The Rules

There has been a little bit of a heated debate regarding children's birthday parties on a forum that I use, it fair made me chuckle to be honest.  I have to say that due to the young ages of my girlies when we moved here, I never actually had to host a party in the UK.  

Also, as I am an old mummy and of the era when a good party was a house full of kids, long polyester/nylon party dresses, last seasons sandals spray painted silver and a few good games of pass the parcel and musical bumps, the parties that have to be organised today would completely fry my brains.  Really the most complicated it got was a request to take your piece of cake home - and I honestly can't ever remember any other mummies staying unless it was my mum's BF to giver her moral support and glasses of wine.  Goodie bags had not been invented and you may have been lucky enough to take a balloon on a string home or a "prize" that had been won.

So, here are the rules for holding a Spanish children's birthday party, from about ages 4 to 11

• All children in the class are to be invited - this is not negotiable Sundry other friends and cousins etc are also to be included.
• Do not expect an RSVP - ever
• Any siblings whose names were not on the invitation may or may not also turn up
• Parents may or may not stay - if they stay food and drink is to be provided after the children have eaten
• No entertainment (paid) is to be provided - nor party games organised
• Food must consist of olives, crisps, assorted nuts, filled rolls, pizza and litres of fizzy pop and water
• The duration of the party must not be any less than 2 hours
• A goodie bag is to be provided to each and every child - including those that have only turned up to collect their sibling/cousin/nextdoor neighbour etc
• The times - start and finish - that are written on the invitation are only a rough guide - allow half an hour either way for the start and up to two hours at the finish for collection or vacation of the premises
• Parties must be held at home - unless you are lucky enough to live in a large town or city - when you can get stung by a soft play centre - bearing in mind that all other rules are still to be followed

• Cake is generally a home made concoction of biscuits sandwiched together with chocolate mousse/goo or a bought sponge cake that has had a sugary syrup poured over it and is decorated with very sweet uncooked meringue 

  

• It is unneccessaryto have a contact number for any parent
• A piñata is optional but preferred

So, there you have it ladies - just think yourselves lucky