The social season or Season has historically referred to the annual period when it is customary for members of the a social elite of society to hold debutante balls, dinner parties and large charity events. It was also the appropriate time to be resident in the city rather than in the country, in order to attend such events.
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The London social season evolved in the 17th and 18th centuries, and in its traditional form it peaked in the 19th century. In this era the British elite was dominated by landowning aristocratic and gentry families who generally regarded their country house as their main home, but spent several months of the year in the capital to socialise and to engage in politics. The most exclusive events were held at the town mansions of leading members of the aristocracy. Exclusive public venues such as Almack's played a secondary role. The Season coincided with the sitting of Parliament and began some time after Christmas and ran until midsummer, roughly late June). The social season also played a role in the political life of the country: the members of the two Houses of Parliament were almost all participants in the season. But the Season also provided an opportunity for the children of marriageable age of the nobility and gentry to be launched into society. Women were formally introduced into society by presentation to the monarch at Court.
In London society, the Season traditionally began after Easter and ended with the "Glorious Twelfth" (August 12), the start of the shooting season for red grouse.[1]
The traditional Season went into decline after the First World War, when many aristocratic families gave up their London mansions. From this time on an increasing number of society events took place at public venues, making it harder to maintain social exclusivity.
Many events that take place far from central London came to be regarded as part of the social season, including Royal Ascot and the Henley Regatta. The presentation of débutantes at court was abolished by Queen Elizabeth II in 1958. The events which now comprise the London social Season are increasingly hosted or sponsored by large companies (ie. "corporate hospitality"). Dress codes still apply to certain events in the season, especially where the Queen plays an official role.
According to the peerage guide Debrett's, the traditional Social Season runs from April to August.[2]
Today there is no official organization of the Season, although many of the traditions and customs remain.
Glyndebourne — The Proms — Royal Academy Summer Exhibition — West End theatre
Royal Ascot — Glorious Goodwood — Badminton — The Grand National — The Royal Windsor Horse Show — The Epsom Derby cheltenham gold cup
Trooping the Colour — The Garter Service
The Boat Race — Henley Royal Regatta — Polo — Wimbledon — Cowes Week — The Lord's Test Match
Although several of these events are not actually held in London, such as the Hurlingham Polo Cartier International at Guards Polo Club, the organisers of most events attempt to avoid date clashes, so it is generally possible to visit all of them in the same year (given sufficient leisure time, disposable income and stamina).
The traditional end of the London Season is the Glorious Twelfth of August, which marks the beginning of the shooting season. Society would retire to the country to shoot birds during the autumn and hunt foxes during the winter, before coming back to London again with the spring.
Many events of the season have traditional expectations with regard to dress.
Many large American cities have a more-or-less official social season, although only those persons on the social register may be aware of its existence. In the United States, the timing of the social season is adapted to the local climate, rather than to the sitting of a legislative body and may start as early as the autumn and end in the early summer when the rich elite traditionally fled the hot and humid cities for the camps of the Adirondacks, seaside retreats such as the Hamptons, or, in California, the Napa and Sonoma Valleys.
In New York, the opening of the Metropolitan Opera in September is a major event of the early social season, which includes the International Debutante Ball in December. In Los Angeles, it is the Las Madrinas debutante ball in December at the Beverly Hilton Hotel honoring 25-30 young women, and in San Francisco, the Opening Night Gala of the San Francisco Opera.