Hen Do Meaning & History

Traditionally known as the last night of freedom, a hen party is the ultimate way to give the bride-to-be a send off to remember with her nearest and dearest. But have you ever wondered where hen dos originate? 

This much loved tradition has evolved in line with the women’s rights movement and what began as a sedate affair marking the end of a woman’s working life as she stepped into the role of housewife has since become a celebration of love and friendship with no holds barred in terms of what is accepted. 

We uncovered a long and fascinating history that will make you glad to have been born in an era where Western women are free to choose how they celebrate one of the happiest days of their lives. 

Where does the term hen party come from?

The phrase ‘hen party’ was coined in the 1800's and had nothing to do with marriage whatsoever. Hen parties back then were a gathering of females, enjoying each other's company without any menfolk ruining the vibe. Middle and upper class ladies attended, and would play cards, partake in afternoon tea and sometimes drink champagne, while gossiping about the latest scandal, think Bridgerton and you will get the idea. (Where do we sign up?)  

Moving on into the 1900's, in 50's and 60's America, the term ‘Bridal shower’ was used to wave the bride-to-be off into the good old institution of marriage and was a terribly genteel affair. Women would gather at one of their homes and exchange gifts and drink coffee, while the men were afforded Bachelor parties which, as we all know are much wilder affairs involving tons of booze and pearl clutching amounts of fraternising. 

Meanwhile in the UK, hen parties for working class women were traditionally arranged because the bride-to-be was expected to leave her job when she married to become a full time housewife. Her place of work would throw a farewell party, where she'd be dressed up in a veil and paraded around the office or factory so everyone could wish her well. 

The 1970's gave way to positive change. The bridal shower was upgraded to a bachelorette party, modelled on bachelor parties with just as much booze and heady behaviour. In the UK, Hen parties also became just as outrageous as their stag do counterparts as women fought for independence and weren’t expected to leave employment once they’d tied the knot. The sexual revolution saw women fight for equal rights in all aspects and being able to party just as hard as men was one of those freedoms won.   

An article which would now may be considered laughable was published in The Times newspaper in 1976 who used the term ‘hen party’ relating to marriage for the first time in print. A male stripper who attended a hen do was fined for ‘lewd behaviour’ by Leicester Crown Court. How times have changed. Some of the hen party male strip shows in Benidorm would make their eyes water! 

Hen parties of today are a celebration of love and friendship, generally speaking in British culture women marry for love and are not expected to give up their own lives as part of the deal. The equality in terms of how pre nuptials are celebrated is evident with hen parties being just as wild and stag parties. The choices on how and where to celebrate are also endless, you can host your hen do in the UK or overseas and the booming wedding industry portrays the message that bigger is better. 

There’s a lot of financial pressure to deliver jaw dropping hen celebrations which can be overwhelming. This is where Hen Party Deals comes into play, as the name suggests we offer affordable hen weekends with UK and European destinations. Not only can you book a diverse range of activities through us, you can also secure accommodation. For example, a three day stay on a Tenerife hen do with gorgeous apartments and activities booked on each day costs just £387 per person based on 10 sharing! That’s just £32 per month if you pay over 12 months. The other great thing is you can pay us in instalments and if you book far enough in advance your flights will also be incredibly cheap. There are lots of amazing destinations and activities to choose from proving a hen party can be affordable for everyone - get your free quote now!