5. Unmarried Couples Were Sewn Into Bed Together
Bundling, or tarrying, is an old tradition in which an unmarried couple that was courting would spend a night in bed together with some sort of barrier between them to prevent premarital relations. This practice was believed to encourage intimacy in a courting young couple without allowing for any sinning to happen. There were many forms of bundling including placing a board down the length of the mattress to create separation or using a rolled-up wad of bedding along the bed for the same purpose. Another way is having the man lay atop the covers and the woman under, wearing unique sack-like clothing that was difficult to get out of, or both people laying in a sack with a seam sewn down the middle.
While some religious leaders preached against bundling, it remained a widespread practice well into the 19th century, especially in the United States. The practice was especially popular among Pennsylvania Dutch settlers and Amish settlers. It is believed that bundling may still be used during courtship by the Nebraska Amish community today. While it is a charming system, in theory, it’s hard to imagine that amorous youngsters who intended to be married wouldn’t have been able to figure out how to outsmart a board or a sack.