Courting Stick
The 'courting stick' was a device that allowed young couples, in puritan New England, to talk in private while being chaperoned in the family home. More info: New England Folklore
The Trukese people of Micronesia also had a courting stick (or 'love stick'), though its use differed from the New England version. According to the Smithsonian:
image source: NY Public Library
The Trukese people of Micronesia also had a courting stick (or 'love stick'), though its use differed from the New England version. According to the Smithsonian:
The Trukese allow sexual experimentation among young people, provided it is kept discreet. To arrange for an evening rendezvous, a young man used to insert a 'love stick' through the thatch of the hut where a young girl slept. The girl recognized the suitor by the carving on the stick and then either pushed the stick out to signal 'go away,' wiggled it to indicate 'come back later,' or drew it inside to signify 'come right in.'
Comments
The two in the first photo remind me of some of the devices we used for our recreational smokables.
Posted by KDP on 07/30/22 at 07:56 PM
I wouldn't call having a big carved stick planted in the roof of my house "discreet". Even less so if there was a half-dozen. I hope there is no slutshaming in Micronesia.
Posted by Yudith on 07/31/22 at 05:40 AM
The Trukese version makes more sense.
Posted by Brian on 08/01/22 at 03:23 PM
Commenting is not available in this channel entry.
Category: Love & Romance