subject: Parties And Special Events [print this page] Parties and special events are an important part of everyday life and are enjoyed by every culture in every country around the globe. There are a number of these parties and events however that are celebrated (all be it in slightly different ways) by almost all human cultures. These include birthdays, dinner parties, cocktail parties and special event receptions such as weddings and coming of age parties. Below is a selection of the most well-known types of parties celebrated around the world.
Birthday Parties
Birthday parties are a celebration of the anniversary of the birth of a person. It is meant to honor that specific person and is a tradition that dates back more than 200 years. Although birthday parties are a fairly recent addition to the party and special events cultural calendar, it is thanks to Western Culture and the subsequent influence it has exerted on the world over the past few centuries that birthday parties are now part of almost all cultures around the globe. There are a number of different types of birthday parties that are popular in modern cultures. These are:
Surprise Birthday Parties
This type of birthday party is typically one that is organized for a person whos birthday it is without their knowledge. It is literally what the name says, a surprise birthday party.
Themed Birthday Parties
Themed birthday parties are normally centred on a specific theme of interest to the person whose birthday it is. These could be favourite movies or TV show themed parties or even holiday related parties such as Halloween or Valentines Day.
Milestone Birthday Parties
The parties are held to celebrate a milestone birthday such as a13th birthday, 18th birthday, 21st birthday, 30th birthday, 40th birthday or 60th birthday.
Other Types of Parties
There are a number of other social occasions and parties that are held on more impromptu occasions. These are held for a number of reasons, including wedding anniversaries, simple friendship visits and even food or book club parties.
Dinner Parties
A dinner party is a social gathering with friends and family centred on the eating of food. It is normally a more formal dinner with a number of courses being served and alcoholic drinks being served before, during and after the meal.
Cocktail Parties
Cocktail parties are parties in which cocktails and light snacks are served. They are also fairly formal in nature, but tend to be bigger than dinner parties and people are generally encouraged to mingle instead of being seated in one place.
