Before the advent of modern technology, our ancestors back in the 19th century enjoyed very peculiar sources of entertainment, as they were compelled to figure out ways to alleviate their boredom. Sometimes, storytelling, knitting, or reading a book just didn’t cut out the boredom. Apart from their bizarre fondness for grooming their pets as humans for family portraits, our Victorian ancestors had a vast array of odd hobbies that were surprisingly very popular back in the day. Here are some strange diversions that people during the Victorian era enjoyed doing, but they may seem odd today. Posing for Mourning Photos This has to be the most popular yet creepy hobby that our ancestors lived on during Victorian times. Our Victorian ancestors were quite fond of the dead. So much that they often photographed the deceased members of their family and posed with them to get family portraits done. These memorial photos may freak you out now, but it was considered a normal photography session during that time. Cemetery Picnics With fewer museums, picnic gardens, and parks to choose from, a lot of Americans of the Victorian era liked having a good time in cemeteries. Sprawling rural cemeteries started emerging in the United States during the 1830s. For several U.S. residents, the nearby cemetery was the closest alternative to a public park. Families and friends would pack lunches and have picnics by the tombstones. Fern Collecting Our Victorian ancestors were quite obsessed with exotic plants. So much so that they began hunting for ferns and cultivating them. Fern expeditions became a popular interest in Asia, Europe, and other nations, where Victorian people could find wild specimens of ferns to bring back home. This may sound like a stroll in the park to you, but fern hunting involved quite a lot of thrill— exactly why it felt like hunting to them. Seaweed Scrapbooking Victorians were obsessed with seaweeds. After collecting specimens of seaweeds, scrapbookers pasted the multicoloured strands onto sheets of construction paper. This hobby was more aesthetic than educational, and the seaweeds were sometimes arranged in a manner to spell out words or even create images. Crystal Gazing Since ancient times, humans have been searching for fortunes in reflective surfaces, but during the late 19th century, this practice witnessed a revival. Crystal gazers would stare into mirrors, gems, or glass orbs to tap into the secrets of their subconscious minds. If you thought your hobby was weird, these Victorian hobbies would certainly compel you to think twice.