Birthday wishes from around the world
Whether it's a birthday for a special someone, or you just got picked to plan a party for a colleague, putting together a birthday bash for an adult can be a challenge. If you're looking for an idea with almost endless possibilities, from simple to extravagant, and lots of opportunity for originality and participation, why not consider an international theme? You might want to include some of the following elements in your "Birthday wishes from around the world" party:
¡Feliz cumpleaños! –From the invitations to the music to the decorations, be sure to include a variety of cultures and languages. Something as simple as a world map on the wall and posters with "Happy Birthday" in different languages go a long way to set the tone.
Bon appétit –Go into almost any local grocery store and you can find ingredients for international dishes that you didn’t even know existed. If you've got the time, go ahead and experiment. Maybe you'd rather rely on the experts and buy ready-made. Or better yet, invite your guests to bring along their favourite cuisine, preferably from their own cultural background.
Multiculturalism, eh? —If you live in Canada, you have friends, colleagues and in-laws with different ethnic roots than your own. Besides participation in the menu, you can benefit from the rich diversity among your guests by encouraging each one to wear the clothes, lend a CD or prepare a small game or activity that reflects his or her culture.
Asante Sana. Thank you very much —We all know that choosing a birthday gift can be a real dilemma. In keeping with the theme and the shared goodwill, why not use this opportunity to do some good for somebody who really needs it? You could use a charity gift catalogue (
WorldVision.ca/gifts) and go together to buy farm animals, school supplies or medicine for a family in the developing world. Your guest of honour will not be the only one saying "thank you."
