Birthday parties, I can understand. ...First Communion, then I don't get it...parents went all out on their children's First Communion dresses....hire limos...isn't that missing the whole point of a First Communion?
Yes. And believe it or not, the Quinceanera is also supposed to be a religious ceremony, and while there is still a mass, that religious aspect has almost universally taken a back seat to the huge party, one that many families go into debt to throw.
I don't really like the trend with birthday parties either. It's really worse than the Communion/Confirmation/Quinceanera, since birthdays come every year, and each year there will be expectations that the party will be more extravagant than the last!
It is perfectly possible to have fabulous parties to celebrate all of these events without running up huge credit card bills, taking out loans, or spending money that could be put aside for the child's education, even a wedding or down payment for a first home, depending on the family's means.
In fact, the best bashes I have been to were catered and decorated and "event planned" by extended family and close friends, and that is who the whole thing is supposed to be for, anyway.
It's about a milestone, a rite of passage in the life of a young person, and the festivities are for that young person and the people who love them, not about making a statement directed to the community at large that the family has a bigger bank balance - or a higher limit on the VISA card - than the family down the street whose party was last week.
End of rant, though I could go on...
). How much of a treat is it if kids are getting lavish events every year?
