As unbelievable as it may sound, they sure did! The Victorians were actually fascinated by Ancient Egyptian mythology, and mummy unwrapping parties enjoyed a brief stint of popularity.Mummy unwrapping parties in Victorian times.
British society was captivated and fascinated by stories of far-away lands like Egypt, with explorers of the late 1800s bringing exotic artefacts (including mummies) back from their travels.
Coupled with the Victorian fascination for seances, the occult, and gothic literature - it makes sense that the social elite would enjoy a pastime as macabre as mummy unwrapping.
Bram Stoker's Egyptian-themed horror novel 'The Jewel of Seven Stars' is a great example of the appetite that Victorian society had for spooky Egyptian tales.
The unwrapping parties would probably have been a bit more like scientific lectures than actual party games, but it sure makes for an interesting way to spend an evening.
