The word “picnic” comes from the French word “pique-nique,” which first appeared in print in Tony Willis’ 1692 Origines de la Langue Française. It originally referred to a group of people dining in a restaurant who brought their own wine. Picnics were long associated with a meal to which everyone contributed, and they grew especially popular after the French Revolution, when royal parks in France became open gathering spaces for people of all classes. Here are some historical photos of people enjoying their picnics from the past.
The ladies are wearing white summer dresses. The man is dressed in a single-breasted suit.
A BMW 3/20 PS Cabriolet can be seen behind them.
The drink is Berliner Weisse, a beer usually served with flavored syrups.
An Opel 1.8 Liter registered in the Saxon district of Dresden can be seen in the background.
One of the cars is registered in the Saxon district of Zwickau.
The Simca 5 is registered in the French département of Rhône.
A Hanomag Rekord can be seen in the background.
A Renault Celtaquatre can be seen in the background.
A shabby-looking 1930s convertible can be seen in the background. The car is registered in the French département of Ain.
The car has post-war Austrian licence plates from the state of Lower Austria.
Two cans of beer and a soft drink bottle are standing on the table. In the background, a lake or ocean can be seen.
A German-built Ford Taunus 12 M can be seen parked behind them.
An Austin A40 Devon can be seen inside the car’s boot. The car is registered in the Canadian province of Ontario.
A Mercedes 170 V can be seen in the background.
A hardtop coupe, probably a 1952 Pontiac Catalina, can be seen parked in the background.
A Steyr-Puch 500 DL, equipped with a roof rack and laden with camping gear, is parked next to the table, registered in the city of Vienna.
