Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — There’s a new fad in town — bachelor’s parties.



A bachelor party, also known as a stag party or a bull’s party in the West, is held for a man by his friends shortly before he enters marriage. But such parties are making the rounds in the Kingdom too with no stress on the gender.



It has become literally a tradition in many households lately to hold such bachelor’s parties for would-be grooms and brides as a farewell to their single life, an Arabic language daily reported.



The reason to hold such parties are not limited to people tying the knot, for many now throw such parties to people who are divorcing, graduating or being honored. And many have become accustomed to attending these parties.



Invariably bachelor’s parties are for invitees only and only close friends attend. And as expected, costs of such parties vary with the monetary strengths of families resulting in the type of party being thrown.



Though most of these parties are known to the invitees, some of them end up being surprise parties.



The growing fad, however, is being met by a mixed reaction. Some do not see any harm in holding such parties while others feel that it is simply imitating Western traditions.



Fouad Al-Zahrani said that he has attended and helped stage many such parties, where he collects money from the groom’s friends to throw a party for him. “I do not see that these parties are in violation of local traditions.”



Mohammad Bugshan, however, cautioned against such parties, which he believes are a new fad of the younger generation. He stressed that the younger generation should be educated to refrain from holding such parties, which may witness some undesirable behavior.



Muna Salem, soon to be married, considers such parties a new development. She also pointed to parties that brides usually hold when they return from their honeymoons and said that there are many other ways to strengthen the relations between the bride and her friends.



She added that friends could help in preparing the bride for the wedding, furnishing her house or buying the necessities of the house.



Um Sahar, whose daughter is soon to be married, has denounced bachelor parties and said these parties “are against our religion and traditions.”



She called upon future brides to attend educational courses about married life, saying these parties are simply a waste of time and money.



Suha Mohammad, soon to be married, said that parties held at reasonable costs are acceptable.



“Parties that may cost up to SR60,000 are simply against our religious teachings, and are considered a waste of money,” she said, adding that they should not financially burden families and friends.



Khalid Al-Sahlawi said that such parties increase during the summer season and are usually held in private resorts.



He pointed out that these parties have certain protocols, include certain decors, a music band, food, etc.



“I recently attended a party that cost SR25,000, which is considered moderate, as some parties may cost up to SR80,000,” he said.