The long nights of June continue throughout July and backyards are still full of the smell of barbecued burgers, steaks and hot dogs. The month was reputedly named after the Roman Emperor, Julius Caesar so a toga / roman feast party is just as obvious as a French themed Bastille Day party. But if those ideas don’t appeal, why not consider some of the following themes?
Throw a Circus Themed Party to Celebrate Barnum’s Birthday
Phineas Taylor Barnum was born in Connecticut on July 5th 1810 so why not celebrate the birthday of the mastermind of the self styled “greatest show on earth” by throwing a circus themed party. Get guests to dress up as clowns, trapeze artists, ring masters etc. and, if the back garden is big enough, put up a small marquee to hold the party in and decorate it out as a circus tent.
Food ideas for such a party include the obligatory burgers, hot dogs and pop corn, chocolate fountains, candy floss and toffee apples. But a menu based on New England cuisine to celebrate the region of his birth would also go down well too. Choose traditional New England dishes such as Boston baked beans or clam chowder.
Celebrate the Feast Days of St Edith and St Swithin
St Swithin and St Edith of Polesworth share the same feast day of July 15th in some versions of the Catholic calendar. So why not throw a party on this day to commemorate them. St Swithin is associated with weather lore so invite guests to arrive in wet weather gear regardless of the actual weather on the day.
St Edith lived in Staffordshire and St Swithin in Hampshire so base the menu on foods traditional to those areas of the UK such as watercress soup (Alresford is famous for its watercress beds), barbecued spare ribs (the Tamworth Pig is a rare breed in the UK) or marmite and cheese sandwiches washed down with Bass beers which both originated from Burton on Trent.
Remember Tsar Nicholas II by Hosting a Russian Party
July 17th 1918 was the day that Car Nicholas II and his family were executed by the Bolsheviks. Remember them by holding a Russian themed party. Invite guests to dress up as Cossacks, Rasputin and Russian peasant girls. Choice of drink, clearly, has to include vodka either on its own or in white and black Russian cocktails.
The aristocracy of Russia were quite renowned for their meals with many courses in days gone by, but the replication of that type of extensive banquet is probably inappropriate for a large party. So, why not focus on traditional Russian dishes such as borscht, fish soup, bite sized blini with or without caviar, and beef stroganov.
Sources:
- The Times Digital Archive
- New England Times website
- The Leisure Hour magazine 1876
- Information Britain Website
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