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40-422: A party is a gathering of people who have been invited by a host for the purposes of socializing , conversation , recreation , or as part of a festival or other commemoration or celebration of a special occasion. A party will often feature food and beverages , and often conversation, music, dancing, or other forms of entertainment. Some parties are held in honor of a specific person, day, or event, such as

80-429: A birthday party, a Super Bowl party, or a St. Patrick's Day party. Parties of this kind are often called celebrations . A party is not necessarily a private occasion. Public parties are sometimes held in restaurants, pubs , beer gardens , nightclubs , or bars , and people attending such parties may be charged an admission fee by the host. Large parties in public streets may celebrate events such as Mardi Gras or

120-773: A bon voyage party). Retirement parties for departing co-workers fall into this category. Several are described in Japan in Shusaku Endo 's 1974 novel When I Whistle . Hospitality Too Many Requests If you report this error to the Wikimedia System Administrators, please include the details below. Request from 172.68.168.151 via cp1112 cp1112, Varnish XID 936214257 Upstream caches: cp1112 int Error: 429, Too Many Requests at Thu, 28 Nov 2024 08:05:55 GMT Table setting Informal settings generally have fewer utensils and dishes but use

160-544: A buffet is provided. Guests choose food from the buffet and eat while standing up and conversing. Women guests may wear cocktail dresses ; men may wear blazers . At some informal dinner parties, the host may ask guests to bring food or beverages (a main dish , a side dish , a dessert , or appetizers ). A party of this type is called a potluck or potluck dinner. In the United States, potlucks are very often held in churches and community centers. A garden party

200-528: A masquerade ball , guests wear masks to conceal their identities. Guests at a costume party or a fancy dress party wear costumes. These parties are sometimes associated with holiday events, such as Halloween and Mardi Gras . In English and American culture during the Christmas season, it is traditional to have a Christmas caroling party. People go from door to door in a neighborhood and sing Christmas carols . Some popular Christmas carols are " We Wish You

240-572: A state dinner . In the 18th century, in France and England, it became fashionable for wealthy, well married ladies who had a residence "in town" to invite accomplished guests to visit their home in the evening, to partake of refreshments and cultural conversation. Soirées often included refined musical entertainment, and the term is still sometimes used to define a certain sophisticated type of evening party. Society hostesses included actresses or other women with an influential reputation. The character of

280-765: A Merry Christmas ", " Deck the Halls ", " The Twelve Days of Christmas ", " Frosty the Snowman ", " Jingle Bells ", " Silver Bells ", " Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town ", and " O Holy Night ". In Spain, this type of party is called El Aguinaldo . It is the same as in England and the United States, but the only difference is that the children who sing the carols are given tips. Christmas songs are called villancicos in Spain; they are mainly sung by children at small parties. Dance parties are gatherings in bars or community centers where

320-412: A conventional greeting or congratulation to each person in the receiving line. In this way, the line of guests progresses steadily without unnecessary delay. After formally receiving each guest in this fashion, the hosts may mingle with the guests. Somewhat less formal receptions are common in academic settings, sometimes to honor a guest lecturer , or to celebrate a special occasion such as retirement of

360-462: A dinner followed by speeches or by a presentation extolling whatever the money is being raised for. It is very common to charge an admission fee for parties of this kind. This fee may be as high as several thousand dollars, especially if money is being raised for a political campaign . In some places, parties to celebrate graduation from school, college, or university are popular. A graduation party may be held on campus or external, and transportation

400-422: A feature of many cultures. In Western cultures , birthday parties include a number of common rituals. The guests may be asked to bring a gift for the honored person. Party locations are often decorated with colorful decorations, such as balloons and streamers. A birthday cake is usually served with lit candles that are to be blown out after a "birthday wish" has been made. The person being honored will be given

440-617: A garden party at the Palais de l'Elysée in Paris on Bastille Day . A cocktail party is a party at which cocktails are served. It is sometimes called a "cocktail reception". Women who attend a cocktail party may wear a cocktail dress . A cocktail hat is sometimes worn as a fashion statement. In Anglo-American culture, a tea party is a formal gathering for afternoon tea . These parties were traditionally attended only by women, but men may also be invited. Tea parties are often characterized by

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480-547: A large number of guests, often at prestigious venues such as Buckingham Palace , the White House , or Government Houses of the British Empire and Commonwealth . The hosts and any guests of honor form a receiving line in order of precedence near the entrance. Each guest is announced to the host who greets each one in turn as he or she arrives. Each guest properly speaks little more than his name (if necessary) and

520-509: A large warehouse, field, or even tens of thousands in a sporting arena, amusement park, or other large space. Raves are associated with illegal drugs such as ecstasy and psychedelic drugs . A house party is a party where a large group of people get together at a private home to socialize. House parties that involve the drinking of beer pumped from a keg are called keg parties or "keggers." These parties are popular in North America,

560-514: A layout based on more formal settings. Utensils are arranged in the order and according to the manner in which the diner will use them. In the West , forks , plate, butter knife, and napkin generally are placed to the left of the dinner plate, and knives , spoons , stemware and tumblers , cups , and saucers to the right. (By contrast, formal settings in Armenia place the fork to the right of

600-437: A respected member of staff. Receptions are also common in symposium or academic conference settings, as an environment for attendees to mingle and interact informally. These gatherings may be accompanied by a sit-down dinner, or more commonly, a stand-up informal buffet meal. Receptions are also held to celebrate exhibition openings at art galleries or museums. The featured artist or artists are often present, as well as

640-434: A secluded area of a forest ("bush"), where friends gather to drink and talk. These parties are often held around a bonfire . Beach parties are held on a sandy shoreline of a lake, river, or sea, and also often feature a bonfire. School-related parties for teenagers and young adults include proms and graduation parties , which are held in honor of someone who has recently graduated from a school or university. A pool party

680-464: Is a large formal party that features ballroom dancing . Women guests wear ball gowns ; men wear evening dress . A block party is a public party that is attended by the residents of a specific city block or neighborhood. These parties are typically held in a city street that has been closed to traffic to accommodate the party. At some block parties, attendees are free to pass from house to house, socializing, and often drinking alcoholic beverages . At

720-605: Is a party in a park or a garden. An event described as a garden party is usually more formal than other outdoor gatherings, which may be called simply parties, picnics , barbecues , etc. A garden party can be a prestigious event. For example, invitations by the British Sovereign to garden parties at Buckingham Palace or at the Palace of Holyroodhouse (in Scotland) are considered an honor. The President of France holds

760-423: Is a party in which the guests swim in a swimming pool. A singles dance party and mixer is a party which is organized for people who are not married and who want to find a partner for friendship, dating, or sex. Usually a "mixer game" is played, to make it easy for people to meet each other. For example, each guest may be given a card with an inspiring quotation on it. The game is to find a potential partner who has

800-433: Is a party that is not made known beforehand to the person in whose honor it is being held. Birthday surprise parties are the most common kind of surprise party. At most such parties, the guests will arrive an hour or so before the honoree arrives. Often, a friend in on the surprise will lead the honoree to the location of the party without letting on anything. The guests might even conceal themselves from view, and then when

840-458: Is a social gathering at which people eat dinner together, usually in the host's home. At the most formal dinner parties, the dinner is served on a dining table with place settings . Dinner parties are often preceded by a cocktail hour in a living room or bar, where guests drink cocktails while mingling and conversing. Wine is usually served throughout the meal, often with a different wine accompanying each course. At less formal dinner parties,

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880-413: Is provided when location is far away. A shower is a party whose primary purpose is to give gifts to the guest of honor. Traditionally, a bridal shower is a way for an engaged woman to be "showered" with gifts for her upcoming married life (see hope chest ). Guests are expected to bring a small gift related to the upcoming life event. Themed games are a frequent sight at this sort of party. A new twist on

920-475: Is served, in addition to the central plate (a service plate or dinner plate at supper; at luncheon, a service plate or luncheon plate) at each place there is a bread roll (generally on a bread plate, sometimes in the napkin), napkin, and flatware (knives and spoons to the right of the central plate, and forks to the left). Coffee is served in Butler Service style in demitasses , and a spoon is placed on

960-400: The baby shower for a pregnant woman is the gender reveal party , made possible by modern ultrasound technology. A housewarming party may be held when a family, couple, or person moves into a new house or apartment. It is an occasion for the hosts to show their new home to their friends. Housewarming parties are typically informal and do not include any planned activities other than a tour of

1000-453: The curators who organized the exhibition. In addition or instead, a celebratory reception may be held partway through or at the end of an exhibition run. This alternative scheduling allows guests more time to see the exhibition in depth at their own pace, before meeting the featured guests. Some food is often served, as in academic gatherings. Refreshments at a reception may be as minimal, such as coffee or lemonade, or as elaborate as those at

1040-531: The Latin American quinceañera . Since medieval times, children have dressed specially for birthday parties; there is evidence to suggest historical birthday parties existed in Germany as kinderfeste . A children's party or kids' party is a party for children such as a birthday party or tea party . Since medieval times, children have dressed specially for such occasions. A surprise party

1080-633: The United Kingdom, and Australia and are often attended by people under the legal drinking age . Sometimes, even older party-goers run afoul of the law for having provided alcoholic beverages to minors. Arrests may also be made for violating a noise ordinance, for disorderly conduct , and even for operating a " blind pig ", an establishment that illegally sells alcoholic beverages. On college campuses, parties are often hosted by fraternities . Outdoor parties include bush parties and beach parties. Bush parties (also called "field parties") are held in

1120-487: The attendees in the form of "goodie bags". Children and even adults sometimes wear colorful cone-shaped party hats . Birthday parties are often larger and more extravagant if they celebrate someone who has reached what is regarded in the culture as a milestone age, such as transition from childhood to adulthood. Examples of traditional coming of age celebrations include the North American sweet sixteen party and

1160-459: The dinner plate and informal settings in Turkey place the fork to the right of the dinner plate if not accompanied by a knife) Sauceboats and serving dishes, when used, either are placed on the table or, more formally, may be kept on a side table. At an informal setting, fewer utensils are used and serving dishes are placed on the table. Sometimes the cup and saucer are placed on the right side of

1200-400: The first piece of cake. While the birthday cake is being brought to the table, the song " Happy Birthday to You " or some other birthday song is sung by the guests. At parties for children , time is often taken for the "gift opening" wherein the individual whose birthday is celebrated opens each of the gifts brought. It is also common at children's parties for the host to give parting gifts to

1240-415: The guests dance to house music , techno music , or disco . The music for dance parties is usually selected and played by a disc jockey . A spin-off of dance parties, the rave involves dancing to loud house music , techno music , or industrial music . Rave parties may be attended by as few as a score of people in a basement or, more likely, by a few hundred people in a club, to as many as thousands in

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1280-426: The honoree enters the room, they leap from hiding and all shout, "Surprise!". For some surprise birthday parties, it is considered to be a good tactic to shock the honoree. Streamers, silly string , and balloons may be used for this purpose. Evidence of a party, such as decorations and balloons, are not made visible from the exterior of the home or party venue, so that the honoree will suspect nothing. A dinner party

1320-474: The hostess determined the character of the soirée and the choice of guests. Famous soirée hostesses include Hester Thrale . A dance is a social gathering at which the guests dance. It may be a casual, informal affair, or a structured event, such as a school dance or a charity ball. Dances usually take place during the evening. An afternoon dance is formally known as a tea dance . Some dances feature specific kinds of dancing, such as square dancing . A ball

1360-415: The new house or apartment. Invited family members and friends may bring gifts for the new home. A welcome party is held for the purpose of welcoming a newcomer, such as a new club member, a new employee, or a family's new baby. In many cultures, it is customary to throw a farewell party in honor of someone who is moving away or departing on a long trip (often called a "going away party" and sometimes called

1400-407: The outermost position are to be used first (for example, a soup spoon or a salad fork, later the dinner fork and the dinner knife). The blades of the knives are turned toward the plate. Glasses are placed an inch (2.5 cm) or so above the knives, also in the order of use: white wine, red wine, dessert wine, and water tumbler. The most formal dinner is served from the kitchen. When the meal

1440-433: The same quotation. Couples who have matching cards may be given a small prize. These parties are sponsored by various organizations, both non-profit and for-profit. A fundraising party, or fundraiser, is a party that is held for the purpose of collecting money that will be given to some person or to some institution, such as a school, charity, business, or political campaign . These parties are usually formal and consist of

1480-573: The saucer to the right of each handle. Serving dishes and utensils are not placed on the table for a formal dinner. The only exception in the West to these general rules is the protocol followed at the Spanish royal court, which was also adopted by the Austrian court, in which all cutlery was placed to the right of the central plate for each diner. At a less formal dinner, not served from the kitchen,

1520-432: The signing of a peace treaty ending a long war. A birthday party is a celebration of the anniversary of the birth of the person who is being honored. While there is historical precedent for birthday parties for the rich and powerful throughout history, the tradition extended to middle-class Americans around the nineteenth century and took on more modern norms and traditions in the twentieth century. Birthday parties are now

1560-438: The spoon, about 30 cm or 12 inches from the edge of the table. Often, in less formal settings, the napkin should be in the wine glass. However, such objects as napkin rings are very rare in the United Kingdom, Spain, Mexico, or Italy. Utensils are placed inward about 20 cm or 8 inches from the edge of the table, with all placed either upon the same invisible baseline or upon the same invisible median line. Utensils in

1600-519: The use of prestigious tableware , such as bone china and silver . The table, whatever its size or cost, is made to look its prettiest, with cloth napkins and matching cups and plates. In addition to tea, larger parties may serve punch or, in cold weather, hot chocolate. The tea is accompanied by a variety of easily managed foods. Thin sandwiches such as cucumber or tomato, bananas , cake slices , buns , and cookies are all common choices. Formal receptions are parties that are designed to receive

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