Last weekend I went on my first proper hen do. It was a close friend of mine from school. That's right, school, from all those years ago. We all travelled across the country, met up in York, where many of us grew up, and, unbeknown to the 'hen', began setting up balloons, streamers, cakes, champagne and Pimms next to a tennis court at our old school. It was the beginning of a weekend of pure fun, laughing, giggles, drinks, cocktails, food, more laughing, giggling until our ribs ached, dancing, and more laughing. and champagne. and some more dancing. Oh, and a speedy little boat down the river on Sunday. Such fun.
However, it was only when I was on the Sunday afternoon train back to London, slightly weary from the 3 or so hours sleep and much dancing the night before, that my mind started wandering on the whole idea of a hen do. The weekend hadn't just been enjoyable due to it being my friend's 'last night of being single' - although she actually has a month or so to go, which is understandable, nor was it just about meeting up with old friends and faces, and meeting some new ones; this was something special, traditional, exciting, a rite of passage... but where did this idea of a hen do actually come from?
After a quick bit of internet research, I've discovered (although it doesn't seem entirely surprising) that the current 'Hen Do' comes originally from the 'Bachelor Party' where men would hold a dinner for close friends, ahead of their marriage. It wasn't until the relatively recent 1960s that the idea of women holding a similar event came about, and not until the 1980s that it became more commonplace for future brides-to-be would celebrate in this way. So women have only been gather to celebrate their friend's/sister's/cousin's last night of freedom for the last 30 years or so.
Whereas the common cliches we hear of the equivalent 'Stag Do' often involves the future groom being tied to a lamp post, or being coerced into various dares and pranks, the bride-to-be has a much more easy time of it. The 'Hen Do' can often involve activities such as sport, cookery classes, spa treatments - anything that brings the women together as a group, and the itinerary can often be keep secret from the 'Hen' until the moment. The style, location and debauchery levels of the evenings activities however, can still very much be open to interpretation.
Which maybe explains why, whereas my friend gave us strict instructions that we weren't to look like we were on a hen do (although this is quite hard to hide, being a group of 12 or so women..), we did pass a couple of other groups, one of which involved every woman wearing a pink t-shirt, and the 'Hen' carrying a rather detailed (let's say) inflatable man. I'm just relieved that my friends have such taste to as not resort to this.... but then again, perhaps that is the 'proper' way of doing these things?!