World Goth Day

Every year on May 22nd World Goth Day celebrates the Goth scene and provides the opportunity to make Goth’s presence known to the rest of the world.

We've all seen them, weird characters roaming our streets dressed as if they were on their way to a funeral, or a punk concert… Or maybe it was. both. Their very presence exudes a kind of darkness, filled with the love of all sick things, and a love that seems to be with death. Their choruses come from bands like the Siouxsie and the Banshees, Type O Negative and the Bauhaus, bands that seem to be able to cover all the weirdness perfectly. World Goth Day encourages us to celebrate these good friends, and to be able to immerse ourselves in their world, while the light is lovely, isn't it too dazzling?

The History Behind Gothic Design

The very thought of the gothic tradition can stir up some sort of question about the exact origins, however the goth appellation is really a subculture, which started in England in the 1980s, as of course as many stuff, such as Wham! And ET, but we'll save them for another occasion. The goth subculture became famous thanks to the rise of gothic rock, a post-punk genre, and both came from the music scene. The aesthetic and fun behind the joke is of course the dark clothes and hair, piercings and lots of black lipstick. Add this color to a very pale face and you will definitely look like an idol! Kick up!

Of course, as it progressed, the aesthetic became much more of a focus than the meaning behind it. Fashion designers jumped into the fray and gothic fashion became the dark side of Victorian fashion. Morover, why does it always use black? Black symbolizes death and the deep black night, however, you will find in more modern gothic styles that color combinations can be seen, especially through women's clothing and fashion. A little touch of red lace like blood or deep purple will create gothic charm and make the outfit more sophisticated.

The designs are relatively intricate and certainly have some great fashion statements to be seen.

History of World Goth Day

The history of World Goth Day stretches back in the quirky and twisty paths of history. Musically, it can be traced back to 1967 when someone called Doors' music "Gothic Rock". The term quickly became used to describe tracks such as Velvet Underground's "All Tomorrow's Parties", and Siouxsie and Banshee's were described as one of the "Goth Rocks Architects".

But why "Gothic"? It's an odd term considering that it originally referred to the Visigoths, who claimed fame were sacking Rome. So how did the Goths become the Goths? Well, we can trace the term a little further back to 1764, where Horace Walpole wrote a story called "Otranto Castle", which was subtitled "A Gothic Story" in its second printing. .

So what is Gothic in this context? It describes a "kind of pleasant horror", and is considered a natural extension of romantic literature. This, of course, implies a kind of romance with the dark side of life, something that could be said to describe the little flowers of gloom described at the beginning. Over time, we see that the term gothic has been used in developing musical backgrounds. It began in the late 1960s and was first used to describe music, especially seen with Jim Morrison's band The Doors, known as a modern man first, but bands other music such as Black Sabbath and The Cure.

The Gothic style then continued to evolve and move into cinemas, with films like 1977's Suspiria and Eraserhead giving a good introduction to gothic cinema, although it seems to have lost its luster and is today. there aren't many mainstream movies that really highlight the gothic trend okay. However, it remains an age-old and beloved style. There are many events and opportunities in each city to really enjoy the splendor of gothic design, in parades and at conferences.

How to celebrate World Goth Day

World Goth Day is a great time to explore the question plaguing those who don't understand the Goth subculture. It might be time for people to really understand its representations and why it is still so loved, even to this day. Those who believe that gothic culture is evil or malicious, can be educated in its history and allowed to feel the magic of the style. What are these souls looking for, what are their dreams, what do they want to tell us and most importantly, who are they and what beauty do they find in the dark? Take a moment to discover it for yourself, studying the history of Goth Culture and the songs, music, movies and literature that are its hallmarks. You won't be disappointed and maybe the next time you see these dark spirits, you'll understand a little more about what they see.

Wear a little black, add a little gothic makeup to your style for a day, and appreciate what the subculture of Goth is all about. You will find that gothic music tells a lot of stories regarding its history and about the magic that drives it. Today, we are witnessing the evolution of gothic culture, and we may see a stronger rise of new subcultures such as cybergoth, steampunk and trad goth.

World Goth Day honors all these souls and a part of them honoring the darkness within us all through music, art and media.