Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


 GLOSSIES 
0

Bachelor Parties: Creating Hangovers Since 500 BC

Time explores history of debauchery ritual

Share

(Newser) – With The Hangover’s bachelor party tale dominating the box office, you might be wondering: Just where did this ritual come from? Time offers a brief history:

  • In the 5th century BC, the ancient Spartans celebrated the groom’s last night as a single man with dinner and toasts.
  • In 1896, rumors circulated that a belly dancer would be performing nude at a stag party thrown by PT Barnum’s grandson. A police raid ensued.

  • “Bachelor” used to mean a young knight or a student with a bachelor's degree, and was first used to describe an unmarried man in Geoffrey Chaucer's 14th-century Canterbury Tales. “Bachelor party” was first used in 1922 in a Scottish journal to describe a "jolly old" party.
  • In the 1960s, women caught up with the bachelorette party. In recent years, combined stag and doe parties have become popular.

In this film publicity image released by Warner Bros., Zach Galifianakis, right, Bradley Cooper, center, and Ed Helms are shown in a scene from
In this film publicity image released by Warner Bros., Zach Galifianakis, right, Bradley Cooper, center, and Ed Helms are shown in a scene from "The Hangover."   (AP Photo/Warner Bros., Frank Masi)
In this film publicity image released by Warner Bros., Ed Helms, left, Zach Galifianakis, center, and Bradley Cooper are shown in a scene from,
In this film publicity image released by Warner Bros., Ed Helms, left, Zach Galifianakis, center, and Bradley Cooper are shown in a scene from, "The Hangover."   (AP Photo/Warner Bros., Frank Masi)
In this film publicity image released by Warner Bros., Zach Galifianakis, left, Bradley Cooper, center, and Ed Helms are shown in a scene from
In this film publicity image released by Warner Bros., Zach Galifianakis, left, Bradley Cooper, center, and Ed Helms are shown in a scene from "The Hangover."   (AP Photo)
A movie poster for the film
A movie poster for the film "Bachelor Party" features American actor Tom Hanks wearing a tuxedo in the doorway of hotel room staring at a woman's legs, 1984.   (Getty Images)
Bachelor parties used to be a black-tie affair, but not anymore, Time reports.
Bachelor parties used to be a black-tie affair, but not anymore, Time reports.   (©theopie)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.20.09
The Health-Care Wars Have Just Begun
11.19.09
Sarah Palin Deserves Some More Attention
0 comments
VIEWING:
 
LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

10 Stories

barhopping

 Yo-Ho-Ho! 
 Rum Goes 
 Top Shelf 


Aug 10, 09 2:18 PM CDT
(Newser) - For those who associate "rum" with Captain Morgan, it might be time to put away the 2-liter bottle of generic cola. The perennial pirate fave is clawing its way up to the top shelf, writes John Mariani for Bloomberg, and giving whiskies, brandies, and Scotches a run for their... More »

MORE ABOUT:
alcohol • rum • liquor • sugar cane • Bacardi • Jay-ZTV • Captain Morgan

OPINION

 Multifaceted 
 Chardonnay 
 a Welcome 
 Surprise 

Price does matter, but it's possible to find exciting varieties

Jul 24, 09 4:01 PM CDT
(Newser) - Chardonnay is ubiquitous, but the “countless weak versions,” especially in the $10 category, disappoint wine lovers, writes Eric Arnold in Forbes. Nevertheless, Americans gulped down about 60 million 9-liter cases in 2008. If you’re willing to beef up your budget and experiment a bit, you may be... More »

MORE ABOUT:
alcohol • wine • champagne • alcohol consumption • chardonnay • Jay-ZTV • white wine

(Newser) - The ever-adventurous US microbrewing community has embraced a new flavor, the Los Angeles Times reports, and it’s sour. Brewers are taking a page from the Belgian playbook and turning out tart lambics and gueuzes aged in oak barrels. “Sour beers are our connection to the ancient history of... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Belgium • alcohol • beer • brewery • microbrewing • Jay-ZTV • sour • lambic

10 Stories


History of the hangover
Time

Top 5 bachelor party movies
Complex Blog


Arts & Living  •  Glossies 
TwitterFollow @NewserArts on Twitter

 
alcohol • stripper • PT Barnum • bachelor party • Jay-ZTV • The Hangover • Spartans • Geoffrey Chaucer • Canterbury Tales

from our news partners