If a child is having a party, he/she sends invitations to their friends and relatives inviting them to their party. 
         The party usually starts in the early afternoon. Balloons or ribbons are tied to the door, so the children know which house the party is in.

  Sometimes the child’s parents and friends organise a surprise party.

  When the children come in, they would hand the birthday child the presents. The presents are wrapped in pretty wrapping paper and ribbons. The presents might be toys, clothes, money, jewellery, CD’s and books. It depends what age the child is.

        We get lovely food and drink at the party like: chips, sausages, pizza, sweets, crisps, buns and popcorn. We also have a decorated birthday cake 
With sweets and icing on it and a series of candles depending on what age
he or she is. You blow out the candles and make a wish.

  After the food, they play games and listen to music. The games might be:
“Pass the Parcel”, “Musical Chairs” and “Pin the Tail on the Donkey.”
Sometimes they play outside.

  We also take pictures or record the occasion on a camcorder.

  Sometimes we have a party in a restaurant or celebrate the occasion 
by going to the cinema or having a sleep-over.

         Birthday Celebrations St. Munchin's Girls' School, Ballynanty, Limerick, Ireland. On my ninth birthday when I woke up I was very happy. I was so happy because all my brothers and sisters sang "Happy Birthday" to me. I put on a red face and smiled as proud as I could because I was 9 years old. I felt I was the oldest in my class.

         On the way down to school I saw my best friend, Lisa. She said, "Happy
Birthday Antoinette," and she gave me a very creative card. I loved it. Then
I met my other best friend Rachel. She too gave me a beautiful card and I
loved it as well. When I got into the classroom everybody sang "Happy
Birthday" and my headmaster called me up to the top of the class. He held my
hand and said, "Make a wish," and while I did, he turned me around nine
times. I didn't tell anyone what I wished for. It never came true but some
day it might.

          After school I went to the Homework Classes. There they gave me a present and that was nice. My mam, Breeda, gave me the best present that anyone could give. That was a family and friends and I love her for that.

Birthday Celebrations

       On my fifth birthday, in 1995, my mother and father woke me up to wish me a happy birthday. I was very excited about my birthday because I was having a
birthday party. All my aunts, uncles, friends and cousins were coming to my
birthday party. When I got to school my principal wished me a "Happy Birthday". All my friends did too. I did art that day at school. I had a great day at school.

         When I got home my party was all set up. There was a big huge cake on the table. It had five candles on it and it said "Happy Birthday Dawn". There
was a banner saying "Happy Birthday Dawn" and there were balloons all over
the kitchen. About 10 minutes later all my friends, uncles, aunts and
cousins came to my party. My friends came with their parents. Everybody got
me a present. My mother and father got me a bike. That was the best birthday
I ever had.
 

Birthday Celebrations - My twelfth Birthday

        My 12th Birthday was on a Saturday, the 3rd of February 1999. When I woke up, I was all excited. My friends came knocking on my door with cards and
presents for me. I called them in to wait while I had my breakfast.

         Then we all went into town. We went into the pictures to see "The Bone
Collector". When that film was over we went down to McDonald's for something
to eat. After that we went to get the bus home. It was about 6.00pm when I
arrived home.

        There was a big cake, sweets, lemonade and cocktail sausages. The cake was very big with my name on it. There were 12 candles on the cake and more of
my friends were there. My friend Georgina lit the candles and I blew them
out. I got lots of presents. I got a make up set, and a perfume set, I got a
chain, a pair of earrings, a ring and lots of other stuff like tops.

       We put on the radio. We played Britney Spears. My dad came back with 6
stroke lights. They are lights that are in discos. They flash on and off. So
we turned the lights on and we all started dancing. Then it was very late.
At about 11.30pm we all slept down stairs - on the floor and on the chairs.
It was called a slumber party. That's when all your friends sleep at your
party. I thanked my mother so much for all her hard work. I really enjoyed
the party.
Avril