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Dublin: 10 °C Monday 23 December, 2024

Minerals, tiny sausages and bouncy castles: surviving an Irish kid's birthday party

Don’t forget to make a wish.

OUR CHILDHOODS WERE some of the best times of our lives.

But even in those relentlessly fun youthful years, there were some particular highlights. The day when you were the undisputed centre of attention, when siblings could be beaten with impunity, and when you were showered with gifts like some sort of exotic prince.

That’s right. Childhood birthdays.

Mixing minerals

Fanta and Coke and 7Up in the one glass. And who on God’s green earth was going to stop you? A delicious, giddy high – not only wrought by the sugar, but the delightful wrongness of the mixed minerals. Taste aside, this was the best.

Very Happy Pig Very Happy Pig

Party games

Pin the tail on the donkey, pass the parcel, musical chairs… We’ve really never managed to top the sheer exhilaration of childhood party games in our adulthood.

Flickr / fotologic Flickr / fotologic / fotologic

Entertainment

For those of us lucky enough, there might have been a magician or a clown. Or even… A BLOODY BOUNCY CASTLE.

Flickr / robinbyles Flickr / robinbyles / robinbyles

The food

Cocktail sausages, more marshmallows than you could shake a stick at and – but of course – acres of Rice Krispie cakes, stretching yonder across the kitchen table as far as the young eye could see.

Flickr / Andrew Hayward Flickr / Andrew Hayward / Andrew Hayward

The PRESENTS!

No explanation necessary.

The Meta Picture The Meta Picture

Goodie bags

And not only was the entire day full of sweets and mineral concoctions, but you also got to bring back a little plastic fun bag of delights. Childhood parties: the gift that kept on giving.

PartyBits PartyBits

Balloons

Everything about balloons. Blowing them up, hanging them at the gate like a mark of the beast to indicate the party was on, balloon animals, balloon crowns – and finally, popping them in a friend’s startled face. Balloons, my friends. Balloons.

Angeliathisislife Angeliathisislife

Blowing out the candles

And making a wish, of course.

Flickr / Will Clayton Flickr / Will Clayton / Will Clayton

What was your favourite thing about birthday parties as a kid?

Read: Man calls police after lunch stolen from office fridge>

Read: 8 GIFs that prove that coffee is a wonderful, wonderful thing>

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