What's the meaning of "enterrement de vie de jeune fille"?

"Enterrement de vie de jeune fille" is a handy French phrase to know if your husband is ever accosted by an overly enthusiastic young woman in a short skirt with silver pompoms while walking down the street in Deauville. The cheerleader is not, as the word "enterrement" might lead you to believe, on her way to a burial. To the contrary, it's her bachelorette party. And for some reason, September seems to be a popular month for them because it wasn't long before we saw another hens party sashaying down the boardwalk last weekend.

Realizing that I don't know anything about this part of French culture, I did a quick google search and found fifteen suggestions for bachelorette parties at "My Little Paris". Ideas range from tame to titillating. Here are six of them:

• Recording session at a studio where the future bride-to-be can fulfill her dream of being a famous singer
• Wine tasting at O'Chateau
• Sketching class that features a nude male model
• Symbolic journey from Rue Mademoiselle to Rue Madame and advice from a life coach
• Guided tour on electric bicycles
• Strip tease while riding the metro

strip tease dans le métro par loicmartin

There are also companies like Céliba'Bye in Paris that plan bachelor and bachelorette parties. Simply select the region where you live and the theme for the event. For women, the choices range from "The Adventuress" to "Zen".

Even if you don't understand the words "enterrement de vie de jeune fille (EVJF)", the smiles on the faces of the brides-to-be in Deauville offer the best clue: they're savoring the last moments with their girlfriends before embarking on the next stage of their lives. I wish them well!