So You’re Dating a Historian

Welcome back to the History Nook.

Happy Monday, Nooklings! The first version of this post ended up being a good example of why I should never ask my housemate for quotes. Let's try again, shall we?

So grab your favourite mug, find a soft space to curl up, and let’s wander a little deeper into the past! Historians come in many different flavours, I'm the "Loves a museum, and hoards books and shinies." flavour. I would recommend finding out what flavour of historian you are dating early on in the relationship. This will make planning dates and gifts a lot easier.

Every historian has their own area of expertise or specialist interest, and you will need to be prepared for info dumping to happen, if you so much as mention their favourite era in passing. I'm pretty sure my boyfriend and housemate have both learnt not to mention Anglo-Saxon helmets around me if they are planning on getting anything done within the next half an hour.

Then there are the topics we have a passing interest in. This list can be as short as one or two things, or it could be as long as your arm. For example; I specialise in Early Medieval Britain and the Classical period, but I also have a fondness for...

• Weaponry throughout history

• Artillery throughout history

• Linguistics

• Mythology and folklore

• Astronomy

• Music

• Poetry

• Palaeontology

• Geology

• Taxonomy

• Taxidermy

• TTRPGs and video games

All of which link in to my study of history. These minor interests won't lead to the same level of info dumping as your historians major interest, but you will likely learn a fair bit about each one.

Which brings us nicely to my next point. There is a high chance that your historian will enjoy quizzes of some kind. Crosswords, a weekly pub quiz, quiz shows on TV, these are all ways you can spend some quality time with your historian while also feeding their thirst for knowledge. You can also use this as an opportunity to show off to your historian. Cuddle up under a blanket and work on a crossword together, or watch an episode of University Challenge, QI or Pointless, and you'll get to see your historian light up when they know the answer to a question.

Let's talk dates. Like most humans, your historian will enjoy going out for a meal, to see a film, or any other activity people like to partake in. They will appreciate if it has a bit of a historical twist though. Perhaps you could take them to a themed bar, to a restaurant in a historical part of a city. Museums and heritage sites are always a good option, but try to pick something that is a little less well known, or a place your historian hasn't visited yet. Day trips to other towns or cities is also a good option. There's nothing quite like a little adventure around a new place, especially if that place has a rich history. Look out for local lectures or talks about your historians major or minor interests, that will show them that you're listening when the talk about their passions.

Sometimes it can be difficult to buy gifts for someone, but historians will tell you what they want. Perhaps you're watching a documentary together and your historian says "Oh, Armillary spheres are so cool!" save that little nugget for when you have the want, or need to buy them a gift. Notebooks and nice pens are always a good idea, and depending on what flavour of historian you are dating, things such as crystals, bones, ornaments, and trinkets, are all good choices.

But most of all, the greatest gift you can give your historian is your time and presence. Let them info dump, read their social media posts about their favourite topic, join them in museums and let them swoon over their favourite object - even if this is the 50th time you have seen it.

I have dated people who don't have curious minds, or don't have that thirst for learning and those relationships have often left me feeling unfulfilled. I want to share my loves and my passions with my partners, and I believe most historians feel the same. So please, keep that in mind if you are considering dating someone who

This has been your cheat guide to dating Signa...

Thank you for reading—I hope you enjoyed your time in the History Nook today. Until next time: stay curious, and keep warm.

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