In Wales, there was an ancient tradition called "bundling"

[My Good Babushka]

It was where an engaged couple were allowed to lie together before marriage, in order to get an "idea" of each other. The results were sufficiently obvious, yet the practice had the tacit approval of both high and low classes of the Welsh people.

[monmouth3]

1. As the old saying implies, who would buy a car without driving it first?..n/t

[Brother Buzz]

8. But, but, but, there's the other old saying...

Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?

[OriginalGeek]

10. in the words of Florida Evans

"Who's gonna buy a pair of used shoes!?"



NB - I married a divorced lady who had 2 kids already. July will be our 28th anniversary. But I still liked Good Times when I was a kid.

[patricia92243]

2. What if they didn't like the "idea" of each other? Would the engagement be called

off. Would that leave the girl pregnant and the guy could just walk off? Sounds horrid to me.

[My Good Babushka]

3. Since it continued

with the approval of all classes in society, I imagine the young couple liked and really enjoyed the "idea", and the marriages went through successfully.

[My Good Babushka]

4. I should disclaim

marriage at the time was not always the formal, expensive event that we think of when we consider marriage. For most people, who were poor, it was a rather unceremonious binding of households. Any practice that encouraged inter-tribal strife probably would have been abandoned, since cooperation was needed for basic survival, especially over the winter. Bundling was probably considered part and parcel of the marriage procedure, and not a way for someone to make a last ditch escape.

[Xyzse]

5. I was also about to write a disclaimer.

During the time, women were considered equal in regards to finding multiple partners.

Also, if I am not mistaken, inheritance and succession were through the mother side. That was because, they can make sure of the blood line of a person through the mother, but it is not always certain who the father was.

Feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

[My Good Babushka]

6. I think you are right

Women often had great property, and it was protected, even through marriage.

[Xyzse]

7. I think that Patriarchal way of thinking started around the area when

Christianity started taking a hold of things.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. Ever hear of "bundling boards"?

It was a board that stood on one edge down the middle of the bed. I think it was anchored upright by the bottom sheet. It was intended to keep the couple from having sex, although I suspect it didn't work too well.

I wonder if this was part of the tradition?

[My Good Babushka]

11. I had not heard of bundling boards

edifying!

[Wounded Bear]

12. Well, I've see estimates that...

say a high percentage of brides in old New England (under the Puritans) were pregnant.

[geardaddy]

13. Wow. I never heard of that.

Interesting.

[hunter]

14. Post "BC" an archaic custom.

After "Birth Control" being pills, condoms, and various other non-impregnating "sex acts."

[marzipanni]

15. They get the "idea" of each other, but if those little pheromone molecules go to work

it comes down to matter over mind, and soon the "idea" develops into "carnal knowledge"!

[My Good Babushka]

16. I had a big think about this yesterday

esp. with the gender wars raging out there.
Would I rather live in a pastoral, matriarchal society and have property
or a contemporary, patriarchal society and have coffee?
That property would just be a mud hut, probably and some cows, and no coffee.
I decided, and told my husband, he doesn't want to know the number of men I would service to keep the coffee brewing! I hope it doesn't come to that.
I just like coffee is all.
I'm going to get more coffee now.

[canoeist52]

17. New England tradition too

"Bundling was a practice in which a young man and young lady slept together in the same bed, usually fully clothed. Think of the saying, “All bundled up.” Sometimes, the girl wore a sack that was enclosed with a slip knot at the bottom and tied with a drawstring at the waist. If a parent had anxiety about the situation, the sack could be sewn shut. Proponents of bundling in bed felt that visiting on a couch presented far more temptation, although some courting also was done in that manner."

http://www.quiltersmuse.com/Bundling-A-Courtship-Ritual-with-Ancient-Roots.html

[My Good Babushka]

18. I just found out

a bridesmaids' prank would be to sew the bride up in her sheet on the wedding night!
The groomsmens' prank would be to tie a bell under the bed!

[PassingFair]

19. Board was to separate the sleepers.

http://www.glogster.com/datkidfrancis/bundling-boards/g-6mmfoe06s5l4aso7gn6bfa0

[My Good Babushka]

20. That would stop the problem of

all those spouses encroaching on their better halves' side of the bed. I think old ways are best ways!