Can you remember the birthday party you enjoyed the most and least when you were a child and why?

What sad stories of party-less birthdays. I think we had one for every birthday and were often invited to friends' and classmates' parties.

The big thing was the party dress. We had to dress up for these parties.

I remember several I went to - my favourite was a Halloween party at a friend's house. Her mother was Scottish and she had us ducking for apples, and doing all sorts of traditional games. We had names pinned to our backs and walked round the room and had to ask questions to which we were only allowed to answer Yes or No. Most of the others were older than me and were friends of my friend's older sister.

I remember being interrogated by one girl who had "Walter Scott" pinned to her back. I wasn't sure who that was, and got him confused with Scott of the Antarctic. I wasn't embarrassed because it was only years later that I realised my confusion.

At one party when I was about 6 or 7 I won the pass-the-parcel. The girl's mother had wrapped some sweets in a Jelly packet, as they fit exactly. I was a bit disappointed at "winning" a packet of Jelly, but I remember trying to be polite and saying I liked raw jelly cubes. The mother smiled and told me to look in the packet! We also played hunt the thimble and Murder in the Dark. This all took place in their front room, where, although we were always in each others' houses, we had never before set foot!

My parents once booked the village hall for a huge party for my sister and me. (My birthday is in November and hers in January) There must have been about 30 excited little girls running around. My parents put loads of preparation into decorating the hall and organising games. My mother made all the sandwiches and cakes.

For one game two girls sat opposite each other on chairs. One was blindfolded and had to feed the other dry Cornflakes. Of course, we thought this was all hilarious. But one of the girls, when she got up, had wet the chair. They were green with canvas seats. I don't think anyone said anything, but I expect my mother took care of her. She was like that.

I can't think of a "least favourite", we were all so innocent and easily amused.

I. Well remember going to one birthday party where we had salad. There were no tomatoes but a bowl of tinned plum tomatoes on the table instead. My friends Mum gave me some. I did manage to eat a little but have remembered them all my life.

The war,WW11, had just ended and it was my birthday and my mother had allowed me to invite my 'bestest' friends, as I called them, to a birthday tea. How she managed to give us such a spread while food was rationed I will never know.

Never had one and never went to one!

Hetty58

I had a recent chat with my (nine year old) granddaughter about the party rituals of my childhood:

A party at the birthday boy/girl's home
Taking a little gift
Simple games, like 'pass the parcel'
Lovely food - tiny sandwiches, crisps, jelly and ice cream
Singing 'Happy Birthday' before the candles were blown out
A little piece of cake to take home

Perfect, so why did it all get so complicated?

According to younger mums I know the kids get bored more easily nowadays and also grow out of party games at a much younger age.
I've seen threads on mumsnet where conjurors and magician were dismissed as too childish for 7 and 8 year old 'oh no my ds would find that a bit babyish'.

I suppose they have so many sophisticated toys and exciting outings nowadays that it's harder to make a party feel special

One year my mum booked the village hall, usual party food and traditional games . My sister and I are twins so of course we always shared our parties. My friends and hers were different , we were allowed 6 friends each ! Thinking about our birthday brings back such happy memories. We always shared a cake but I do remember thinking how lovely it would be to have a cake just for me ! I told my self that if I ever had twins I would ensure they had a cake each!!!! That didn’t happen to either of us. I am so grateful and fortunate to have so many happy childhood memories.

My 6 th birthday sticks in my mind . Middle of July , we set off with 6 friends for a picnic in the park. Of course , the weather promptly changed and the rain fell heavily. Back home we went where Mum laid out blankets in the lounge and we picnicked there. It seemed so wonderful
in 1960.

Worst was my FILs 60 th birthday. We had drivento in laws home with our 3 small DDs as a surprise as we were under the impression that there was nothing arranged. When we arrive the garden was full of friends ( including some with children) having a buffet and drinks ! We were not amused and it was difficult not to make it a big issue as we felt very hurt.

I never had a birthday party and now that I think about it I have absolutely no memories of any birthdays, mine or those of my siblings. I guess my parents weren’t big on birthdays.

I enjoyed organising parties and outings for my own children’s birthdays though.

I didn’t like birthday parties either, I was painfully shy, hated the party games and was always glad when they were over. I didn’t have many parties myself but I do remember one when I had an ice cream cake and was completely taken aback by it, I remember going to school and telling my teacher about it. Christmas parties were even worse for me, Dad was a policeman and all the children were expected to attend the Christmas party so the games were horrendous for me, I would deliberately try to be out first when it was musical chairs or statues. We had to wait for Father Christmas to call our name and go up to receive a present in front of everybody, just awful for me.

The only one I remember is when our Labrador puppy scoffed all the home-cooked chocolate logs. Great!

I had a recent chat with my (nine year old) granddaughter about the party rituals of my childhood:

A party at the birthday boy/girl's home
Taking a little gift
Simple games, like 'pass the parcel'
Lovely food - tiny sandwiches, crisps, jelly and ice cream
Singing 'Happy Birthday' before the candles were blown out
A little piece of cake to take home

Perfect, so why did it all get so complicated?

typo... alone and unaccompanied...

I actually remember my 1st birthday. When I say remember, I was sitting at the table and there were a few others sitting opposite. Who they were I've no idea but I was aware it was my party. One I went to, was a girl from school and we had liquid jelly which didn't impress me much.

I never did like parties. And I remember one in particular, when I was about 10 or 11 years old. For some reason I was asked by her parents to sing. Perhaps because I was in the choir at school, I don't know. I have a vivid memory of standing there singing "The Bells of St.Mary's" alone and unaccompanied, and feeling absolutely dreadful. I just wanted to die.
I refused to go to that girl's house ever again.

"Not a party animal" would be a fair description, although I like a drink!

Best was my 21st. Still living at home, so my two best friends from schooldays attended, one with his fiancée. Mum pushed the boat out, and we had a very nice sit-down meal w fillet steak and champagne.

Worst was my 24th. Still at home, but neither of those friends was available, or even in the UK. But an ex and a few others came round and I suppose it was a bit jolly. My musical taste is far from mainstream, though, so I resented having to listen to the Beach Boys....

And just when you think you've passed those hurdles, my 40th. Married for 14 years, now-late first wife insisted she was going to arrange something. It was a Saturday, and I was suicidal - what sort of ordeal was I to endure? And why? In the event it was ok - but the negative anticipation of that evening will never leave me.

I loathed going to or having my own birthday parties as I was such an anxious, self-conscious child.

The absolute worst one was aged around 9, I was invited to a fancy dress party by a girl in my class. The thought of it horrified me but my mum and sisters duly dressed me up as Alice in Wonderland.

When I arrived at the party I was the only one who had dressed up, everyone else had their normal clothes on. I hated every minute of it and wanted to disappear, like Alice, down a rabbit hole. Still hurts today when I think back to it and remember the humiliation.

Another who cannot remember having a birthday party or going to one. I have loved arranging birthday treats for my children.

We didn’t have any when I was growing up but my children did. One particular time I feel really bad about was when I had been handed the invitation by the mother. My 6 year old DD was thrilled to go to. Present in her hand I rang the door bell and the smiling birthday girl opened the door. To my horror I heard DD say ‘You! You are the wrong Chrystal, I’m not coming to your party’ and with that she refused to join the party and went home. (There were two Chrystal’s in the class).

Never had a birthday party as such, perhaps a friend around for tea. Simple but happy with it. Realistic expectations I suppose.

I only had one birthday party, when I was 6. There was heavy snow, can remember one girl being carried into the house by her dad so as not to spoil her party shoes. My mum, who was never very glam, bless her, wore some mushroom coloured ‘peep toe and heel less’ shoes which my sister and I were amazed to see.

I still have some of the presents I received, books and some Wimsey animals.

Mum never suggested another party.

I was always glad when my own children outgrew parties, I was not a natural party host.

Preferred taking them out for an outing or similar treat.

I never had a birthday party I didn’t even get a card some years the sixties were hard times for us. I most certainly made up for it with my children I spoilt them and still do.

I never had a birthday party and don’t remember ever going to one. It’s something I have never really thought about til now, but now it’s reminding me of sad times. I am so glad my dc and gc have had happier childhoods.

I only ever went to one birthday party as a child, I was five and spilled some orange juice on the tablecloth; I was mortified, but the hostess was very kind.

I never had a cake or a party until my 21st when a small group of friends organised both for me. There were only six of us, but it was a huge surprise and I remember being overwhelmed.

Never had one. My mum, bless her, actually forgot my birthday one year.

The one I remember best was where we kids got called into a darkened room one by one where the birthday girl's parents put us in a blanket and tossed us up and down. I think we were supposed to be in a ship during a storm. I found it thrilling although I can't remember what the game was. The worst party was when I hired a room in the village hall for my daughter's 6th birthday so she could invite the whole class. The hall had its own outdoor playground with slide, swings, roundabout etc and I thought the guests would spend the entire time, other than when they were eating, in the playground. No such luck. It took them ten minutes to devour the food, they spent ten minutes in the playground and the next hour telling me they were bored. Never again.