A long time ago, before people could text each other or go on fancy dinner dates, couples had a very different way of getting to know each other. One of the strangest but sweetest customs was called bundling. It sounds funny, but it was quite common in places like the British Isles, the Netherlands, and early America.
So What Was Bundling?
Imagine two people who liked each other lying in the same bed. But here’s the twist. They were fully dressed. Sometimes, there was even a wooden board or a thick blanket placed between them. The idea was to let them talk and connect without doing anything physical. It was a way to spend time together while staying proper before marriage.
This tradition even shows up in a TV show called A Discovery of Witches. The show aired from 2018 to 2022 and is based on a series of books called the All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness. The story follows Diana Bishop, a smart historian who is also a witch. She meets Matthew Clairmont, a vampire who has lived for 1,500 years. That’s right. He’s older than your great-great-great-grandparents put together.
In Season 1, Episode 5 of the show, Matthew asks Diana if she knows about bundling. Diana, being a historian, says yes. But she also adds, “It is 2018,” which is her way of saying, “Isn’t that a bit old-fashioned?” Still, they go ahead with it. They lie in the same bed. They kiss a little. They even take off a few layers. So it’s not exactly the traditional version, but it’s also not a full love scene either. The show keeps things a little vague, leaving viewers to guess what really happened.
Later, the actor Matthew Goode, who plays the vampire Matthew, talked about the scene in an interview. He said it was more about emotional closeness than anything physical. He also said filming it felt awkward, like trying to do a slow dance when you’re not sure of the steps. He joked that he was even more nervous about Season 2, when things between the two characters become more romantic.
Matthew’s old-fashioned way of thinking fits his character perfectly. He’s from a time when bundling was actually normal. And even though the show takes place in modern times, Matthew still acts like a proper gentleman. For Diana, who is new to all this magic and mystery, bundling is a way to feel close to him without rushing into anything. It gives her a safe space to explore her feelings.
Fans of the show loved this scene. It was one of the first big moments in Matthew and Diana’s love story. Instead of being dramatic or over-the-top, it was quiet and meaningful. Sometimes, lying next to someone and just talking says more than any big romantic gesture.
Bundling wasn’t just a random tradition either. In very cold places, like colonial America, people bundled up together in bed to stay warm. Houses didn’t have heaters back then. Sharing a bed was practical. Of course, parents often kept a close eye on things to make sure it stayed innocent.
In the books by Deborah Harkness, this scene is not described in great detail. But the show uses it to show how Matthew and Diana are building trust. They are learning to care for each other slowly, not rushing anything. By Season 2, they’re hiding out in old London, and their relationship becomes deeper. This matches the second book in the series, Shadow of Night.
Matthew Goode also joked that he had no idea what would happen in the next season when the characters finally go all the way. He said, “God knows what’s going to happen when we actually have sex. I’m terrified.” That gave fans a good laugh.
So bundling might seem like a weird idea today, but it was a real tradition. In A Discovery of Witches, it becomes a way for the two main characters to grow closer in a slow and meaningful way. And in a story full of vampires, witches, and magic, sometimes it’s the quiet moments that matter the most.
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