VALENTINE’S DAY is an ideal day for a party, and if mother says “yes,”
why, send out your invitations right away. Use heart-shaped cards, and
seal the envelopes with tiny “heart” seals. Of course your preparations
for the party will depend on how much money you have to spend, but here
are some ideas that have been tried, and are a great deal of fun. When
you are sure of the number of guests, buy heart-shaped boxes, large red
cardboard hearts, gifts, and make small red bags, enough for each child
to have one. Borrow mother’s scissors, a jar of paste, and hunt up any
old magazines or catalogues that may be in the house. Place a gift in
each “heart” box, wrap each box up neatly, and tie with scarlet ribbon.
A few vases of scarlet carnations, and strings of hearts looped about,
will give the room a very festive air. Hide the candy hearts around
the room, where they will not be found too easily. If you wear a red
sash and hair ribbons with your white dress, you will look like a real
little Valentine girl, all ready to receive your guests.
The first “number on the program” may be a Heart Hunt, so give each
child a red bag in which to collect the hearts which he finds. Next
comes a heart auction, and mother can be auctioneer and sell at auction
the heart-shaped boxes. The “customers” bid with candy hearts instead
of money, and nobody can make more than one purchase.
Then St. Valentine’s candle (which is a red candle in a candlestick)
may be lit, and placed on a table. Each child, in turn, must be
blindfolded and stand ten paces away from the candle. He turns around
three times, takes ten steps toward the candle, as he supposes, and
then tries to blow it out. The one who is successful in this, will be
very fortunate through the coming year.
Next distribute the pasteboard hearts, and let each guest write his
or her name on them. Now pass to the right-hand neighbor, who must
decorate the heart with pictures cut from catalogues or magazines. For
instance, Dorothy’s heart will be ornamented with pictures of dogs,
birds, hair ribbons and candy, for these are Dorothy’s favorites.
Jack’s heart will be decorated with pictures of automobiles, motor
boats, guns, and fishing tackle. Each heart is supposed to show just
what the owner is fond of.
Then supper can be served, and since it is Valentine’s Day a “hearty”
supper will be just the thing.
Red carnations and red-shaded candles make a pretty decoration, or
if mother is willing to take more trouble, a Cupid may occupy the
place of honor in the center of the table. From his bow, narrow red
ribbons extend to silver cardboard arrows, which are at each place, and
serve as “place cards.” “Coup jacques,” for the first course, sound
interesting and are as nice as they sound. Fill sherbet glasses half
full of small pieces of pineapple, orange and banana, then cover with
cherry ice, smoothing the top over carefully. Oysters in heart-shaped
pattie shells, heart-shaped sandwiches, heart cakes, and bonbons,
and ice cream in the form of hearts, will make a very nice Valentine
supper, and there should be a dainty Valentine souvenir at each plate.
When your guests say “good-bye,” they’ll tell you that they have had a
lovely time. See if they don’t!
In honor of George Washington,
Who lived so long ago,
I ask you to a party, now;
The date, of course, you know.
And so I trust you’ll come around
And stay for quite awhile,
Dressed up, perhaps, in grandma’s clothes,
Or some old-fashioned style.
[Illustration: A Dance of Grandmother’s Time.]