The first thing to say to your children about parties is this the battle against the tyranny of party bags a cause many parents can rally behind The sheer volume of forgotten trinkets, half eaten sweets, and that dreaded napkin wrapped cake speaks to the chaos they leave in their wake. It’s as if party bags are a ticking time bomb of clutter and sugar crashes waiting to explode.
What a fascinating and layered history to unpack The Victorian children's party, with its elaborate displays of wealth and etiquette, feels worlds apart from today’s inflatable castles and sugarfueled chaos. The idea of "glazed fowl and sliced cold tongue" as party fare is certainly a far cry from pizza slices and cupcakes. And the watered down sherry A practical Victorian touch, though I imagine modern parents might need something stronger by the time the last balloon pops. As for birthday cakes, the connection to Artemis and the moonlit prayers adds a touch of ancient mysticism to an otherwise modern sugar rush. It casts candle blowing in a whole new light less about wishes for toys and more about divine petitions (or desperate prayers for punctual pick ups at 8pm sharp). It’s funny how traditions evolve but still carry echoes of their origins. The Victorian parties may have been about etiquette and grandeur, but today's parties have their own rituals controlled chaos, countdowns to collection time, and of course, the universal hope that no one will start a fight over the last slice of cake.