Party 23995 225843076 2008-07-15T17:35:25Z Lilygnat 7412248 /* Marriage-related parties */ {{alternateuses}} {{Merge|celebration|date=November 2007}} {{Articleissues|OR=September 2007|citations missing=July 2007}} [[Image:Chehel-sotoon chahar shanbe suri.jpg|thumb|right|200px| [[Chehel Sotoun]]'s Wall painting, that dates back to the [[Safavid]] era, depicts a [[Chaharshanbe Suri]] celebration.[[Isfahan]], [[Iran]].]] A '''party''' is a [[social]] gathering for [[celebration]] and [[recreation]]. It can have [[religion|religious]], [[culture|cultural]], or [[season]]al implications as well, but the term 'party' usually implies a strong social/socializing component to the gathering. == Types of parties == === Birthday party === [[Image:birthdayparty.jpg|thumb|200px|[[United States|American]] [[high school]] students celebrate at a birthday party.]] A ''[[birthday]] party'' is a celebration that occurs to celebrate the [[anniversary]] of the [[birth]] of the person honored. Birthday parties are nowadays celebrated in many cultures. A child's party is usually held at home or a public place and consists of [[soft drink]]s and sweet and savory foods (in many cultures featuring a [[birthday cake]]). Birthday parties for children often feature entertainment, costumes, or themes. Adults' birthday parties in Western countries often take place in [[bar]]s or [[nightclub]]s where a range of alcoholic beverages are consumed.{{Fact|date=March 2008}} [[Image:Birthday party with costume.jpg|thumb|200px|Children's birthday party with costumed entertainer.]] In Western cultures, particularly in the United States, birthday parties are often accompanied by colorful decorations such as [[streamer]]s and [[balloon]]s. A [[birthday cake]] is often served with [[candle]]s that are to be blown out after a "birthday wish" has been made. While the [[birthday cake]] is brought to the table, the song ''[[Happy Birthday to You]]'' is sung. Wealthy people or celebrities may hire an [[event management]] agency or a [[party service]] to organize a birthday party. ''See also: [[Surprise party]] === Housewarming party === A [[housewarming party]] is held when a person, couple, or family moves into a new house or apartment. It is an occasion for the hosts to present their new home to their friends, and for friends to gather, socialize, and enjoy refreshments such as alcoholic drinks and snack foods. In some cases, the friends and family members who are invited may bring gifts for the new home. Housewarming parties are generally informal, and there are usually no planned activities besides a tour of the new house. === Dinner party === A Dinner party is a formal social gathering at which people eat [[dinner]] together, usually in the host's own home. At the least formal dinner parties, a buffet of food is provided on a table or counter, and the guests choose items from the buffet and eat standing up as they talk and mingle. At the most formal dinner parties, dinner is served at a dining table with [[place setting]]s. Dinner parties are sometimes preceded by a [[cocktail party]], a social gathering in a living room or bar where guests drink alcoholic [[cocktail]]s as they mingle. Women guests may wear [[cocktail dress]]es. Cocktail parties are often held as a prelude to a dinner party. === Potluck dinner party === On less formal occasions, when a club or community gathers and includes a shared dinner, the organizer may invite participants to bring drinks, [[appetizer]]s, main and side dishes, and even [[dessert]]s. This is called a "[[potluck]]" dinner. === Block party === A "[[block party]]" is a social event where of which a group of residents in the same area decide to throw a party at the same time, usually during the early evening hours. During such an event, partygoers are free to pass from house to house, socializing and often consuming alcohol or other beverages. === Farewell party === In many cultures, it is customary to throw a farewell party in honor of a person who is moving away or departing on a long trip. === Wake === A [[wake (ceremony)|wake]] is a [[funeral]] tradition in some cultures in which the life of the deceased is celebrated by throwing a party which may take on either a somber or a cheerful tone. === School-related parties === * [[Prom]] * [[Graduation party]] === Parties for teenagers and young adults === Parties that are mainly held by teenagers and young adults include house parties, dance parties, and outdoor parties. In many areas of the world, the term '''house party''' refers to a type of party where large groups of people get together at a private house to socialize; often these partygoers will consume drugs or/and [[alcoholic beverage]]s. House parties which center around the consumption of beer which is pumped from a [[keg]] into plastic cups are called keg parties (or "Keggers"). These parties are popular in the US amongst college students, but are technically illegal for anyone under the legal drinking age, and often, even older party-goers run afoul of the law for violating ordinances regulating noise and disorderly conduct,<ref name=kegregistration>{{ cite web |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/regionstate/20011104beertag1104p6.asp |title=Law would tag beer kegs to fight use by the young |quote=While it affects all adults who buy kegs, the proposed law is aimed at the 21-to-23-year-old crowd, particularly college students, who don't think twice about buying a keg or 10 for a weekend bash. |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=2001-11-04 |accessdate=2007-03-31 }}</ref> or for operating a "[[blind pig]]". ''Dance parties'' are gatherings in bars or community centers where the guests dance to pop and [[dance]] [[music]] such as [[house music]], [[Disco]], or [[techno]]. The music for dance parties is usually selected and played by a [[DJ]] over a [[PA system]] or a powerful stereo system. Conversation is not an integral part of these parties as those who attend express themselves through their dancing and by gesturing.[[Image:loveparade-jpatokal.jpg|frame|right|''Siegessäule'', Love Parade 2001]]A spinoff of the standard ''dance party'', the [[rave]] involves dancing to loud [[house music]] or [[techno]] music played by a [[DJ]] over a [[PA system]]. Rave parties can involve a few hundred people in a club, [[1000 (number)|thousand]]s of dancers in a large warehouse, or in huge rave parties, such as the [[Berlin]] [[Love Parade]] over a hundred thousand partygoers. One party organiser, 16 year old Corey Worthington has risen to notoriety in Melbourne, Australia for hosting an open house party at his family home when his parents were away. 500 partygoers showed up causing over $20,000 of damage in the neighbouring area.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23073096-5001021,00.html?from=mostpop|title=Corey's party - the real story|date=January 19, 2008|publisher=Daily Telegraph|accessdate=2008-04-17}}</ref> '''Outdoor parties''' include bush parties and beach parties. Bush parties are a social event held in a secluded area of forest (or "bush") in which friends gather to drink beer and liquor and talk. These parties are often held around a bonfire to provide a source of light and warmth. Bush parties are widely associated with underage drinking {{Fact|date=March 2007}}. A beach party is usually held on a sandy shoreline of a lake, river, or sea, and the gathering often centers around a [[bonfire]]. A '''"crush party"''' is a party in a sorority or fraternity where sisters or brothers get a certain number of invitations (according to their "crushes") to pass on to friends outside of their house to give to the "crushes", keeping the names of the inviters anonymous. There can be some sort of revealing at the party where the guests find out who has a crush on them. === Singles dance party and mixer === [[Image:ggyc-mixer-game.jpeg|thumb|300px|Singles party mixer game at Golden Gate Yacht Club in San Francisco.]] A singles dance party and mixer is a party organized for those who are not married and who are interesting in finding a partner for friendship and possibly dating and marriage. Usually there is a mixer game designed to make it easy for people to meet each other. For example, everyone may be given a card with an inspiring quotation on it. The game is to find someone of the opposite sex who has the same quotation written on his or her card. The couple with matching cards may then come to the front desk to get a small prize or a raffle ticket for a large prize. Later in the evening a drawing may be held for the larger prize. Various non-profit and for-profit organizations have formed to promote parties for singles. === Cast party=== A cast party is a celebration following the last performance of a theatrical event, such as an [[opera]], [[Musical theatre|musical]], or [[Play (theatre)|play]]. It may also take place following the end of shooting for a [[motion picture]], where it is also known as a wrap party, or following the final episode of a [[television]] series for the season. The party is often exclusive to the performers and crew members, with a smaller number of guests who did not themselves participate in the performance. Cast parties are traditional for almost all acted performances, including amateur events such as high school plays. ==== Pre-party ==== A "pre-party", also known as "pre-gaming", "pre-funking" or "pre-function", is an informal name for a party held prior to main events including: school dances, weddings, birthday parties, raves, or bar/bat mitzvahs. These are usually short and sometimes involve guests getting ready (putting on makeup, clothes, etc.) for the main event. After a pre-party, the guests usually leave at the same time to arrive at the main event together. Often, "pre-gaming" includes drinking alcohol before the party so one is "buzzed" before the actual party. ==== After party ==== An "after-party" is the informal name for a cast party, used in the professional music performance community. After parties are usually coordinated by the performers, and invitations are very selective. Only the performers, crew members and a small number of outside friends are invited. After-parties can also be held after school dances, [[wedding]]s, and other large parties. However, only a few select close friends of the host would be invited to the after party instead of all the people who were invited to the primary event. The term is now used to advertise a club's affiliation with an event, in the hopes that people will go to the club afterwards to continue partying after the primary event is over. In smaller shows, these "after-parties" hosted by clubs will also attract the performers who may be on tour and thus not have a place to host a party. === Traditional parties === ''Traditional parties'' such as the English [[tea party]] or the modern [[cocktail party]], are social gatherings within a fairly formal, or at least stylized, atmosphere. These parties often have roots in [[tradition]] which can be [[region]]al, cultural, or specific to a single [[family]]. Religious celebrations like that accompanying the [[Jewish]] [[Brit milah]] and the [[coming of age]] celebration of [[Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah|Bar and Bat Mitzvahs]] are usually accompanied by a traditional party. === Marriage-related parties === * [[Bachelor party]] (UK: Stag Night, Australia: Bucks Night) * [[Bachelorette party]] (UK: Hen Night) * [[Wedding reception]] * [[Divorce party]] === Holiday-related parties === [[Image:After the party.jpg|350px|right|thumb|After the party.]] '''Iran''' * [[Norouz]] '''Australia''' * [[Australia Day]] [[Barbecue|BBQ]]/parties '''United States''' * [[Independence Day (United States)|4th of July]] parties * [[Kwanzaa]] parties * [[Halloween]] parties * [[Super Bowl]] parties '''Canada''' * [[Canada Day]] parties '''Internationally celebrated parties''' * [[New Years]] Parties * [[Halloween]] parties * [[Cinco De Mayo]] * [[Candle Night]] * [[Festivus]] for the rest of us<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.festivusbook.com/ |title=Festivus - The website for the rest of us |accessdate=2008-05-29 |format= |work= }}</ref> '''Christian''' * [[Christmas]] parties * [[Easter]] gatherings * [[Mardi Gras]] Parties * [[Saint Patrick's Day]] parties '''Islam''' * [[Eid al-Fitr]] celebrations * [[Eid al-adha]] celebrations '''Jewish''' *[[Passover]] celebrations *[[Hanukah]] parties *[[Purim]] parties === Fund raising party === These parties are focused around the act of rising money for a person or institution, often used to raise money for [[political campaigns]], [[schools]], [[businesses]], and [[charities]]. These parties are usually formal in nature, consisting of a dinner followed by speeches or presentations extolling the cause for which funds are being raised. === Parties focused on a specific interest === * [[Costume party|Costume or fancy dress party]] : This is an offshoot of the classic [[masquerade ball]], where the [[costume]]s of the participants provide the theme of the event. * Game party : A game party is a social gathering where [[party game|games]] are played. * [[LAN party]] : A party that involves multi-player computer games using a [[Local Area Network]] * Pool party : An event where the main action of the party involves swimming, and any other entertainment which can involve a [[swimming pool]]. * [[Political houseparty]] : A party is hosted in a private home for the purpose of supporting a particular candidate, political party, or ballot measure, or to share information and opinions about an upcoming election. * [[Pyjama party]] : A party in which guests stay overnight at the venue, usually the hosts house. This type of party, also known as a [[slumber party]], is popular with teenagers and young people. *[[Sex party]] : A party where participants gather for primarily [[erotic]] purposes. * [[Toga party]] : a party in which all participants dress up in [[Toga|Greek-style robes]] with holly on their heads, and generally get very drunk. This theme was popularized by the movie [[Animal House]]. * [[Tupperware party]] : a party in which the central activity is to purchase product, in this case Tupperware, normally after it is demonstrated at the party. This name has come to stand for any type of party in which the hostess holds the gathering with the purpose of selling something. * [[TV party]] : A party where good [[friends]] come together to watch a favorite [[television]] show. * Tuesday morning party : A college tradition in which second semester seniors skip class and have a large gathering at 9am or earlier on a Tuesday, usually involving large quantities of beer. == See also == * [[Bash (disambiguation)|Bash]] * [[Celebration]] * [[Centenary]] * [[Convention (meeting)]] * [[Festival]] * [[Music festival]] * [[Event planning]] * [[List of party organizations]] * [[Naked party]] * [[Gate-crashing]] == Famous parties == * [[Burning Man]] * [[Full Moon Party]] * [[Lollapalooza]] * [[Nuit Blanche]] * [[Woodstock Festival]] == References == <references /> [[Category:Parties| ]] [[Category:Social events]] [[ay:Phista]] [[ca:Festa]] [[de:Party]] [[es:Fiesta]] [[fr:Boum (fête)]] [[id:Pesta]] [[is:Veisla]] [[he:מסיבה]] [[jv:Pésta]] [[la:Convivium]] [[nl:Feest]] [[no:Fest]] [[nn:Fest]] [[pl:Przyjęcie]] [[pt:Festa]] [[qu:Hatun p'unchaw]] [[ru:Вечеринка]] [[fi:Juhla]] [[sv:Fest]] [[yi:סעודה]] [[zh-yue:派對]] [[zh:派對]]