On Sunday a few of us from the over 21's group at our church had a small birthday party for one of our own, Phakamile, who is turning 21. Phakamile (I call her Pax) is from the Eastern Cape and is Zulu in her background. In her culture (and a wide variety of others in South Africa) the 21st birthday is a very important event, marked by a very big, and often very expensive birthday party. For some of the more extravagant birthday parties (I am told) the whole family from all of the country is invited, a banquet hall will be rented, the women will all get fancy/expensive dresses, etc. The whole process really seems more similar to a wedding than to how I would be familiar with celebrating a birthday party.
As for our group, we simply had a nice lunch at a local restaurant, and afterward we headed to the church where some one had made up a table for a lovely dessert party. And from there we headed to the local mall to watch a movie ("the Proposal" - I can't say I'd recommend it...). A nice day all in all, but in terms of extravagance and style - it didn't even come CLOSE to the party her family threw for her.
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