- The original, historical Goths for which the modern sub-culture is named, were a Germanic tribe, probably from Scandinavia, best known for sacking Rome in 410 CE. Like today's Goths, they suffered from stereotyping - they are often seen as savages and Barbarians - but that is how the Romans portrayed them, and they would, wouldn't they? In fact, the Goths were largely peaceful hunters and farmers, skilled in horsemanship, archery, and falconry.
- Like any group of people, the Gothic subculture is made up of individuals with a range of musical, artistic and fashion tastes. They encompass "Uber-Goths" and "poseurs" and everything in between.
- Goths are often associated with certain types of music. Music critic John Stickney coined the term "Gothic rock" in 1967 when describing a meeting with Jim Morrison in a dimly lit wine-cellar which he called "the perfect room to honour the Gothic rock of the Doors". Artists and bands associated with Goth culture include Velvet Underground, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Joy Division, Bauhaus, Adam and the Ants, The Cure, Killing Joke and later incarnations of The Damned.
- There are also particular genres of fiction which are described as Gothic. Elements of Gothic fiction may be mystery, romance, horror and the supernatural. Think Edgar Allen Poe, Bram Stoker, H. P. Lovecraft and Anne Rice. Rice's characters were depicted as tormented beings who struggled with alienation and loneliness; beautiful, but socially alienated monsters. Not unlike the stereotypical Goth, in fact.
- John Everett Millais and John Ruskin are artists whose work might appeal to Goths. Dark colours, dark subjects, Vampires, ghosts and romance are features of Gothic art.
- So they all wear nothing but Black, right? Actually, no. While many do, even an Uber Goth might accent black with Red or Purple, and some may even wear Pink. That said, dyed black hair, black painted fingernails Elizabethan, Victorian or medieval styles such as corsets, lace, Silver jewellery and religious imagery are common. Fashion experts have postulated that Goth fashion is a revolt against the psychedelic 70s disco fashions and the pastel colours popular in the 1980s.
- You can even apply a Gothic style to a room by painting the walls, ceiling and furniture black, and furnish it with objects like candlesticks, death lanterns, Skulls, rosaries, crosses and plastic roses.
- Another stereotype is that Goths are terminally depressed and suicidal, and prone to self harm. They're not. They may have a dark sense of humour, but not all of them are miserable by any means. That said, a study in the British Medical Journal did find a correlation between identifying with goth culture and self harm and attempted suicide. However, what the researchers found was that more often than not, people self harmed before they became Goths, and that becoming part of the subculture actually helped them cope better with life.
- Nor do you have to be a sexually promiscuous devil worshipper to be a goth. Goths can be Atheist, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Wiccan, or whatever faith they want. Being on drugs isn't a prerequisite either. There is no one drug associated with Goth culture. Goths, according to research, tend to be highly intelligent and creative people.
- As well as World Goth Day, there are lots of Goth festivals. A lot of them take place in Germany, but not all of them. The Lumous Gothic Festival takes place in Finland and is the northernmost gothic festival in the world. "Deti Nochi: Chorna Rada" (Children of the night) takes place in Ukraine and the Drop Dead Festival is in the US. Closer to home, if you don't want to leave the UK, look no further than Whitby, Yorkshire, which hosts a twice-yearly Goth music festival.
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