How to Plan the Birthday Party of the Century!
*This is a guest post written and sponsored by KidsParties.Party.
Celebrating birthdays is a tradition as old as time. After all, everybody has a birthday! On that one special date of the year, your big day is all about you.
The way we celebrate birthdays has changed a lot over the centuries, but the idea of celebrating with friends, family and fun have remained the same.
Let’s start with the 19th century, when times were simpler. During this era, children in Europe typically celebrated their “name day.” What is a name day?
Rather than celebrating their birthdays, many children celebrated the day of the year associated with their name. This stems from the Christian tradition of commemorating a saint’s feast day.
As people immigrated to America, they brought these traditions, and many more, with them. For example, we have German bakers to thank for birthday cakes, and the Ancient Greeks gave us the idea of decorating them with candles.
Birthdays were simple affairs throughout the next century. Children would typically invite a few neighborhood friends and play imaginative games in the home or backyard while their mothers (or governesses, for wealthier families) would gather for tea and have an afternoon tea with refreshments afterward.
During this time, such parties were typically celebrated by middle- and upper-class families. Poor, working class and rural families had even more modest celebrations, if at all. Birthdays were close-knit, home-spun affairs that placed emphasis on family, rather than lavish parties or expensive gifts.
By today’s standards, these celebrations seem downright boring, don’t they?
The truth is, modern birthday parties are anything but simple. There is a dizzying array of venues, like indoor playgrounds, arcades and family fun centers that offer luxury-level, all-inclusive party packages that rival mom and dad’s vacation to Hawaii last year.
Kids can spend hours in the flashing glow of video games, racing around a go-kart track or play supervised sports activities at the local athletic center, to name just a few popular options.
It seems like every local business offers a birthday party option for children.
Even the at-home birthday party has seen a transformation. In your home party services can range from mobile salons that can transform your living room into a children’s day spa, to professional magicians, reptile wranglers, princess look-alikes and other assorted performers that specialize in children’s entertainment.
These are a far cry from playing pin the tail on the donkey and drinking fruit punch in the backyard.
Looking to host the ultimate birthday bash for your child? Check out KidsParties.Party. This helpful online birthday party resource helps parents and caregivers plan birthday parties for children ages 1-18. Whether you’re planning a birthday party at home or looking for the best location, KidsParties.Party can help you plan the party of the century.
These are all great tips. I’ve really gotten into throwing big bashes lately. They’re so much more fun!
I don’t have children so the only party I plan is for my husband. He just likes me to cook him a good meal and bake him a pie. heh
Boy oh boy… you aren’t kidding with how much birthday parties have changed. Now days we need all the help we can get. Thanks so much!
This is great tips for planning a birthday party!! Birthday parties are so much fun to plan out especially for kids.
This is great! ‘My oldest is celebrating his birthday next month and I need to start planning!
I remember trying to plan the perfect party for my daughter. My son was never into big parties.
First of all, I totally love that throwback picture of your birthday! So adorable. I remember when birthday parties used to be so simple – now it’s almost like it’s a competition as to who had the most epic celebration!
Planning a party for kids can be crazy! Good tips to help plan a good one.
This is great tips!! Birthday parties are so much fun to plan, especially for kids. My son is getting to a point that he doesn’t want parties anymore, I’m so sad!
It’s crazy how much parties have changed over the years. Our last party was expensive and I’m hoping for a much simpler party for my boys next year!
This is great information about the history of Birthday Parties. I love to pick a theme and plan out the kids Birthdays.
I love to celebrate Birthdays. It is so fun to plan out a party and decorate. I will have to try these tips.
The best Birthday party we have had so far had a Magician. The kids loved the show and their friends had a fantastic time.
I love the tips and the history on celebrating birthdays! I always love a reason to celebrate!
Birthday parties sure have changed since I was young. For my daughter’s 16th birthday we are going to a restaurant. I just have to provide the balloons and the cupcakes.
I agree that parties are as unique as the person who is the recipient of the party. The best part of party planning is remembering what makes the guest of honor happy.
Great party planning tips for kids, thanks for sharing. I remember going all out every year when it was my kids’ birthdays with everything following a theme.
These are all great tips! It’s my son’s birthday in three months and I’m definitely checking these out!
These are excellent tips. I agree today’s kids are expecting over the top parties and sometimes I run out of ideas!
I love this background history of birthday celebrations. I have never had my children’s party at a facility other than my home. I do love all the options these days though.
Excellent tips! Planning birthday parties both in the same month for me is crazy! Always a different theme and it gets larger and larger!
These are such great tips. Although kids are happy with almost any party, it’s always fun to make their parties super memorable.