Reading lists
Reading lists
Reading lists are paths through the guide for a specific situation. Essentials give you the minimum you need to get everything done and miss nothing; in-depth materials are for those who want to understand the rules, etiquette and facts in more detail. Within each list, the order runs from actions to concepts. If your situation is not here, start with the map of sections: there all materials are grouped by topic rather than occasion, and you can find what you need in a minute.
You don't need to read the whole guide before every party. Pick your situation and start with the first item on the list.
Only published materials from the guide go into reading lists. We do not include advertising, rankings of entertainers, cafes or shops, or links to specific services. If a material on a topic is not ready yet, we do not put a placeholder in its place; we simply keep the list shorter.
A first children's party
For parents hosting a group of children for the first time. The key things here are safety and the questions to ask the guests' parents in advance.
- How to host a birthday party at homeEssentials
A two-week plan with steps on the menu, allergies and safety.
- Answers about the partyEssentials
Balloons, food on the table, how far ahead to prepare.
- Safety in the reference sectionIn depth
Balloons, candles, the two-hour rule for perishable food, allergies.
A relative's milestone birthday
When a celebration brings together several generations of a family. It helps to consider older guests' habits and traditions and to prepare a few words of your own.
- Answers about greetings and traditionsEssentials
How to write a greeting in your own words, flowers, name days.
- A plan for a party at homeEssentials
Roles for the day and a budget in shares, especially useful for a large family table.
- Dates and traditionsIn depth
An odd number of flowers, gift superstitions, 29 February.
Celebrating at work
How to congratulate a colleague in a way that suits everyone, and where the law limits gifts.
- Answers about giftsEssentials
Gifts for a teacher or doctor, money in an envelope, superstitions.
- Etiquette and Article 575 of the Russian Civil CodeIn depth
Who may not receive gifts, other than ordinary ones worth no more than 3,000 roubles.
Related sections
- Practical articles
How to host a birthday party at home in two weeks, plus a catalogue of upcoming articles.
- Reference
Dates and traditions, etiquette, safety and curious facts, briefly and with sources.
- Archive
All materials by date and topic, plus a note on the domain's former content.
Sources
- Birthday 365 guide materials
Information is current as of the date it was prepared. Venues, services and sellers change their rules, so check prices, booking and refund terms with them directly, and check legal rules against the current version of the law.