The words, ‘let’s have a party’ are enough to make us all smile. After all, everyone loves a party, right? Certainly, when he was a child, the thought of going to someone’s party was exciting, though perhaps it filled him with some anticipatory nerves.
In the past, children’s parties were pretty straightforward affairs. You showed up, played package pass, musical chairs, ate salmon pasta sandwiches, ate lots of jam and ice cream, and then left with a goody bag containing a balloon, a coloring book, a plastic toy, and some chewable.
These days, children’s parties have gone up a notch or two. Now they’re big business, with parents agonizing for weeks over the right kind of party to maintain their beloved son’s status. There is often an underlying concern about your child fitting in, learning what is expected, connecting with the “right” kids.
Of course, many parents work, have had to deal with their divorce, or have become nuclear families. These factors can make throwing a house party a little tricky, and besides, who has the time or inclination to deal with the mess!
Gone are the days of fish fingers and mini-burgers at the local cafe, too. As levels of sophistication increase, you’re much more likely to find themed parties at the local soccer club, ice skating rink, petting zoo, or farm, complete with face painting, wizards, tractor rides, and animals. babies in the mix.
Young teens expect themed discos, make-your-own-pizza or go-kart competitions with all the travel requirements provided by luxury limousines or buses. They like mocktail classes, makeup and fancy clothes.
Adult parties have also gotten more elaborate. Yes, you might find an occasional barn dance or weekend dance followed by meat and potato pie, but the invitation is often accompanied by costume requirements so the fringed jacket, hat cowboy, plaid shirt and boots to make an appearance.
Hosting an adult party can sometimes require the services of a party planner if things start to take a turn for the worse. Ice sculptures, table dancers, acrobats, “naked butlers,” photo booths, choreographed dance routines for guests, and acts brought in from abroad are on display in lavish display cases to ensure a good night is had by all.
However, special themed evenings such as cookout parties, cocktail making, costume parties featuring Star Wars, James Bond or a specific decade being featured are much more common. Save the date cards can be sent in advance. Printers, florists, makeup artists, caterers and wardrobe staff are on speed dial, as are the managers of the venues who are expected to dress up the event and hand out gifts to guests at every table.
But what about other, less extravagant ways to ensure a great party experience? I know of people who, after buying their new house, provided paint and asked their friends to come and write messages or graffiti on their bare walls. Afterward, everyone ate a stew dinner while laughing at their handiwork, the walls providing long-term recognition of those friendships.
Or a safari dinner, where everyone who lives nearby cooks one dish and dinner is moved from house to house during the meal, ensuring less individual expense and a fun and varied evening.
I’ve been booked for ‘WeTalk’ parties where the host or hostess provides drinks and snacks and I introduce discussion topics, giving guests a chance to talk about relevant and touching issues, share ideas and leave feeling like they’ve had a pleasant, time. attractive with the benefit of an additional mini-therapy.
For me, on my last two birthday years, I had family and friends over for a potluck, the last one with ‘George Michael’ as the entertainment. It was a lot of fun with a lot of positive feedback, so much so that I was tempted to repeat it the following year, instead of waiting another ten years. That was until I realized how quickly a year goes by. Repeating something too soon or too often can dampen the excitement, which could make something special get pretty jaded.
Are the best parties so good because they happen so infrequently? Are we in danger of getting into a ‘how am I/them better than last year’ mentality, where everything becomes pressurized and competitive? Also, are parties becoming more about the place than the occasion, more about the paraphernalia than the people and relationships?
Remember those old-fashioned parties where everyone gravitated to the kitchen, sipping beer and mulled wine, balancing the odd sausage roll or cheese and pineapple on a stick! They all had a lot of fun.
Have we lost the essence of what the holidays are for, the reasons why we enjoy them? The important motivating factor should be the desire to come together and celebrate, while taking the pressure off the hosts, so they can enjoy it too. While your life may not always be a party, your party certainly should be!
