Everyone Needs To Party

No matter what your age or what your life looks like, you must take time to party. That's right - party! Everyone needs a break from the rut of everyday life but not everyone has the time or money to afford taking an exotic vacation. Taking time to host or attend an energizing party can be as easy and inexpensive as you make it.

The first step for busy people is to make time in your schedule to relax and celebrate. You will never find rest and refreshment apart from your busy life if you do not make it happen intentionally. Chances are strong that your life will not get any less chaotic or busy in the weeks and months to come. You may have been going at such a rushed pace for so long that you do not even recognize your need for something like a party. Ask yourself when is the last time that you have really enjoyed a few hours with the people that mean the most to you. If it has been a while then you especially need to get planning.

Taking time off to party can be as simple as meeting a few friends for a coffee or dinner after work. Just be sure that the conversation during this time doesn't revolve around the craziness of home or work. Another simple way to take time to party is to get outside with a friend and enjoy the beauty that we so often miss in our busyness. Bring a thermos of tea and a few snacks and you have yourself a little party.

If you really want to go all out in planning a party feel free because the options are endless. Choose a day and a time and create a list of guests to invite to your party. You can make a party intimate with just a few close friends or large enough to include everyone you know. It is up to you. The important thing to remember is that this should feel like a party to you, too, so don't get so busy and stressed in planning that it doesn't feel like a party at all.

In planning activities for your party be sure to plan only what will be restful, fun and energizing for your guests. Everyone will love to spend an afternoon that allows them to laugh and forget about the stresses of life for a little while.

I hope by now you are convinced that your life could use a little time to party and so could the lives of the people you love. Whether you decide to do something simple like invite a friend to dinner or whether you host the largest party of the season remember to have fun because that is what a party is all about.

Halloween Traditions Around The World

* Was Halloween originally a pagan or a Christian holiday?

Like the celebration of Christmas day, originally Halloween was a pagan festival rather than a Christian holiday. It was only around 10th century that the Roman Catholic Church established this holy day. This was initiated for purifying the spirits of the dead.


* What is the origin of trick-or-treating?

Trick-or-treating, a major Halloween tradition, is related to the "soul cake day" of Christian people, with a belief that the treat pacifies a mischievous spirit. Formerly, children who were trick-or-treating would vandalize houses that did not give them treats. They roamed around the neighborhood soliciting candy or other kinds of treats. This was became popular up to the 20th century.

It was in the year 1970 that the trick-or-treating tradition started to wane because of several rumors that some households were handing out harmful or poisonous treats to children. Today many parents accompany their children while trick-or-treating or organize private Halloween parties.


* Why is Halloween celebrated on October 31st?

Halloween is celebrated on October 31st because the Celtic people believed that it is the end of "season of the sun" and the start of "season of darkness and cold" due to winter. They believe that it is the time when evil spirits are most likely to roam the earth.


* Is Halloween celebrated on the same day around the world?

No. Halloween in some parts of the world may not even occur on October 31st. A number of countries celebrate Halloween on November 1 or 2. Other prefers to celebrate it at some other time, mostly during the fall or summer season.


* What countries celebrate Halloween?

Halloween is one of the oldest traditions and is celebrated around the globe. While many countries commemorate Halloween it is in North America and Canada where Halloween is most popular. Other countries that join in the celebration are Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Czechoslovakia, England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Latin America, Spain, and Sweden.


* How did Halloween get started in the U.S.?

The first-ever recorded Halloween celebration in the United States occurred in Anoka, Minnesota, in 1921. That was the start of trick-or-treat, Halloween costume parties, and a series of activities depicting the essence of the celebration.


* Why do we carve pumpkins for Halloween?

Carving of pumpkins is descended from earliest Irish tradition. Originally a turnip was used instead of a pumpkin. According to some stories, it was believed to ward off evil spirits.

When the Irish people began to immigrate to America, they realized that carved pumpkins were more realistic than turnips, as well as easier to carve.

Balloon Bouquets - For That One Special Occasion

Be it birthday, Christmas, New Year or Valentine's Day - balloons add color and joy to all fun occasions. And there is no better way to send greetings to your friends and family by sending them a bunch of balloons right at their doorstep.

Balloon delivery has gained popularity over the years and, if legend is to be believed, had its humble beginnings not very many years ago. In the year 1976, Joe DelVechhio thought of the idea of delivering balloons in bunches and opened Balloon Bouquets® of Washington, DC. And this is how the delivery of helium-filled balloons started.

Balloon delivery is a great way to surprise your girlfriend on the morning of her birthday or to let your boss know how much you care so that he remembers that your raise is due. Balloons have been a favorite with the kids since the time balloons were invented. Buy ordering a bunch of balloons you can add joy to their lives on birthdays and Christmas. Balloons come in different shapes, sizes and colors. Life size bear balloons are popular amongst the kids. There are also heart-shaped balloons of different sizes to woe your girlfriend.

Balloons with personal messages written on them are also a good idea. Many people send balloons with the same message written on each of them. Be creative with your messages so that the receiver finds extra joy reading all of them. Also include many bright colors in a bunch to add life. You can go that extra mile and order decorative balloons for different occasions. Many balloon delivery services have expertise in making flower bouquets or Christmas trees out of balloons. It is also a good idea to turn your house into a balloon zoo with animals made out of balloons.

You can also make arrangements for balloon magicians along with your bouquet of balloons. They turn balloons into animals and toys right in front of your eyes in no time. Cars, tigers, giraffes or poodles - you name it and you get it.

Often balloon deliveries can be a good alternative for sending flowers. Flowers sent during the morning will wear out by evening. But your balloons will remain as fresh and colorful even the next day. Balloon delivery is also a low-cost option compared to flowers and has a larger than life visual effect. While ordering your bouquet make sure that they reach the right place at the right time.

Origin Of Valentine's Day

Each February, in places around the world, friends exchange flowers, gifts, and candy in celebration of Valentine's Day. The name of St. Valentine is known across the globe as a patron saint. Most of us however, do not know the true origin of St. Valentine and how this special day came to be. What we do know is that February is the month of romance. As we know it today, St. Valentine's Day contains elements of both ancient Roman and Christian traditions. The Catholic Church recognizes at least three martyred saints names Valentine or
Valentineus.

One of the common legends states that Valentine was a priest that served in third century Rome. At the time, Emperor Claudius II declared that single males made superior soldiers than did those who had wives and children and he outlawed marriage for all young men in order to optimize his potential army of soldiers. Valentine immediately realized the injustice in this declaration and continued to perform marriages in secret ceremonies, which was in direct defiance of Emperor Claudius II.

Upon learning of Valentine's actions, the Emperor immediately had him put to death.

There are additional stories surrounding Valentine that suggest he was killed for attempting to assist Christians in escaping Roman prisons where they were often tortured and beaten. If one particular legend holds true, Valentine himself sent the first ever "valentine" greeting.

It is believed that Valentine fell in love with a jailer's daughter while in prison. The girl had visited Valentine in jail, during which time Valentine fell deeply in love with her. It is thought that before his death, Valentine sent her a letter that he signed "From Your Valentine".

By the time of Valentine's death and subsequent sainthood, he was one of the most popular legends in England and France during the Middle Ages.

The early pastors of Roman Christian churches used St. Valentine's Day as the day young men chose maidens from the congregation as potential brides. Since that time there have been many traditions that have become an important part of Valentine's Day. Cards, gifts, and the promise of
eternal love are the most common way that we express our feelings on this very special day each year. In the United States, the first commercially printed Valentine's Day cards began appearing in the early 1800s. Since that time, Valentine's Day has become a highly profitable business in which millions of dollars are spent each year.

While we enjoy and anticipate Valentine's Day and the gifts we will give and receive, it is important to remember that this very special day originated with no gifts whatsoever, but rather an promise of eternal love and happiness that cost nothing at all.

St. Patrick's Day Traditions

On March 17, 431AD, when Patrick of Ireland died, a new holiday was born.  Though the celebrations began in the 700's as a traditional Catholic Holy Day, over the years St. Patrick's Day has become more a secular holiday which marks the beginning for spring.  The official date for the beginning of spring is March 21, and this also supports the tradition of wearing green.  Green is the color for life and growth and if you desire good luck and on this day, you should "be wearin' a touch o' the green!


The spreading of Christianity and Catholicism to the Irish of the 4th and 5th century is mainly attributed to St. Patrick, who received the name of Patrick while in seminary after his captivity in Ireland. Traditions that originated back in the 7th century have changed from being strictly religious to a St. Patrick's Day where "everybody is Irish for the day".  Catholics will start the day off at early mass which signifies the beginning of the holiday.  Tradition has it that St. Patrick often used a Shamrock to explain to pagans the concept of the Trinity.  The trinity is the Father, Son and Holy Ghost which Christians know all stem from the same God –  three in one like the Shamrock plant - three leaves from one stem. If you are wearing a shamrock you can claim Good Luck or Blessings!  The tradition of the Shamrock still remains though most don't know the reason behind it; but it still means Good Luck! to whoever wears it or receives it.


St. Patrick's Day was first observed as a holiday in the United States in 1737.  The US was still under the authority of the British because the Revolutionary War that gave freedom didn't even start until 1776.  So even though many of the Irish had not yet arrived to our shores yet, St. Patrick's Day was still considered a very important holiday.   Queen's NY started the first parade in honor of St. Patrick and as a result, St. Patrick's Day parades are popular all across the country.  Parades are a great way to celebrate this day!


If you need a tad bit more good luck to start your season off, invite a Leprechaun to accompany you throughout the day.  They are packed with good luck – and are kind of cute, to boot!


Of course, one of the most popular traditions that goes only with St. Patrick's Day is the drinking of particularly green ale. Green is the color of the day! For this holiday, there should be no bar or tavern which does not add some green food coloring to a keg of draft beer to serve mugs of tinted beer to its customers.  And of course Irish cream and Irish Whiskey ought to be available too, but make sure the kids get green lemonade or 7UP!


St. Patrick's Day is a day of fun for all ages.

Party Games For Children

TITLE : Party Games For Children
AUTHORS : Jyoti Bhatia, Shubhada Athavale
PUBLISHER : Navneet Publications (India) Ltd.
ISBN : 81-243-0347-9
YEAR : 1997
GENRE : Children's Games
PAGES : 48 pages with multicolour illustrations.
FORMAT : Scanned PDF with bookmarks & covers

ABOUT THE BOOK : Children's parties are a lot of fun-but they do call for careful organization and planning. While the food is, of course, of great interest-the right games are what makes the party go with a bang! It is well worth giving some time and thought to this aspect.

This book has been specially compiled to offer an extensive range of games suitable for different age groups, from 3 to 11 years. Each game has been methodically explained through an easy-to-understand text and beautiful illustrations and a check-list of props has also been provided.

This will enable you to get the bits and pieces together, well before the party begins.

CONTENTS :
* Check List 4
1. Remember Me! 7
2. Fun Partners 8
3. Bursting the Balloon 10
4. Lucky Colours 12
5. Order! Order! 13
6. Here's the Detective 14
7. No Entry 16
8. Help Me Partner 17
9. Balancing Books 18
10. Gup! Chup! 19
11. Serpent's Tail 20
12. Chinese Whispers 21
13. Musical Maths 22
14. Passing the Hat 24
15. Popcorn Strings 25
16. Dumb Charades 26
17. Naughty Boy 28
18. Musical Jumps 30
19. Coin Play 31
20. Handball 32
21. Hear! Hear! 33
22. Jigsaw Puzzles 34
23. Just a Minute-I 35
24. Fun Bursts 36
25. Just a Minute-ll 38
26. Fun with Matchsticks 39
27. Animal Call 40
28. Just a Minute-III 41
29. Charlie Chaplin 42
30. Dressing as Dad 44
31. Jumping for Balloons 46
32. Blowing the Ball 48

Get Great Birthday Party Supplies

Everyone loves attending a great birthday party. You know, the ones where attention has been given to details and where everything seems to fit just right around the theme of the party? Does it seem like only a few people have what it takes to plan great parties? By remembering a few simple tips, almost anyone can plan great birthday parties. One of the most important tips you need to learn is that having great birthday party supplies is key to making any party a hit.

We've probably all been to a birthday party that looks like it has been thrown together at the last minute. Nothing matches and there doesn't seem to be a theme to the birthday party supplies, the food, the games or anything else. Parties like this can be a drag to attend. The next birthday party you plan doesn't have to be like this at all. By carefully choosing the right birthday party supplies, you can ensure that your party will be fun and enjoyed by all.

Birthday party supplies can include anything that you need to get for your party. Things like decorations, food, paper products and games are all a part of birthday party supplies. You should be strategic about each element of your party planning. Begin by thinking about who you are giving the party for. It is often great to center the birthday party supplies around the likes and tastes of the birthday person. Think about their favorite colors, games, and foods when you start to plan.

Try to plan what kind of party you want to have. Consider details like the time of day, the age of the guests coming, and the theme of the party. All of these questions will help lead you to finding the proper birthday party supplies.

Having a plan for the birthday party supplies you need makes the shopping process much easier and can even help save you money. Make a detailed list of all of the birthday party supplies that you need to purchase. You can organize them based on the store that you will buy them from. Take the time to look in several stores for the best items before you shop. You may be able to find better deals or even packaged deals by looking around.

As you plan the next birthday party, have fun! Enjoy the process of putting together a great event that people will love. All you need to worry about is getting the best birthday party supplies.

Are Birthday Party Favors Important To Your Child’s Party?

At your child’s birthday party, you should consider the purchase of party favors. Like other parties, the guests that come to visit would like to take something home with them. No matter if you plan to purchase the party favors for both adults and children or just for the kids, giving your guests a little something to take home is important. It is a thank you. It’s a sign of appreciation. And, it is just good manners.

What About The Cost?

If you are having a birthday party for your child, you should consider several things. First, are the party favors for your child’s friends or will they go to the adults that attend? If they are for the adults, consider using a small statue, a picture frame with your child’s picture in it. Or, consider a candle with a cute theme. Giving a gift to your adult party goers should be done. You can give them something that is inexpensive, especially when you purchase them in bulk form. If you want to spend more, go ahead.

On the other hand, if you are giving a party favor to your child’s friends, then you have to go with all fun things. A little goody bag is ideal filled with kid safe things. Don’t go over board on the candy but many party outlets will provide very small toys, cute games and lots of fun stuff that you can include. The kids will enjoy getting a gift from your child too.

If you are having a small get together with your close family you may not need a party favor. If you are throwing a memorable party, then consider one. This would be for their first birthday or possibly their fifth. If you are giving a large party where there will be many people coming, then a party favor no matter what the age is essential, at least for proper manners.