Party favor

[1][2] While the term "party favor" is modern, the practice dates back to the classical Graeco-Roman tradition, where food or flowers were gifted to the attendees of an event.

In the Middle Ages entertainers were throwing small objects at the spectators, and the elaborate table decorations were sometimes gifted to important guests after the party.

[3] The origins of elaborate party favors at the weddings can probably be traced to the 20th-century marriage of Victor Emmanuel of Savoy to Elena of Montenegro, where the guests received silver items of significant value.

Puerto Rican guests get the ornamented cards (Spanish: copia) listing the wedding date and the couple's names.

[2] A popular way of distributing the favors is a piñata, a vessel filled with candies and broken by the guests who take turns swinging a stick at it while blindfolded.

[7] Guests at the celebratory events (for example, weddings or birthdays) and gatherings for major holidays (like Christmas) might receive party favors; these vary in price and durability (but frequently are trinkets of small nominal value) in accordance with the desires and budget of the host or hostess.

Traditionally, five Jordan almonds are presented in a confection box or wrapped in elegant fabric to represent fertility, longevity, wealth, health and happiness.

Modern gift trends include: CDs with the favorite music of the bride and groom, shot glasses filled with colored candy or a charitable donation in the name of their guests.

Tom Smith, traditionally considered to be an inventor of the crackers, also made them for other occasions like world fairs and overseas trips by British monarchs.

[citation needed] Party favors may also refer to ephemeral items which help partygoers celebrate, but which are not meant to be lasting souvenirs.