and glorious tradition of showing off that you do not need the land for anything more productive. And that, in its own way, is rather surprising! 

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