Party

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.

Large parties in public streets may celebrate events such as Mardi Gras or the signing of a peace treaty ending a long war.

It is also common at children's parties for the host to give parting gifts to the attendees in the form of "goodie bags".

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 the transition from childhood to adulthood.

The guests might even conceal themselves from view, and then when the honoree enters the room, they leap from hiding and all shout, "Surprise!".

The President of France holds a garden party at the Palais de l'Elysée in Paris on Bastille Day.

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.

Thin sandwiches such as cucumber or tomato, bananas, cake slices, buns, and cookies are all common choices.

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 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.

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.

Famous soirée hostesses include Hester Thrale and Madame de Staël.

[7] Christmas songs are called villancicos in Spain; they are mainly sung by children at small parties.

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 a large warehouse, field, or even tens of thousands in a sporting arena, amusement park, or other large space.

These parties are popular in North America, 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,[9] and even for operating a "blind pig", an establishment that illegally sells alcoholic beverages.

Beach parties are held on a sandy shoreline of a lake, river, or sea, and also often feature a bonfire.

These parties are usually formal and consist of a dinner followed by speeches or by a presentation extolling whatever the money is being raised for.

A new twist on 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.

Housewarming parties are typically informal and do not include any planned activities other than a tour of the new house or apartment.

[12] A cast party is a celebration following the final performance of a theatrical event, such as a play, a musical, or an opera.

These parties are usually of short duration and sometimes involve getting ready for the event (e.g., the guests may put on makeup or costumes).

An after-party is a party that is held after a play, wedding, school dance, or other more formal event.

[17] The government detains and whips people that go to birthdays, Yalda night, private parties or closes down businesses.