The bridal party will wonder why the lady’s party is called a “hen do” and the men’s party a “stag do.”
Many myths are spread in open conversation. Mothers claim it is American slang meaning ‘birds,’ believing that the celebration has recently passed from the US to Britain. Bridesmaids often have more liberal ideas about how women were called hens. They reason that hens are fond of cockerels.
It is a moment of revelation when the truth comes out. If we dust off the old book of English Etymology or, more likely, Google etymonline.com, it is clear that historically, ‘hen’ was used to refer to women and stag” for men.
hen (n.)
German, Swedish, Danish, and other languages still use the masculine form (Hahn, “cock”). German has Huhn for either gender—the early 14c. Extension to “females of any bird species” is standard in English. The word “hen,” a slang term for “woman,” first appeared in the 1620s.
stag (n.)
Late 12c., possibly from Old English stagger, from Proto-Germanic*stag- from PIE*stegh- to prick or sting. (See sting (v .)). Old Norse was used to describe male foxes and tomcats. The Germanic root may have originally meant “male animals in their prime.” The American term “stag party” means “a group of only males.”
The tradition dates back even further than our mothers thought.
According to James Renshaw’s In Search of the Greeks (Second Edition), these events included; the proaulia, the games, and the Apulia. In Search of the Greeks, Second Edition, James Renshaw, explains that these events include the proaulia (or the wedding), the games (or the reception), and the Apulia.
Proaulia is the first of three events. The bride would spend time with her mother and o, other relatives, such as enslaved people, preparing for the wedding ceremony. The bride would thank Artemis, goddess of childbirth and virginity, for protecting her throughout her childhood and asking for her help in leaving her virginity sphere. The bride would pray for use in delivery if she had children.
The 60s and 70s
The modern hen-and-stag party was born in the early 1900s, but it was in the 1960s or 1970s that the parties were more widely known. The sexual revolution was likely responsible for this, allowing people to be more spontaneous and free-spirited. There was still, however, a stigma associated with the appropriateness of behavior at hen and stag nights.
The BBC
The Times did not use the term hen party until 1976. Quotation marks surrounded the phrase to indicate that it was not widespread. It was used in an article about a male stripped per who had been fined for his “lewd, offensive, and disgusting” behavior.
In the 1970s, engagement parties were often held with the co-workers of the future bride, who was about to transition from her work role to that of a housewife and (future mother). The parties began moving out of the offices into pubs and nightclubs. Hen nights became more popular with activities such as wine tasting and life drawing classes. Pub crawls became more popular as stag nights grew.
The Naughty 90s HTML0
In the late 1990s, hen and stag nights were considered equally important. Companies began to realize the potential of promotional offers. They saw them as a prerequisite for getting married. This led to a boom in fancy-dress costumes, stretched limousines, and sports activities like paintballing and riding horses. Strippers were a popular choice for both parties, and alcohol was flowing.
The Millennium
In the millennium, the number of foreign holidays increased. Gone were the days of fancy dress and stretched limousines. Destinations such as Magaluf and Las Vegas were trendy among sun-seeking hens and stags in the years that followed the millennium. As the party capital, hens, stags, and other guests celebrated their “last weeks of freedom” by downing shots, attending boat parties, and participating in foam and paint parties.
Present The Day
In recent years, stag and bachelor parties have chosen to go to more classy destinations like Paris, Milan, or Barcelona. The trend of overspending on a night out has waned. However, the ‘bride-to-be’ sash and fake veil remain the go-to accessories to enjoy a tropical evening dancing under the sun. Hen holiday photos feature floppy hats and bikinis as well as exotic cocktails. Stags are dressed in stringer vests, flip-flops, shorts, and sunglasses.
Hen parties are increasingly choosing more sedate activities to celebrate, such as afternoon tea, restaurant meals, and cocktail mixology classes. The popularity of spa retreats has also increased.
The stag/hen market has also seen a boom in action-packed activities. Parties are booking white water rafting days, skydiving, bungee jumps, and tank driving experiences.
The cost of a hen or stag party has risen steadily. Some parties are less about celebrating the nua couple’s nuptials with their family and friends and more an excuse to have a memorable event or holiday. You can combine both unforgettable experiences and the celebration of your marriage, but it’s essential to maintain sight of the most important thing. Bradley Cooper from The Hangover is not the only one who can wear a lip that’s busted!
