When is it a party?

[Claire]

My husband tells everyone I've thrown a party when I've just had a couple of friends over .... This Friday I made Indian food for six of us, and it was a huge hit. My question for all of you is when do you call it a party? Hubby definitely called "tiffin" a party, I'd have just said is was freinds getting togehter. What is your definition??

 

[buckytom]

i think 2 to 3 other couples would be a small get together, as couples. but any more does start to represent a party, imo.

'bugs answer is "when she gets there..."

 

[mudbug]

heh, heh, heh - bucky, you are such a mind reader.

I'd say it depends....

-when our friends B & K come over, it's always a party with just the four of us. (In fact, that's how our annual New Year's Day bash got launched.)

-definitely not a party when you invite the neighbors to listen to a stranger tell about Tupperware, Pampered Chef, Southern Living, etc. - even tho these gatherings are called parties

-when 2 or 3 couples go to buckytom and dw's for dinner, they are likely to have a lovely 3- to 4-course meal and discourse on the events of the day. When bt puts the lampshade on his head and starts singing auld Irish ballads, then it turns into a party.

 

[BigDog]

Well, according to Mindy McCready (sp?) t'aint a party 'til the girls arrive . . . . .

 

[texasgirl]

Well, according to Mindy McCready (sp?) t'aint a party 'til the girls arrive . . . . .

If I have a party, it consist of about 10 or more people, a cookout, beer, liquor and music
Don't know much about "Formal" stuff though.

 

[Claire]

Mudbug, thank you for agreeing that it isn't a party when someone (I hate to say it, but usually a woman) invites you over to sell you stuff. It is my pet peeve. I wouldn't mind going to a so-called party to sell me ##** if they'd have at least once in the time they've known me invited me over for a cup of tea, at least. But I have them over for meals, cocktails, brunch, etc, and some of them think it is the same thing when they invite me over to sell me cr-p. I'd rather be invited over for a glass of kool-aid than for "wine, cheese, and jewelry" (the latest). Or plastic wear, or gourmet cookwear. Being sold something is not entertainment.

 

[Ishbel]

I think 10 or more turns it into more of a party.

A group of girlfriends come round to my home for a gossip and afternoon tea (they hate to bake or cook, I love it, so it's my home every time nowadays!) - the number is fluid, depending on availability - anything from 4 - 10... It starts with tea, cakes, crumpets etc - and then miraculously seems to morph into a couple of 'drinks' after the sun goes over the yard-arm (a guess in Scotland for nearly 5 months of the year!) We call ourselves the Coven - and death and sickness are two of the only legitimate excuses for not turning up - because the threat is that if you don't.... YOU'LL be one of the items of gossip!

I have only ONCE attended any of those franchise parties - it was as a favour to my nextdoor neighbour when she moved into the road and wanted to make 'friends'... NEVER AGAIN. If I want plastic ware, I'll go to a store, I don't like to feel pressured to buy things like that...

 

[pdswife]

Parties...I think.. it's not the number of people but the activities.

 

[Michael in FtW]

Well - "a" party, as defined in the dictionary in this context, is just a social gathering - no specific (minimum or maximum) number of persons required.

I must admit that back in the '70's when I lived on a river and had a canoe, I could have a nice party of one.

 

[grumblebee]

If there is music and "beverages" involved (of the sparkling variety... hehe) then it's a party, IMO.

 

[licia]

One of my sisters would say, when she arrives, its a party!

 

[Claire]

Michael I guess defines it; I suppose it is a party. I have one core group of about 6 who get together at least monthly. It is usually for brunch, lots of champagne involved and hubby makes a mean bloody mary. Then I have freinds who visit from Virginia (they own a vacation cabin here), and we have them over, and while I'm fixing a big meal, why not inivite a few others over? Then I have friends I read to, and periodically (every couple of months) other freinds join us and we throw a party there (one freind is completely house-bound). I've never considered these to be parties. The way I grew up, it was just normal weekend fare. Twice a year I throw what I consider to be a party -- about 40 people. Now that's a party. I guess I'll have to start calling the smaller get-togethers parties as well.