Though hen parties are currently quite profitable, this wasn't always the case. Only in the last 60 years has it become customary to throw the bride a separate celebration. Its inspiration came from the stag does, the grooms' equivalent, which has a considerably longer history. Despite the superficial similarity between the names Hen and Stag, the connection may not be as straightforward as at first glance. Looking for hens ideas? Look no further, Magic Men has you covered.

An Account Of The Hens' Party's Past

Those Who Call Themselves Hens.

Hen is a regional term. The party is known as a hen party in the United States, but a bachelorette in the United Kingdom and Australia. As a phrase, it referred to a Medieval knight who served under another's banner. Although, the word "hen" does, or at least did, exist in the United States. Before it became associated with weddings, the term simply meant a get-together of women. In 1940, Eleanor Roosevelt threw a hen party for female government officials and journalists. Hen party is now virtually synonymous with the United Kingdom. The phrase has survived in several English-speaking countries, such as Australia and New Zealand. Males are called bucks, females hens.

To What Extent Has This Expression Been Around For A While?

The year 1897 marked the first documented use of the word in the United States. Only since the 19th century has the concept of a hen party been practised. When the sexual revolution of the '60s hit, women finally started attending the bachelor party together with the guys. According to a Google N-Gram research, a tool that analyses the frequency with which words appear in books, the use of the term "hen party" surged rapidly beginning in 1960, providing a time stamp for not only the name's usage but also the rise in popularity of hen parties. There have been previous references to "hen parties" as an all-female celebration, but no connections to weddings. The word was first used in reference to weddings in the UK in The Times in 1976. A male stripper was brought before the Leicester Crown Court for 'lewd and indecent behaviour,' in a tale typical of those told at hen parties. This is something our Adonis friends are all too familiar with.

Where Did That Term "Hen" Come From?

There are a few different ways to define a hen party. The word "hens" is commonly used to refer to female chickens, so it makes sense that all the guests will be female. Also, hens suggest a social dynamic, as flocks of hens like to stay together in the field, just as people do in Manchester's urban areas.

There is also a middle English-based explanation. The term "hen" was formerly used to refer to both female chickens and the female gender more generally. The term entered the mediaeval language as a result. In the book, stags can go as far back in time as the Tudor era and as far forwards as ancient Greece. Spartan men would throw a party for the future bridegroom.

Exotic origins make for a more intriguing theory. It's important to note that several cultural elements of weddings in North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia are absent from American ceremonies. The practise of applying henna designs to the bride's skin is one such tradition. It is thought that this ritual will cleanse the bride of any evil. That's why we call it a "hen night" when the ladies get together for their henna ritual. This is a lovely custom, however in modern times, American women are more likely to apply fake tanning lotion than henna..

This Is A Significant Life Event!

Our September and October schedules are jam-packed with amazing groups of brides and bridesmaids-to-be seeking for a one-of-a-kind shindig to celebrate their upcoming nuptials because of the Hens Party's status as a modern bridal party rite of passage. It's safe to say that since the start of the millennium, this fad has spread like wildfire. This is the definitive guide on the origins of Hens Parties for anyone who has ever wondered how they became so popular.

Bachelorette Parties Are Known As "Hen's Nights."

Let me just introduce the topic. The bachelorette party, or a pre-wedding celebration planned primarily for the bride, is also known as a "Hens night," "Hens do," "Hens party," etc. Bachelorette parties are more widespread in the United States, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand than anywhere else.

To Explain What Is Involved.

Hens parties have a wide variety of activities, all of which are chosen by the party planners and are therefore subject to change. The bachelorette party can be anything from a PJ bash to a week at the bride's dream resort. In recent years, some who want to outdo Stag Nights have turned to male strippers and (nearly) naked butlers/chef services. Great Race falls between in the centre of these two extremes; we offer an exciting and adventurous activity for Hens parties before they move on to more restful or sneaky pursuits.

Histories Of The Hens

Let's delve into the Hens party's past, because it's not entirely original. Hen parties have their roots in ancient (as in, several centuries ago) Greek wedding traditions. The bride-to-be was expected to visit all of her female relatives as part of prenuptial rites. The rites included her sacrificing various items (childhood clothes, locks of hair, toys etc.) and dedicating them to the goddess of virginity. This action represented the bride's maturation from a little girl into a mature adult.

The evening would essentially consist of the bride-to-female be's friends and relatives reminiscing about their own wedding nights, offering advice on how to better please the groom, and disclosing sexual information about which the bride-to-be was previously ignorant. Eventually, the phrase Hen Party grew to mean any kind of female get-together, not just those associated with weddings, several decades later.

How It Appeared Recently?

The word "hens party" became well known and widely used in the modern era. Historically, it was used to describe a Christmas celebration for female government officials and other professionals. The word was first used by The New York Times in the 1970s to describe the controversial growth of male strippers (go, 70's free love!).

Since then, it has been seen by hens as a phenomena emblematic of women's empowerment. Some hen parties choose to use this day as a farewell to the freedoms of single life, while others aim to outdo the wild antics of the groom's bachelor or stag do. Either way, we support hens' rights to free speech. Our only concern is that the hens have fun.

The Term "Hen Party" Seems Odd.

Do you ever find yourself wondering what a hen party actually is? For what reason do we refer to this event as a "hen party" (or "Hen do"), and how does this relate to chickens? The word "hen party" actually has nothing to do with hens or chickens and comes from a completely other context.

The origin of the term "hen party" can be traced back to the etymology of the word "hen," which was originally used to refer to the female of any bird or, less commonly, the female gender of any sort of animal. Like "hen party," which originally meant a gathering for women only, "stag" originally meant the male of a species, and so it evolved to signify a gathering for men only.

The Bride: The Hen?

In common parlance, all the women in attendance at a hen party are collectively referred to as "the hens" or "the hen party." The bride is essentially a hen as well, however she is usually referred to as "The Bride" at the actual celebration.

Alternative Terms For A Bachelorette Party

Even amongst native English speakers, there is a vast range of terminology for hen and stag parties. Check out these other terms for bachelorette and bachelor parties:

• Aborigines of Australia: Hen and Buck Party
• The Bachelor and Bachelorette Party in the USA.
• A celebration known as "The Kitchen Tea" is a typical social event in South Africa. This custom has the bride's female relatives and friends getting together for a tea party right before the wedding, with the intention of bringing gifts for the newlyweds' kitchen.
• Canada has a tradition called a "Stag and Doe" party, where both men and women get together to raise money for the bride and groom's wedding and/or honeymoon.

The Origin Of Hen Parties Is A Mystery.

To our surprise, it seems that the practise of celebrating the engagement with a party before to the wedding has been around for much longer than we had previously believed. Stag parties came first, as was to be expected. We can only speculate about the kinds of ale-fueled feasts that took place at the known stag parties that were already happening in Tudor times.

Some historical accounts place the beginning of the stag party in the 5th century BC with the Spartans, who were apparently the first to throw a celebration in honour of a man's last night of freedom. It is documented that Spartan warriors would salute the future bridegroom during dinner parties. In all likelihood, there were fewer shots available than there are today, however strippers might have been more common.

The hen parties didn't show up until later. In the days before the Industrial Revolution, brides-to-be may hold a "bridal shower," where they would receive gifts (more likely embroidered handkerchiefs than "Bride Tribe" bikinis) to help them get ready for marriage and build up their dowries. As thus, you now know where the word "hens party" came from.

Birthday Bashes For The Guys & Gals

To clarify, the revellers are not a flock of Bambi-like bucks and hip little lady chicks, but rather, human males and females who are about to tie the knot. The Aussie equivalent of bachelor and bachelorette parties, "bucks" and "hens," are quite similar to their American counterparts. In Australia, stag and hen parties typically span multiple days. The Maid of Honor and Best Man traditionally plan a bucks night or hens night for the groom and bride, however any group is free to throw their own party if they so choose. At Magic Men, we provide special drink and performance packages for hens' parties.

An Typical Groom's "Bucks" Party

The boys gather together, and the celebrations, depending on personal preferences, can run for the entire weekend. Whether it's sky diving, fishing or even surfing, there's a group activity for everyone. They might take some time off work to make the trip to the party sites. Some suggestions are as follows:

Vacation By Automobile

Spending the weekend skiing/snowboarding or at the beach for some surfing and bumming around. In all honesty, it's up to the gang of dudes as to what they get into.

Casino

Vegas-style. Stay up all night Or the entirety of the weekend.

Golf

There's a round of 18 holes tossed in over the weekend. This is where the dads and granddads may participate in the fun.

Steak

Meat. Men and their steaks... Griddle-cooked or grilled to perfection at a steakhouse.

In A Boat

It could be spending the weekend on a houseboat and fishing or other water sports, or it could be an evening sail on a party boat on Sydney Harbour.

Limo

Let someone else do the driving. the fashionable way. This means that no one is drinking and driving.

Alcohol

And a lot of it, if that's what they like. Depending on the guys in question, narcotics can also play a role.

Clubbing

If nightlife is more their speed, they can go out clubbing or book a VIP area at one of the great clubs in town.

Celebration Of Life At The Home Of The Host

To get away from the bride and her party, they may rent a house for the weekend. The majority of the partying will occur here, however some people may choose to travel into the city to visit nightclubs thereafter.

Exposed-Breast Waitresses/Striptease Artists

To the chagrin of the ladies, this seems to be a standard feature at most bucks parties. We can only hope this is the end of it.

Standard Procedures During The Bride's Hens Party

The gals get together, and the celebrations may extend the entire weekend, just like the guys do. Enjoy a shared experience of pampering, retail therapy, and/or the thrill of a tandem skydive. They might also make the effort to go to the event location. Some suggestions are as follows:

Pampering

Facials, manicures, massages, pedicures, hair styling, and more will be the order of the day for the ladies as they spend the whole day pampering themselves. A day spa can be an option if they have the budget for it.

Assembling For Afternoon Tea

The equivalent of a man's steak is a woman's high tea. Parents and grandparents frequently attend this portion of the party.

Vacation By Automobile

Weekend of beach lounging, spa treatments, and late-night revelry.

Clubbing

Similar to a bucks party, the gals will get dolled up and hit the town. Although most hens I've seen simply wear a sash and tiara, I have witnessed some more outrageous events where the hens were dressed down in revealing costumes and danced the night away.

Celebration Of Life At The Home Of The Host

Like the boys, the girls might spend most of their day partying at the rented house before heading out to the clubs later on.

Limo

Let someone else do the driving. the fashionable way. This means that no one is drinking and driving.

Alcohol

There may or may not be a lot of champagne flowing, and it all depends on the ladies in the room. Drugs could be a factor as well, depending on the group we're discussing.

Tour Of The Harbour

To take Sydney Harbour as an example, there is a wide variety of party boats available for hire.

Wineries

I once saw a busload of hens on a winery tour of the Hunter Valley.

Waitresses Who Remove Their Shirts

Though I may be biassed as a female, I believe that most women who host hens parties will hire a male stripper mainly because her boyfriend or husband is planned on doing the same thing for his party.

The Following Are Some Of The Most Popular Venues In Australia For Hen And Stag Parties:

• To the Gold Coast/Surfers Paradise
• For Sydney's nightlife, try Darlinghurst or Kings Cross
• Vacations at the beach or in the woods, whether for camping, surfing, snow sports, or fishing
• Wineries
• Cruises
• Byron Bay

Check out range of Magic Men’s Melbourne hens ideas to help in your party planning.

Conclusion

In 1976, at a wedding in the United Kingdom, the term "hen" was first used. Google N-Gram data show that the use of the term "hen party" skyrocketed after 1960. Numerous English-speaking countries, including Australia and New Zealand, have preserved the expression. The Hens Party is now a traditional feature of the bridal celebration. When referring to female humans or poultry, the term "hens" was once the default.

In terms of frequency, bachelorette parties are most common in the United States, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand. Before moving on to more relaxing or clandestine hobbies, Hens parties can enjoy a thrilling and exciting experience with Great Race. The hen party can be traced back to ancient Greek customs associated with weddings. Even though some hen parties utilise this day as a sentimental farewell to their single days, others use it as an opportunity to outdo the wild antics of the groom's bachelor or stag do. The origin of the phrase "hen do" can be found in the history of the word "hen," which originally meant the female of any bird or, less typically, the female gender of any kind of animal.

According to some historians, the stag party originated among the Spartans in the fifth century BC. Stag and hen parties in Australia sometimes last for several days. Both the maid of honour and the best man usually organise a party for the groom and bride before the wedding. The "bucks" and "hens" parties celebrated in Australia are the equivalent of their American counterparts. The festivities for the ladies' get-together could last the entire weekend.

Spend time together indulging in a spa treatment, window shopping, or the adrenaline rush of a tandem jump. Parents and grandparents, including the bride's, often show up for this section of the celebration. The following are some of the best Hen and Stag Party locations in Australia. The best places to charter a limo or hire a male stripper for a hen or stag party include the following, ranging from wineries to party boats.

Content Summary

1. It has only been over the last 60 years that a party solely for the bride has become common.
2. It was modelled after the far older tradition of stag parties, which are held for the grooms.
3. The party is known as a hen party in the United States, but a bachelorette in the United Kingdom and Australia.
4. A Medieval knight who fought for another banner was referred to by this term.
5. The word "bridal shower" originally referred to any sort of gathering when women were present.
6. For the ladies in government and the press, Eleanor Roosevelt hosted a hen party in 1940.
7. Numerous English-speaking countries, including Australia and New Zealand, have preserved the expression.
8. The term was first used in print in the United States in 1897.
9. Hen parties are a very recent phenomenon, having just become commonplace in the nineteenth century.
10. All-female get-togethers known as "hen parties" had been mentioned before, but not in relation to weddings.
11. The word was first used in regard to weddings in the UK in The Times in 1976.
12. The term "hen" was traditionally used to refer to both female chickens and the female gender more generally.
13. The groom-to-be would be feted by his male Spartan friends.
14. A common one involves decorating the bride's skin with henna patterns.
15. That's why we call it a "hen night" when the ladies gather together for their henna routine.
16. One may claim that this trend has been growing rapidly since the turn of the millennium.
17. It goes by many names, but they all refer to the same thing: a get-together before a wedding where the focus is on the bride, the bachelorette.
18. Some revellers, in an effort to top previous Stag Nights, have resorted to hiring male strippers and (almost) nude butlers/chefs.
19. Hen parties have their roots in ancient (as in, several centuries ago) Greek wedding rituals.
20. In today's society, the term "hens party" has achieved widespread notoriety and usage.
21. Historically, it was used to denote a Christmas celebration for female government employees and other professionals.
22. While some hen parties utilise this day as a sentimental farewell to their single days, others try to top the outrageous actions of the groom's bachelor or stag party.
23. Like "hen party," which originally meant an event exclusively for women, "stag" initially meant the male of a species, but through time it came to denote an event exclusively for men.
24. In common usage, all the ladies in attendance at a hen party are collectively referred to as "the hens" or "the hen party."
25. Alternative Terms For A Bachelorette Party Even amongst native English speakers, there is a large variation of terms for hen and stag parties.
26. Canada has a tradition called a "Stag and Doe" party, where both men and women join together to raise money for the bride and groom's wedding and/or honeymoon.
27. The Spartans of the 5th century BC may have been the first people to celebrate a man's last night of freedom with a party, according to some historians.
28. As thus, you now know where the word "hens party" originates from.
29. The Aussie equivalent of bachelor and bachelorette parties, "bucks" and "hens," are quite similar to their American equivalents.
30. The Maid of Honor and Best Man generally prepare a bucks night or hens night for the groom and bride, however any group is free to throw their own party if they so wish.
31. Magic Men offers specialised packages for hens' parties, including drinks and entertainment.
32. They might rent a property for the weekend to get away from the bride and her guests.
33. Methods Customarily Followed during a Bachelorette Party for the Bride Just like the males, the gals come together to party, and the festivities may last the entire weekend.
34. They could even decide to make the journey to the event itself.
35. If they have the means, a day spa visit may be in order.
36. This is the part of the celebration that the parents and grandparents often watch.
37. Clubbing Similar to a bucks party, the women will get dolled up and hit the town.
38. Gathering of Family and Friends to Honor a Life It's possible that the girls, like the lads, will spend the majority of the day drinking and playing games in the leased property, only leaving for the nightclubs when it gets too late.
39. Alcohol Depending on the presence of the females, there may or may not be a plentiful supply of champagne.
40. Tour Of The Harbour Many different types of party boats are available for charter on Sydney Harbour.
41. Wineries On a vineyard trip through the Hunter Valley, I once spotted a bus full of chickens.