Unlike many wedding customs, it’s not so hard to get to the bottom of the origin of the bachelorette party. It’s a fairly recent innovation, the result of the cross-breeding of the traditional bachelorette’s tea

with the idea of the bachelor party, with a bit of the even-more-traditional bridal shower mixed in.

The idea of the bridal shower goes back, perhaps, thousands of years; experts attribute it to the need for dowries. In European culture, it was expected that women would begin married life with a dowry – a gift of money or tools (or both) that would allow the new couple to set up their new household together. But women who lacked adequate dowries would be “showered” with gifts by sympathetic friends, which would enable the wedding to go on as planned.

The bridal shower was traditionally, and still is, a fairly staid affair, with older woman friends of the couple or of the bride’s family invited, and the bride-to-be accompanied by her mother. (Increasingly, as traditionally gendered divisions of labor continue to break down, men are involved in the showers as well – after all, if the man will do part of the cooking and cleaning, he has a stake in knowing what presents are received!) They serve a much-needed function, but they may not have the let-your-hair-down appeal of a last night out with the friends of your single years.

The bachelorette’s tea offered some of the peer-to-peer intimacy that may have been lacking in bridal showers, but still – a tea? The highly formal, characteristically Victorian custom of the tea ceremony holds great appeal for many people, as the recent popularity of tea shops and books on tea attest. Still, as women began to learn about the wild shenanigans historically associated with bachelor parties, over the last several decades, they decided they wanted in.

The Bridesmaidaid website compares them to Title IX, the 1972 law that mandated equal federal funding of boys’ and girls’ educational activities. Just as Title IX ensured that girls’ soccer teams and afterschool math programs would receive the same budgetary consideration as boys’ did, allowing young women to attain similar achievements, the new bachelorette party allows women to compete with men in pre-wedding-night partying. As the website’s anonymous author puts it: “Bachelorette parties are like the Title IX of weddings: they’re supposed to make the girls equal to the boys. If the groomsmen can take their boy out for a night of debauchery, so can we, right?”

Bachelorette parties have indeed become associated with bachelor-party-style antics, as illustrated by pop culture and personal anecdote alike. A memorable scene in the movie The Forty-Year-Old Virgin, in which the title character’s friends attempt to set him up with what they expect will be a can’t-miss romantic prospect – a drunken bridesmaid encountered at a bar, where a bachelorette party is underway – affirms the stereotype.

But this custom has changed with time, like its twin, the bachelor party. Bachelor parties have their own Bacchanalian reputation to live up to, but gradually they’re toning down somewhat (while remaining fun). Drinking has been moderated and honoring one’s future bride is a priority; in fact, sometimes the fiance’ and her friends show up, and the party becomes a celebration of marriage, rather than a lament for lost bachelorhood. These combined bachelor-and-bachelorette parties are sometimes called stag and does parties.

One custom that isn’t changing at bachelorette parties is the ritual smoking of cigars. In fact, with the increase in the popularity of cigars over the past fifteen years, lighting up a stogie at a bachelorette party is often encouraged! After all, one feature of the new popularity of cigars has been the fact that women are more often found, today, among the new smokers of cigars. At least half a million American women smoke cigars, according to a 2002 estimate by the Cigar Association of America. That number makes sense in a country where – according to demographic research by Cigar Babes, a nonprofit organization for women cigar smokers’ women make 85% of buying decisions, start 70% of new businesses, and buy 50% of the products classified traditionally as “male.”

Cigars, then, remain a staple bachelorette party gift. For those of you planning a bachelorette party, here are some cigar basics:

1) Choose good cigars. (A wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event!) Buy well-made, hand-rolled, long-filler cigars from a quality cigar outlet or online store. The better the cigar, the better the taste, and the more permanent the memories.

2) Speaking of taste: the outer wrapper (which gives the cigar its outer color) generally tells you how the cigar tastes. Darker outer wrappers mean sweeter taste; tan- or lighter-colored cigars are drier.

3) How to smoke: Cut off the cap of the cigar, then, using a wooden match or a butane lighter or other full flame (not a paper match), turn the end of the cigar in the flame a full 360 degrees until every part of it is lit. Don’t inhale – this isn’t a cigarette! Pull the smoke into your mouth and taste it thoroughly without allowing it into your lungs. Remember, it’s about the taste.

Is there a cigar aficionado on your gift list? Wondering how to choose a decent cigar for a friend or loved one? Even if you know nothing about cigars or choosing a good cigar, just learning a few basics can help you sniff out (sometimes literally) a good cigar to give to a friend.

Fortunately, cigars have now entered the mainstream. Once the symbol of the rich and powerful, it’s easier than ever for just about anyone to purchase a good cigar. Of course, you probably won’t be able to buy your friend a box of top-tier Cuban cigars, but you can definitely buy them a good quality cigar that will put a smile on their face.

First, visit your local tobacconist or specialty smoke shop for the best quality and widest selection. Avoid ‘drugstore’ cigars. Although they may be inexpensive and convenient to purchase, drugstore cigars are usually filled with preservatives and generally of poorer quality. They may contain, at minimum, saltpeter, paper, glycerin, and other preservatives and irritants. You should make sure that the cigars you purchase are made of 100% tobacco. If you have any questions regarding the cigars ingredients, ask the salesperson. An experienced and knowledgeable sales clerk will be able to tell you extensive information about the ingredients.

Your local tobacco shop is a good place to shop because you will generally be allowed to smell and touch the cigars. Squeeze the cigar gently. A good quality cigar will give a little when squeezed. The cigar should be firm, with no excessively soft or hard spots. Never buy a lumpy cigar. Look at the wrapper. If you notice any drying or discoloration, best not to buy it. Ideally, the wrapper should be tight and smooth. Inspect the color of the tobacco to make sure it is even. Do this by inspecting the end of the cigar. Some color variation is normal, but if the color changes abruptly, chances are the cigar was not rolled properly. A cigar that is not rolled properly may result in an uneven burning and unpleasant odors.

If you’re not sure how much your friend smokes, choose a longer cigar. Longer cigars tend to have a ‘cooler’ taste—an excellent choice for beginners. If you know your friend is an experienced and regular smoker, choose a cigar that is greater in diameter. These cigars tend to have a richer flavor that experienced smokers will appreciate.

Famous-Smoke.com, Retailer of Cigars Online, Announces New Father’s Day Gift Guide

Easton, PA (Vocus) June 11, 2010

Nothing brings a tear to Dad’s eye like a fistful of tasty premium cigars. Today, Famous-Smoke.com, retailer of the finest cigars online announces The Father’s Day Gift Guide to make this year’s Father’s Day shopping easier.

The online cigar retailer consistently offers the most popular cigar brands at the deepest discounted prices with a greater selection and convenience. The Father’s Day Gift Guide serves as a premier resource for finding a wide selection of the most popular cigar samplers, humidors and cigar accessories to choose from.

Customers can pair any product from the Father’s Day Gift Guide with one of their most popular and consistently-featured deals called the “5-Pack Frenzy.” With the “5-Pack Frenzy,” customers can buy four select 5-packs from Famous Smoke’s hand picked packages of premium cigars and one of the 5-packs is FREE. Another deal that can be paired from the Father’s Day Gift Card selection is “5 Cigars for the Price of 3!” in which customers can choose any 5-pack from the list of featured packs for the price of three single cigars.

To view Famous-Smoke Shop’s Father’s Day Gift Guide, visit http://www.famous-smoke.com/gifts/fathers-day-cigar-gifts-guide.cfm.

Famous Smoke Shop
Famous Smoke Shop, established in 1939, is a secure retailer of the finest cigars online at the web’s best prices. The company maintains several websites to find rat and reviews on favorite cigar brands and more such as CigarMonster.com, CigarAuctioneer.com and CigarAdvisor.com. Popular brands include Backwoods, CAO, Cohiba, Davidoff, Dominican, Opus X, Padron, Partagas and Rocky Patel.

For more information or browse reviews, products or request a cigar catalog magazine, visit http://www.celebrated-smoke.com or name 800.564.2486

###

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Tampa, Oct. 4—Thompson Cigar, America’s oldest mail order cigar company, is reducing prices by as much as 50 percent on thompson cigar.Giving its customers an enthusiastic opportunity to get more out of their money, as seen in its online retail store

Cigar samplers, which usually have a retail value of 0, are now available for as low as .95 in the company website. Cigar gifts like the Friday the 13th Sampler, which contains 13 packs of consorted tobacco from Alec Bradley to Rocky Patel,can now be acquired at more than half the price, along with other cigar accessories much as stigmatized cutters and lighters in its website

Thompson Cigar Store continually provides great deals on its online store, offering huge discounts on several finest cigars that helps keep customers wanting to buy cigars online all the time. Similar items from other brands would be ascertained more expensively than the ones happened here

As the operator of the largest inventory storage humidor—more than 300,000 cubic feet of storage—in the entire United States, Thompson Cigar commits to providing only the freshest cigar to its customers. The company is also considered an expert on cigars, having been in business for 85 years

Called the “best-kept secret in Tampa” Thompson Cigar provides an extensive selection of quality cigar products that suit every cigar lovers’ tastes. The company also offers the finest cigars in different price ranges

Cheap cigars and cigar gifts are available daily in the company’s catalog and website. Discount deals are regularly offered to customers both in the online and offline store

Thompsoncigar.com, the store’s website, features dozens of fine quality cigars and cigar gifts targeted to specific markets. It categorizes the cigar brands and types suited best for beginners and aficionados (more experienced users), making shopping for tobacco a lot quicker and less stressful

The company’s online catalog features pages of great deals on different brands like Arturo Fuente, Cuban Coronas, La Gloria Cubana, Swisher Sweets, Gurkha, Pinar del Rio, Corojo Cubano, Oliva, Panam, and Don Tomas among others. Each page offers cigar enthusiasts cigar gift sets at very commonsense prices

The online retail store is also home to different accessories such as humidifiers, lighters, cutters, ashtrays, fiber tubes, and cigar cases of different brands and models, all with reduced prices

People looking for discount cigars online want variety in choices. Settling for just about anything is not an option because fuming cigar is an experience that needs to be basked, something one can’t do if the cigar is of beggarly quality

The finest cigars can be a bit much on the pocket, but there are places where one can get them for lesser price, like Thompsoncigar.com

The company sees the importance of offering quality cheap cigars that is why consumers have the liberty of choosing from among the hundreds of cigar selection the outlet and website have to offer. Not only can one purchase dismissed cigar gifts, there are also several combinations or ‘combos’ that everyone can take advantage of

Thompson Cigar puts together cigars and other accessories. Customers have the option to purchase cigar combos that allows one to purchase cigars additive cigars; cigars already placed inside a case; cigars with humidors; cigars plus ashtrays; and cigars with cutters. This way, consumers acquiredt have to expend more when acquiring each item separately

Voted as the “#1 best-selling brand in America” in Cigar Insider Magazine, Thompson Cigar continues to provide only the finest quality cigars for its consumers at more affordable amounts

True to its quest to give customers the best service without the high price, Thompsoncigar.com also offers loose transporting for picked out cigar purchases

Bargain hunters can take pleasure various cigar samplers with slashed prices. The company website offers a had items list where one can happen antithetic samplers at affordable prices. Among those consumers can find are Mild and Cheap Cigar Sampler in 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s

But these are not the only discounted thompson cigar one can find at the online retail store. Customers can check up on out the Bargain Buyer section on the site to see all the antithetic dismissed items—both cigars and their accessories. There is also a couple of sections that list products all ascertained below and which people on a budget can appear at

Thompson Cigar is the country’s oldest mail order cigar company. It holds the Number 1 Postal Permit for Tampa and has always been consecrated to proffering only the finest cigars to its customers at prices that best suit them.

Cigars are cherished by every smoke lover. Hand made by workers one by one, taking special care in collection and manufacturing, cigars definitely have no match in the eyes of every casual and chain smoker. Specially made by tobacco leaves collected and stuffed carefully in the cigar butt, the packing decides the taste and aroma. You can now order one from any online store along with a neatly packed humidor box and a cigar cutter and gift it to someone close to you. You can smoke it or simply store it as an antique forever; such is the charm of cigars.

Know more about cigars

The tobacco leaves are collected from South Africa, Poland, and Argentina etc. The type of packing of the leaves will create the smoke inside the mouth and accordingly you can categorize it to be mild, medium, and full bodied. This smoke determines the flavor and aroma of the cigars. There are many brands exclusively depending upon this smoke produced. There are many types of cigars all depending upon several factors as size, smoke produced, flavor, aroma etc.

Brands of cigars

Cuban cigars brands are worth special mentioning. The reason is the weird demand of it among the mass despite it being banned by the government itself! Also, the Macanudo cigars are also world famous. Other than all these the Churchill, Robust, Corona Brands etc are also worth special mentioning here.

Humidors

These are storage boxes that are used to store the cigars. These are made up of many materials. They, together add to the style of the cigars and the owner of them. You can simply order them from online stores at rock bottom prices.

Online buying of cigars and humidors

Many online sites are now supplying cigars and their other respective accessories at rock bottom prices through online channels. All you need to do is simply order cigars. You will be getting them at amazingly low prices and the brands available are un-exhaustive. Compare prices and order as much as you like.

Get Your Thompson Cigar Promo Codes Here

If you are in search of Thompson cigar coupons and other promo codes, you have come to the right place as this is the best way to save money on your total purchase on all of their items. They run specials from time to time so that other new people or even repeat customers can enjoy all the fantastic items they have on their web site for sale.

They currently have many different sampler packs of cigars along with accessories to choose from if you are interested in not only cubans or other premium smokes for your self or as a gift to someone else.  You will notice that some of the items on their site also have the free shipping, which if you click on the links in this article will give you that promo code added to your order automatically.

See the Top Thompson Cigar Deal Here with Free Shipping

The Thompson Cigar Company is a major cigar and cigar accessories retailer located in Tampa, Florida. Thompson Cigar is the oldest mail order cigar company in the United States.[1]  Originally located in Key West, Florida, Thompson Cigar first opened in 1915. In 1920, Thompson Cigar made the decision to move its operations to Tampa, Florida, where they still hold Postal Permit #1.

Now if you are in the market for a great gift of cigars for that someone special, friend, or foe, I think that Thompson Cigars will not let you down as they offer quality products along with great service to go along with it.

Every day, we make ways to keep our lives in order. We follow steps and rules to make sure that everything works properly. Whether it be our cars that need regular oil changes, running the virus scans on our computers, or seasoning a cigar humidor; without the proper attention and time, these expensive investments will not last.

Cigar humidors are one of the most expensive investments a cigar enthusiast can spend on. Although lots enthusiasts have this expensive accessory, only a few of them truly know how to season them the right way. Most of them end up destroying these fine pieces of cigar accessories.

Cigar humidors are a good gift to cigar enthusiasts; especially those who are only beginning to appreciate cigars. However, receiving this gift can be a problem, as not all of them know how to use them and, what’s worse is that, it does not come with instructions on how to properly season it. Properly seasoning a cigar humidor is important to keep your cigars fresh. If you own a cigar humidor and dont know how to properly season a cigar humidor, you will end up with cigars you would rather throw in the garbage instead of smoking them.

Spanish cedar or mahogany is used to line the interior of cigar humidors as they are known to absorb moisture well and hold the humidity within it. They are also known to repel fungus. But before these woods are used, manufacturers must first dry them up; this makes them more sensitive to humidity. If you encounter these kinds of wood in your humidors, and you don’t know the proper way to use them you will end up with too much moisture in your cigar humidor and will end up destroying them. One of the key tricks in cigar humidor is using only distilled water. Distilled water is important because it will not cause buildup in the humidor; you will also need a brand new sponge.

Here are the basic steps to seasoning a cigar humidor

The first step is to soak a sponge with distilled water and wipe down the insides of the cigar humidor. It is important that all the surfaces in the interior are wiped well. The next step is to fill up the humidification device according to the specifications of the cigar humidor and soak the sponge for a second time. Place the sponge inside it and let it sit for 24 hours.

After 24 hours, take the sponge out of the humidor and wipe its interiors once again. The last step in seasoning your cigar humidor is to refill the humidification device. Once you have properly seasoned the cigar humidor the interiors will retain the humidity and will keep your cigars as fresh as the day you bought them.

Now you know how to keep the humidity in your cigar humidor, the next thing you should know is why you should control the humidity.

One of the biggest myths in humidity in the cigar humidors is that the lower the temperature will ensure a higher humidity level inside it and vice-versa. However, this is not true.

This myth claims that if you are maintaining 70% humidity at 70 degrees in your cigar humidor and the temperature falls by 5 degrees, then you should increase the humidity level by 5% to compensate the loss. The reality is that regardless of the temperature drop or increase, the humidity level should be definitely kept at 70%.

The reason why the humidity needs to be controlled is because a cigar needs just enough water to keep its tobacco fresh but not so much as to soak it with moisture. Whatever the change in temperature is, it is important that the level of humidity is kept at the same level. This is because the humidity the hygrometer is reading is not the level inside the cigar but the moisture level inside the cigar humidor. The reading on the hygrometer should be kept at 70%.

Knowing the proper way of seasoning a cigar humidor is the only way to preserve your precious cigars. Once you know the proper way, you can start enjoying your cigar smoking experience.

A cigar shop is a retail establishment that exists either as a storefront or an online catalogue. A walk-in store gives the smoker access to the most premium, fine cigars. It also gives the new smoker or the smoker on a budget, access to less expensive or newer brands.

One of the great things about a storefront cigar shop is it also gives smokers a place to actually smoke, and it also maintains a wait staff who can attend to clientele and answer questions.

An online cigar shop is a virtual realm that replaces the old storefront. It transcends geography, and it gives smokers from all over the world access to a very large inventory. A community management program is initiated to provide clients with customer service, specials, and information. Online cigar stores also offer a variety of prices so people on a budget can also enjoy fine tobacco.

Regardless of whether or not you are walking into a storefront cigar shop or surfing the catalog of an online equivalent, you can always count on finding premium cigar brands, less well-known but very good brands, cigar lighters, cigar cutters, and cigar humidors.

Many cigar stores also carry specialty cigarettes, such as electronic cigarettes, or cigarettes made from additive free tobacco. Many also carry pipes and pipe tobacco as well.

Gift items are also very popular through online resources. Cigars can now be purchased in gift packages, and special accessories like coffee mugs, special ashtrays, and golf cart clips can also be obtained. Such gifts can be great gestures of appreciation in a world that seems to be appreciating smokers less and less on a daily basis.

But who needs them when we have each other, right?

As things have changed in this great and mysterious world that we live in, so, too, has the old imagery and feel of many cigar shops changed. What we often visualize as iconic is really a memory of a bygone era.

That is not to say that you will not find the same images and motifs present in a modern cigar lounge or store, but there is a greater diversity of products and clear evidence of globalization in even the smallest of haunts these days.

In the old days there was little difference between what we now call a cigar lounge and a cigar shop. Both were places to purchase and smoke cigars, and smaller stores had limited inventories or maybe even only a handful of brands to offer. In those days as well, many European immigrants to the United States were truly and utterly illiterate and could not read even so much as a sign over the door of a store.

So it was decided by cigar store owners at that time to symbolize the establishment with a wooden statue of a Native American man or woman standing at the door. This symbol was chosen because Native Americans introduced Europeans to tobacco when first contact was made between the two cultures.

Today, it is considered bad form to use a racial symbol like this. It promotes a negative stereotype of Native American people, and it is also no longer necessary, considering how European-Americans have since learned to read, and even shop online.

Is there a cigar aficionado on your gift list?  Wondering how to choose a decent cigar for a friend or loved one?  Even if you know nothing about cigars or choosing a good cigar, just learning a few basics can help you sniff out (sometimes literally) a good cigar to give to a friend.  

Fortunately, cigars have now entered the mainstream.  Once the symbol of the rich and powerful, it’s easier than ever for just about anyone to purchase a good cigar.  Of course, you probably won’t be able to buy your friend a box of top-tier Cuban cigars, but you can definitely buy them a good quality cigar that will put a smile on their face.  

First, visit your local tobacconist or specialty smoke shop for the best quality and widest selection.  Avoid ‘drugstore’ cigars.  Although they may be inexpensive and convenient to purchase, drugstore cigars are usually filled with preservatives and generally of poorer quality.  They may contain, at minimum, saltpeter, paper, glycerin, and other preservatives and irritants.  You should make sure that the cigars you purchase are made of 100% tobacco.  If you have any questions regarding the cigars ingredients, ask the salesperson.  An experienced and knowledgeable sales clerk will be able to tell you extensive information about the ingredients.  

Your local tobacco shop is a good place to shop because you will generally be allowed to smell and touch the cigars.  Squeeze the cigar gently.  A good quality cigar will give a little when squeezed.  The cigar should be firm, with no excessively soft or hard spots.  Never buy a lumpy cigar. Look at the wrapper.  If you notice any drying or discoloration, best not to buy it.  Ideally, the wrapper should be tight and smooth.  Inspect the color of the tobacco to make sure it is even.  Do this by inspecting the end of the cigar.  Some color variation is normal, but if the color changes abruptly, chances are the cigar was not rolled properly.  A cigar that is not rolled properly may result in an uneven burning and unpleasant odors.  

If you’re not sure how much your friend smokes, choose a longer cigar.  Longer cigars tend to have a ‘cooler’ taste—an excellent choice for beginners. If you know your friend is an experienced and regular smoker, choose a cigar that is greater in diameter.  These cigars tend to have a richer flavor that experienced smokers will appreciate.