Here we are, the wedding season has begun … but even before that of the ” Stags and Hens parties “.
We are receiving many requests in this period for the organization of Stags and Hens parties, dos or activities near Florence.
And just in these days we have made a reflection: how much has the way of experiencing the Stag and Hens party changed over the years?
We started to read up, and from there the idea of sharing this reflection with you
Stag and Hens parties: A brief history
The transition from celibate to married is one of the greatest life developments for many, and throughout history people have celebrated the occasion with a variety of rituals and celebrations.
Throughout history, premarital rituals for the bride-to-be were more about preparation than entertainment. In ancient Greece, the day before the wedding was known as proaulia.
It is thought that the bride, along with other women, would have made offerings and sacrifices to appease the gods.
The ancient Scottish custom of washing the bride’s feet by her friends still exists in some ceremonies. Here some see a purification ritual in view of the cathartic event of marriage.
It seems to be possible to glimpse in the female model a prediction of the loss of the bride’s virginity.
For the bridegroom, however, tradition seems to have foreseen that the bridegroom focuses more on the loss of his celibacy.
When did the stag and hen parties really begin?
The terms “stag party” and “bachelorette party” originate in the 1850s, although at this time they were not necessarily related to marriage. Instead, they referred to shows in which only men or only women attended.
Victorian-era bachelor parties featured activities such as fishing, oyster dinners, magic trick shows, and dressing up in costume.
By the 1880s the equivalent “bachelorette parties”; had emerged, generally with singing, dancing, tea and refined entertainment.
For decades, stag and hen parties have referred exclusively to jokes, theatrical performances, birthdays and same-sex parties.
It was in the 1960s that the terms collided hopelessly with premarital celebrations.
Bachelorette parties at this time allowed the working bride-to-be to celebrate with her colleagues, before potentially leaving her job to become a housewife and a mother.
With the more emancipated attitudes of the 60s and 70s, women increasingly indulged in celebrations more similar to their spouses.
As tastes and expectations became more elaborate, the celebrations evolved: the small parties on the eve of the wedding were increasingly replaced by hyper-organized weekends abroad, with an itinerary of activities and which often take place over months in advance.
But while the exterior accessories have changed, the focus on the night as a rite of passage remains even though it is no longer socially acceptable for either the bride or the groom to enjoy their last “night of freedom”.
In reality, in recent times it has been experienced that in the stag and hen party it is not the birthday boy/girl who is having the last adventure but it is all the others who take part in it.
The stag and hen party is a unique moment that then remains indelible in everyone memory forever!
In the next episode we will obviously talk about why organize a bachelor party or a bachelorette party in Tuscany and we will share with you our ideas for an unforgettable bachelorette party!
