Happy Birthday To You...

In the past couple of weeks I’ve been to two different birthday parties. They were both for teenage girls (cousins, in fact) and were great fun. They were something that the girls pretty much organized themselves – everyone (five guests including me at each party, to the second one I brought another PCV that was visiting me for the weekend) arrived in the late afternoon, we had tea (of course), cake and fruit (and “pizza” and salad at one), and then we had a dance party. And then we were each home by 7pm. This wasn’t a family celebration but a celebration with their friends, and they had a lot of fun. So as far as traditional Azerbaijani birthday parties, I’m not sure what qualifies – I think it would be different with the rest of their family present. These parties also weren’t exactly the same as each other – there was essentially a meal at one as well as candles on the cake that the birthday girl blew them out. And both birthday girls made their own cakes. (Check out the picture below – there’s glitter and everything!) Their friends brought presents for them, things like figurines, jewelry, and a jewelry box. So I guess my point is while there is a little difference between parties in America and Azerbaijan (although it’s been awhile since I was at a teenage girl’s birthday party in America) they’re still teenage girls who just want to spend time with their friends.