#127 A party for all occasions

a culture shock rant

Hello friend,

Italians like to celebrate everything. There is always a birthday party, a baptism, a confirmation, a high school diploma, an 18th birthday, a wedding, a 50th birthday, a 25th wedding anniversary, or something to be celebrated.

Quite frankly, I'm so over it. There's always something to buy a present for. It's tiring to go from one party to the next for little reason other than simply to have a party.

I am not big on birthday parties. I never celebrate my birthday, yet I'm constantly invited to parties. They even have a massive party for their first birthday these days, and it's ridiculous. Can you imagine if you had an enormous bash for your child's first birthday? How the hell is that going to end? Is the wedding going to be held at the Taj Mahal or something? 

Is everyone convinced they are a Kardashian these days, or is this a kind of collective insanity fed by unrealistic social media expectations? I get it; you love your kids, and they are a blessing. I'm sure they are lovely, but what happened to modesty? Geeze, it looks like it goes out the window.

I'll tell you what Italians can organise a good party. It's all about the outfit, the restaurant, the food, the view, the location, the guest list and the presents.

I'm not sure if you've ever been to a wedding in Italy, but usually, it's a very formal affair, strictly black tie, so you need to go out and buy yourself a cocktail dress or a suit. 

And then after the ceremony at the church, you head straight to the restaurant where you sit down at your table, and you start to eat, then you eat some more, then you get full, and you eat some more and some more still. 

An Italian wedding is akin to marathon eating. You will be stuffed with so much food. You will feel like vomiting. I remember my first-ever wedding here; I was wearing a corset top and skirt, and my top split open after my protruding food-swollen stomach became too much for it to bear.

Don't get me wrong. It's a beautiful experience. The food is delicious, but it's too much. I don't mind a good party, but like most things, if it's too much, it's too much. I think life is about balance, and when something is too over the top and happens too often, it just becomes flashy and over the top and is overwhelming.

Perhaps it's my middle-aged mentality that's getting the best of me. Honestly, sometimes I can't be bothered with the novelty of going out, buying a nice new elegant outfit, and making an appointment at the hairdresser, working out how to do my full make-up without taking too much time, while hunting down the perfect gift. It's all so tiring.