Basque ethnography at a glance

Bride-to-be and her hens. Urduliz (Bizkaia), 2010. Akaitze Kamiruaga. Labayru Fundazioa Photographic Archive.

Once upon a time a stag party consisted of a celebration meal in a bar or a restaurant hosted by a bachelor for his male friends shortly before getting married. For her part, the bride-to-be gave a ladies’ tea party in her house, known as refresco, when she took the opportunity to show off the bridal trousseau to her guests.

Stag and hen parties were held to coincide with the first, second or third reading of banns in church, called deiuneak in Basque, announcing the forthcoming marriage. Such a day for congratulations was in some places known as día de la enhorabuena.

It was customary for the bridegroom to cover the cost of the event, and guests, in their turn, responded to the invitation with a gift. Subsequently, however, attendees should be prepared to foot their share of the bill and are often expected to pay for the groom.

Stag do. Bilbao (Bizkaia), 1983. Labayru Fundazioa Photographic Archive.

As mixed groups of boys and girls became frequent over time, joint stag and hen dos started to be celebrated, especially when intended spouses came from the same village or nearby localities. After dinner participants enjoyed themselves in a party venue or around the bars.

Eventually dearest friends were joined for the occasion by close acquaintances of the affianced. More recently, groom and bride-to-be may be given separate parties by lifetime friends, co-workers, playmates…

Tradition changed again around the 1990s. Now the bridegroom’s men collect secret funds to throw their friend a surprise party, sometimes counting on the complicity of the bride, and vice versa for hens and their bride. They make them dress in outlandish costumes and poke fun at them. Stag and hen weekends away from the home village in cities such as Logroño or Gijón have come to be popular.

On the set day the group meets in the morning to practice a sport activity. Early in the afternoon they indulge in a meal ordered in advance from a menu in a restaurant. A few pranks at dessert time add to the entertainment. The soon-to-be newlywed might be presented with erotic clothes and toys that spice up the atmosphere.

In the evening they visit a strip club and drinking continues. The prospective groom or bride wears the fancy outfit prepared by his or her best friends all night. Once the fun is over, the troop heads for a hotel and stays there till the next morning, when they return home.

Segundo Oar-Arteta – Etniker Bizkaia – Etniker Euskalerria Groups

Translated by Jaione Bilbao – Language Department – Labayru Fundazioa

Reference for further information: Rites from Birth to Marriage, part of the Ethnographic Atlas of the Basque Country collection.