Christmas Tableware, Novelties and Party Supplies for Celebrating Christmas and Boxing Day

CHRISTMAS AND BOXING DAY CELEBRATIONS

Christmas Day is a much loved and favourite day for children and families alike. Traditionally the children wake up early, full of excitement and anticipation to check their Christmas stockings to find out what presents have been left by Father Christmas.

The reason behind the giving of gifts at Christmas was thought to have been related to the Three Wise Men bringing gifts (the Magi), to Jesus, to commemorate his birth.

The tradition for many Christians on Christmas Day is to go to Church to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Many families sit down for Christmas dinner, pull crackers and wear paper tissue hats. This is followed at 3pm by the Queens Speech. The Queens message is broadcasted on radio and television across the nation on Christmas Day. Queen Elizabeth broadcasted her first speech in 1957, but the tradition started by George V in 1932.

Boxing Day is celebrated on the 26 December, which is also, St Stephens Day. Boxing Day is the day to open the Christmas Box and share the contents with the poor. The Christmas Box originally made of wood or clay had gifts placed in them.

The tradition of giving gifts still continues today, with people giving gifts or money to tradesmen, milkmen, postmen, paper boys and many more people. Schools also send gifts in boxes to poorer countries.

To help you celebrate this magical and festive season, we have a wide selection of Christmas tableware and Christmas novelties brilliant for Christmas or Boxing Day. Christmas hats and head boppers are ideal for Christmas bazaars and fetes. A plush santa sack with fur trim is excellent for putting gifts under the Tree or using as a prop.

Christmas is a time for celebrating and at Party Tracker we have a varied and wide selection of fancy dress costumes, tableware, novelties and accessories for Christmas.
Contact us today, our party advisors are happy to help you choose everything you need for celebrating the festive season.

Scotland Winter Festivale - Burns Nights

SCOTLAND'S   WINTER   FESTIVAL

BURNS NIGHT - JANUARY 27TH 2012

Burns night is the celebration of Scotland's famous poet Robert Burns. This has been celebrated for over 200 years. It originally started by a few of  his close friends, after his death in 1796, to commemorate his death.  The tradition of starting with a PIPER and HAGGIS, has remained unchanged over the years.

Robert Burns who received no formal education was the son of a farmer and he was born at Alloway, near Ayr, Scotland. Reared on a diet of austerity and Calvinistic rectitude, He initially trained as a flax dresser, taking over the family farm with his brother on his father's death.

Following a number of passionate love affairs, he finally married Jean Armstrong who had borne him a child several years earlier and farmed near Dumfries, apparently unsuccessfully as he had to work as an excise officer to supplement his income. In spite of having two jobs, he composed numerous songs and poems. 

In Scotland, he is a cult figure as a rustic poet and the pride of his nation with his own celebratory night. His output during his short and hectic life was truly prolific and his works include many classic songs and poems which have become household names. 

One of the most famous poems has been adapted into a tradional song, this is sung throughout the whole of Britain on the stroke of midnight, to bring in the New Year.

AULD LANG SYNE

Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And auld lang syne?

CHORUS:

 For auld lang syne, my dear, For auld lang syne, We'll tak a cup of kindness yet, For auld lang syne! And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp, And surely I'll be mine, And we'll tak a cup o kindness yet, For auld lang syne! We twa hae run about the braes, And pou'd the gowans fine, But we've wander'd monie a weary fit, Sin auld lang syne.
We twa hae paidl'd in the burn Frae morning sun till dine, But seas between us braid hae roar'd Sin auld lang syne. And there's a hand my trusty fiere, And gie's a hand o thine, And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught, For auld lang syne Meanings auld lang syne - times gone by be - pay for braes - hills braid - broad burn - stream dine - dinner time fiere - friend fit - foot gowans - daisies guid-willie waught - goodwill drink monie - many morning sun - noon paidl't - paddled pint-stowp - pint tankard pou'd - pulled twa - two.

At Party Tracker we have a wide and varied selection of  fancy dress costumes and accessories from Scotland paper bunting, a Tam O Shanter hat and a st Andrews wig.  We have a wealth of knowledge and experience within the party industry, visit our website for all of your needs for a fantastic Burns Night.

Scottish Theme Party Supplies for St Andrews Day

ST ANDREWS DAY CELEBRATIONS - 30TH NOVEMBER

On the 30th November, Scots all around the world celebrate St Andrews Day, which is their national day.

The national flag of Scotland is the cross of St Andrews.  This is said to be one of the oldest national flags of any country, dating back to the 12th Century.  This is known as the Saltire.

St Andrew was Jesus's first disciple and is the patron Saint of Scotland, Greece and Russia.  He was one the twelve apostle (of Jesus) and the brother of Simon Peter, and he was a fisherman by trade who lived in Galilee.

St Andrew is believed to have died on a diagonally transversed cross  The cross that St Andrew was crucified on has been adopted as the national flag of Scotland, the blue stands for the sky.

St Andrew's Day is often a celebration of general Scottishness with traditional food, music (especially bagpipes) and dancing.

On November 30th the world celebrates St Andrew’s Day, Scotland’s national day. There will be parties galore in Scotland and events happening around the world. Join the celebrations with hosting your own party and decorate the walls and ceilings with scotland bunting and guests can join in the festivities by wearing a plastic scotland bowler hat or a st andrews pop wig.

Let us take the stress out of you day and order online from the warmth and comfort of your home/office and let us brave the wet and cold and deliver to your door in time for St Andrew's Day.

Christmas Nativity Play Ideas and Nativity Costumes for Children

C H R I S T M A S  N A T I V I T Y  P L A Y S

It is the season that people love, Christmas, with family get together and entertaining, parties, and at the same time the much looked forward to but also on the other hand dreaded School Christmas Nativity Play.

The Nativity Plays are a much loved and traditional part of Christmas in primary school's across the UK for parents and local people associated with the school to enjoy.

The traditional Nativity Play recreates the scene of Jesus 'Birth' in the stables, and tells of how Mary and Joseph were visited by the The Angels, The Shepherds and the Three Wise Men. Also, in the past live animals were used, ox's and donkeys and various other farm animals, but these days the children dress up as Mary and Joseph, The Angels, The Shepherds and the Three Wise Men. The children also dress up as animals or use animal props for their nativity plays.

Historically, the first nativity play was not performed by children, but by monks in a cave in Italy. St Francis of Assisi performed the first nativity play in 1223 to remind people that Jesus was born to a poor family like them and not a rich family.

St Francis, played all the parts of the play himself using wooden figures, but after a couple of years other people played the parts of the characters and songs where sung, which they now call carols.

In Malta and Italy the crib is the most important decoration of Christmas. The City of Napels in Italy have decorated houses and churches with cribs since the 1020's. long before St Francis performed his first nativity play.

Napels is home to the worlds largest nativity crib scene. It is in the 'Museo Nazionale di S. Martino' and has 162 people, 80 animals, angels, and 450 small objects.

At Party Tracker we have a wide and varied selection of festive fancy dress costumes and accessories. This is the season that is busy from decorating the house, Christmas shopping, and attending all the Christmas events, and plays. To take the stress out of sewing or searching the shops with all the crowds of people in the cold, we already have a boys shepherd costume, a childs donkey costume, a girls angel costume and many more kids nativity costumes and accessories in stock, that are ideal for any Christmas Nativity Play.

Fireworks Bonfire Night Ideas for Saturday 5 November 2011

F I R E W O R K S  N I G H T

5 T H   N O V E M B E R

The bonfires are burning and blazing away, the effigy of Guy Fawkes on top disappearing before our eyes to a heap of dust.

Adults and children wrapped up in their winter coats, all cosy with their hats and gloves.

Sausages and burgers sizzling away, alongside with hot jacket potatoes, real winter comfort food. Marshmallows on sticks being toasted, just right for that cold night.

Sparklers that give off multi colours, WHIZZ, BANG and POP go the fireworks into the sky above. At Party Tracker whatever way you may be celebrating Guy Fawkes on Saturday 5th November 2011, we have 10" large sparklers ideal for any party, Glow in the Dark novelties to help you see in the dark, assorted glow necklaces and assorted glow bracelets for wearing during the fireworks show.
Visit our online party store today which is bursting with ideas to celebrate your Fireworks party with a BANG!!!

New Footloose Movie in UK Cinemas

FOOTLOOSE MOVIE OUT

It is that time when you need to dust out your old 80's clothes, remember the leg warmers and footloose tights.

There is going to be a remake of the original 1984 film, Footloose. This musical directed by Craig Brewer, and stars Kenny Wormald, Dennis Quaid, Andie MacDowell, and Julianne Hough is scheduled to be at the movies later this month.

Writer/Director Craig Brewer ("Hustle & Flow"," Black Snake Moan",) does a new take on the 1984 classic film. In a small Southern Town of Bomont, due to five teenagers tragically being killed on a night and Bomont's local councilman and the Reverend Shaw Moore prohibits loud music and dancing. This is the story when newcomer star Kenny Wormald's character, challenges the ban and falls in love with the ministers daughter Ariel (Julianne Hough).

So for your Footloose fancy dress party, put on your party wigs, dust off your dancing shoes, and head back to the 80's era. We have a variety of wigs and many dance accessories to get your 80's party into the swing.

Enjoy the New Footloose Movie in your local cinema.

Celebrate Guy Fawkes Fireworks Night on 5th November

FIREWORKS NIGHT NOVEMBER 5TH 2011

Guy Fawkes Night also known as Guy Fawkes Day and Bonfire Night is an annual event observed on the 5th November every year, primary in Great Britain.
In history itself on the 5th November, 1605, Guy Fawkes a member of the Gunpowder Plot, was caught guarding explosives placed beneath the House of Lords and was consequently arrested. Celebrating the fact that King James I had survived the attempt on his life, people lit bonfires around London, and months later the introduction of the Observation of the 5th November was enforced as an annual day of thanksgiving for the failure of the plots.

Bonfire Night these days tend to be large extravagant events and on November 5th, throughout Britain we commemorate the capture of Guy Fawkes with Bonfires and Fireworks, Sparklers and burning a effigy of Guy Fawkes.

If you are planning on going to an organised firework event, or having a bonfire party at home this year, we have a full range of party essentials, tableware and glow in the dark novelties available for arranging an awesome event.

Halloween Decorations and Halloween Trick or Treating Ideas for 31 October

HALLOWEEN  DECORATIONS

The nights are drawing in, the leaves are falling off the trees, Autumn is upon us and its that time of year when we all get excited about Halloween.
This is the time of year that children absolutely love, the dressing up, attending parties and trick or treating. At Party Tracker we have updated our website with an exclusive online shop purely for Halloween. We have a large range of decorations to decorate venues, schools, halls, or your home. If you are going Trick or Treating with the kids, our new Halloween range includes a Halloween skeleton trick or treat bag and a Halloween flameless flickering candle which are ideal for going out on the evening of Halloween.
We also have a full range of new Halloween fancy dress and accessories for dressing up and celebrating on 31 October.

Actress and Model Elizabeth Hurley Engagement to Ex Cricketer Shane Warne

LIZ HURLEY'S ENGAGEMENT TO SHANE WARNE

Elizabeth Hurley was born in Basingstoke, Hampshire, the daughter of Angela May and Roy Leonard Hurley. Her father was a Major in the British Army and her mother a teacher. She also, has an older sister and younger brother.

Liz, started her career as an actress in the late 1980's and a model in 1995. During the 2000's, she worked as a reality TV presenter.

Elizabeth landed her first modelling job at the age of 29 for the Estée Launder House in 1995. In April 2005, she launched her own beach line, which was launched in Harrods.

In 1987 she met and started dating actor Hugh Grant, but after 13 years together they anemically split, where she went on to have a brief relationship with Steve Bing and went on to give birth to her son Damien. In 2002 she met and started dating textile heir Arun Nayar and they got married in 2007, but they separated in 2010, which later led onto divorced.

She has been dating ex Australian cricketer Shane Warne for the last 10 months and he has just proposed marriage to her over dinner.
We have a vast and varied selection of party supplies ideal for celebrating engagement party's, including engagement confetti, balloons and tableware to suit almost any colour theme.

Halloween Ideas for 31 October 2011

H A L L O W E E N

Halloween is celebrated on the 31st October, which includes activities such as trick-or-treating, attending fancy dress costume parties, carving pumpkins, apple bobbing, telling scary stories and watching horror films.

The word Halloween is derived from the word "All Hallows Eve" which occurred on the 31 October, the end of summer in Northwestern Europe. "All Saints Day", or "All Hallows Day", was the next day, November 1st. Therefore, Halloween is the eve of "All Saints Day"

"Apparently" the origins of Halloween can be traced back to Scotland and Ireland, around the time of Christ. The Celts celebrated the end of Summer, which was a time when the animals would be put in barns for the Winter and a time of the Harvest Crops. The change of season was celebrated with a festival called Samhain, pronounced, 'Sow-ane', and means end of Summer.

There has been much superstition surrounding this time, including the belief in fairies and the spirits of the dead wonder around looking for bodies to inhibit. Since the living did not want to be possessed by spirits, they dressed up in costumes and paraded the streets to frighten and confuse the spirits back to where they come from.

In today's era, the dressing up in costumes has been much associated with trick or treating in outfits such as: the classic vampire costume, wicked witch costume and ghosty costume, just to name a few.
You will find that there tends to be a wide age group, from children to adults who like dressing up and getting into the spirit of this Halloween occasion.

Happy Halloween!