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62-422: 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

124-429: 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

186-672: 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 Hospitality ethics is a discipline that studies this usage of hospitality. "Hospitality" derives from the Latin hospes , meaning "host", "guest", or "stranger". Hospes is formed from hostis , which means "stranger" or "enemy" (the latter being where terms like "hostile" derive). By metonymy ,

248-544: 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

310-528: 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

372-572: 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

434-452: A table ) or place setting refers to the way to set a table with tableware —such as eating utensils and for serving and eating. The arrangement for a single diner is called a place setting. It is also the layout in which the utensils and ornaments are positioned. The practice of dictating the precise arrangement of tableware has varied across cultures and historical periods. Informal settings generally have fewer utensils and dishes but use

496-765: 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

558-412: 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

620-462: 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

682-422: 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

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744-617: 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

806-638: A guest is effectively regarded as a semi-god, admired above all other human relations. A reflection of the Albanian solemn adherence to their traditional customs of hospitality and besa is notably considered to be their treatment of Jews at the time of the Italian and German occupation during World War II . Indeed, Jews in hiding in Albania were not betrayed or handed over to the Germans by Albanians, and as

868-703: A hospitality that is never formal or superficial but identified by 'gentleness' and 'reverence'." Some Western countries have developed a host culture for immigrants based on the Bible . In some Christian belief, a guest should never be made to feel that they are causing undue extra labor by their presence. One of the main principles of Pashtunwali is Melmastyā́ . This is the display of hospitality and profound respect to all visitors (regardless of race, religion, national affiliation, or economic status) without any hope of remuneration or favour. Pashtuns will go to great lengths to show their hospitality. In Islam, there

930-547: 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

992-509: 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,

1054-514: 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

1116-422: A model to understand hospitality that divides unconditional hospitality from conditional hospitality. Over the centuries, philosophers have considered the problem of hospitality. To Derrida, there is an implicit hostility in hospitality, as it requires treating a person as a stranger, distancing them from oneself; Derrida labels this intrinsic conflict with the portmanteau "hostipitality". However, hospitality offers

1178-483: A paradoxical situation (like language), since the inclusion of those who are welcomed in the sacred law of hospitality implies that others will be rejected. Julia Kristeva alerts readers to the dangers of "perverse hospitality", takes advantage of the vulnerability of aliens to dispossess them. Hospitality reduces the tension in the process of host-guest encounters, producing a liminal zone that combines curiosity about others and fear of strangers. Hospitality centres on

1240-467: A person's request for refuge was expected not only to provide food and shelter for guests but also to make sure that they did not come to harm under their care. In Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, and the Netherlands, it is often considered inappropriate to feed children from another family. Visiting children may be asked to leave at dinnertime or to wait in another room, or the host family may call

1302-440: A pile of food in the market. He put his hand inside it and felt dampness, although the surface was dry. He said: "O owner of the food, what is this?" The man said, "It was damaged by rain, O Messenger of God." He said, "Why did you not put the rain-damaged food on top so that people could see it! Whoever cheats us is not one of us." Celtic societies also valued hospitality, especially in terms of protection. A host who granted

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1364-437: 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

1426-558: A result, there were eleven times more Jews at the end of the WWII than at the beginning of it in Albania. In Ancient Greece , hospitality was a right, with the host being expected to make sure the needs of his guests were met. Conversely, the guest was expected to abide by a set code of behaviour. The ancient Greek term xenia —or theoxenia when a god was involved—expressed this ritualized guest-friendship relation. This relationship

1488-434: 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

1550-441: A stranger had welcomed him. He expanded the meaning of brother and neighbor to include the stranger, that he or she be treated with hospitality. Pope John Paul II wrote: "Welcoming our brothers and sisters with care and willingness must not be limited to extraordinary occasions but must become for all believers a habit of service in their daily lives." He also said, "Only those who have opened their hearts to Christ can offer

1612-563: Is God". This principle is shown in a number of stories where a guest is revealed to be a god who rewards the provider of hospitality. From this stems, the Indian or Nepalese practice of graciousness towards guests at home and in all social situations. The Tirukkuṛaḷ , an ancient Indian work on ethics and morality , explains the ethics of hospitality in verses 81 through 90, dedicating a separate chapter to it (chapter 9). Judaism praises hospitality to strangers and guests, based largely on

1674-464: 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

1736-605: 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

1798-423: 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

1860-433: 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

1922-458: 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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1984-417: Is a strong emphasis on expressing goodwill through the phrase peace be upon you Assalamu Alaikum . This practice is rooted in the teachings of Muhammad. These teachings extend to the treatment of guests and even prisoners of war. Authentic sources and Quranic verses underscore the importance of showing kindness and peace towards these people. Abu Aziz ibn Umair reported: "I was among the prisoners of war on

2046-413: 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

2108-475: 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

2170-400: 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

2232-453: 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

2294-404: The Albanian traditional customary law ( Kanun ). Hospitality, honor, and besa , are the pillars of the northern Albanian tribal society . Numerous foreign visitors have historically documented the hospitality of both northern and southern Albanians. Foreign travelers and diplomats, and a number of renowned historians and anthropologists have, in particular, "solemnized, romanticized, and glorified"

2356-531: The Kanun as a basic societal institution; its exceptional altruistic appeal as well as application, conferred with the best available resources, regardless of the fact that the remote, harsh, and geographically inhospitable territory of the northern Albanian mountains is typically scarce in material resources. The Albanian law of hospitality is simply clarified by the Kanun: "The house of the Albanian belongs to God and

2418-531: 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

2480-500: The Latin word hospitalis means a guest-chamber, guest's lodging, an inn. Hospes/hostis is thus the root for the English words host , hospitality , hospice , hostel , and hotel . In ancient cultures, hospitality involved welcoming the stranger and offering them food, shelter, and safety. Among Albanians , hospitality ( Albanian : mikpritja ) is an indissoluble element of their traditional society, also regulated by

2542-633: 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

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2604-487: 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

2666-556: The belief that strangers should be assisted and protected while traveling. However, some disagree. Anthony Pagden describes how the concept of hospitality was historically manipulated to legitimate the conquest of the Americas by imposing the right of free transit, which was conducive to the formation of the modern nation state . This suggests that hospitality is a political institution, which can be ideologically deformed to oppress others. Table setting Table setting (laying

2728-519: The day of the battle of Badr . Muhammad had said, 'I enjoin you to treat the captives well.' After I accepted Islam, I was among the Ansar (Inhabitants of Madinah ) and when the time of lunch or dinner arrived, I would feed dates to the prisoners for I had been fed bread due to the command of Muhammad." Good hospitality is crucial in Islam even in business. According to another report, Muhammad passed by

2790-459: 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

2852-475: The examples of Abraham and Lot in the Book of Genesis ( Genesis 18:1–8 and 19:1–8 ). In Hebrew, the practice is called hachnasat orchim , meaning "welcoming guests". Besides other expectations, hosts are expected to provide nourishment, comfort, and entertainment for their guests, and at the end of the visit, hosts customarily escort their guests out of their home, wishing them a safe journey. Abraham set

2914-400: 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

2976-414: The guest." Which means that the guest – who represents the supreme ethical category – has a greater role than the master of the house himself. The guest's role is even more important than blood, because according to custom there is the possibility to pardon the man who spilled the blood of one's father or one's son, but a man who has spilled the blood of a guest cannot ever been pardoned. In Albanian tradition

3038-415: 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

3100-426: 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

3162-481: The hospitality of the northern Albanian highlanders. Some reasons that have been provided to explain the admiration of the Albanian hospitality by foreign visitors are: the rituals and forms in which it is expressed; its universal application with uncompromising protection of the guest, even in the case of blood feud ( gjakmarrje ) between the host and the guest; its central role as a moral principle in Albanian society and individual life, also regulated and sanctified in

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3224-474: 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

3286-415: 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

3348-407: 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

3410-433: 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

3472-573: 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,

3534-432: 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

3596-438: 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

3658-567: The standard as providing three things: The initial letters of these Hebrew words spell Aishel ( Genesis 21:33 ). In Christianity , hospitality is a virtue . It is a reminder of sympathy for strangers and a rule to welcome visitors. This is a virtue found in the Old Testament , with, for example, the custom of the foot washing of visitors or the kiss of peace . Jesus taught in the New Testament that those who had welcomed

3720-519: 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

3782-641: The visitor's parents and ask for permission. In the West today hospitality is rarely a matter of protection and survival and is more associated with etiquette and entertainment . However, it still involves showing respect for one's guests, providing for their needs, and treating them as equals. Cultures and subcultures vary in the extent to which one is expected to show hospitality to strangers, as opposed to personal friends or members of one's ingroup . In anthropology, hospitality has been analyzed as an unequal relation between hosts and guests, mediated through various forms of exchange . Jacques Derrida offers

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3844-550: Was codified in the Homeric epics, and especially in the Odyssey . In Greek society, a person's ability to abide by the laws of hospitality determined nobility and social standing. The ancient Greeks, since the time of Homer, believed that the goddess of hospitality and hearth was Hestia , one of the original six Olympians . In India and Nepal , hospitality is based on the principle Atithi Devo Bhava , meaning "the guest

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