Figure 1.--Here we see a classic English street party. We thought it might be one of the Peace Teas celebrating the end of World War I, nbut an English reader tells us that it is more likely King George V's Silver Jubilee (1935). Our reader assesstment is 'There are too many men in the picture to be a Workd War I image. And the clothes look more like the 30s than end of World War I." We see all the classic street party elenenrs: the bunting, party hats, and flag with the children sittig down to a long table coverd with a white table cloth piled high with goodies.

A distunctively English party is the street party and the children are generally the center of attention at these parties. They seem to have first appeared to celebrate the end of World War I and have since become an important tradition in England and Wales. Less so in Scotland for some reason. The first street parties we see in the photograohic record were at the time called 'Peace Teas'. For our American readers, teas in Britain do noy just mean sipping tea, but also a soread with cakes and other treats. We do not notice these Peace Teas celebrations for some reason with the armistice (November 1918), perhaos because the weather was chilly, but with the signing of the Versailles Peace Treaty (June 1919). They were seen as a treat for children after 4 years of deprivation. Britain was not heavily bombed in World War I as it was in World War II, but the Germans did try to strangle Britaians sea life lines. An non-essentialy imports were reduced and rationed. Most notably this included sugar, but also treats like oranges and bananas. Londerners and residents in other big cities organised these Peace Teas on a mass basis. The Teas were part of the Peace Treaty celebrations, and were formal sit down affairs foirthe children. This tradition continued for a long time. The photographic record show children sitting down for a formal tea with table clothes and all kinds of goodies. After the first Peace Teas, British parents continued to organise them on all major national days of celebration. And the term stree partoies entened into the lexicon. There were earlier traditions that laid the foundation for the peace teas, including street dressing, parades, tea parties, banquets and fancy dress parties with children for national occasions. As a result, bunting is almost a prerequise to a full blown street party. Some of the major events brining out street parties were have been: Silver Jubilee of King George V (1935), Coronation of King George VI (1937), VE and VJ Days after World War II (1945) and theur have been anniversary celebrations of VE Day, Festival of Britain (1951), Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II (1953), Queen Eizabeth's Silver Jubilee (1977), Wedding of Prince Charles and Diana Spencer (1981), Millennium Summer Parties (2000/01), Golden Jubilee of the Queen (2002), Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton (2011), Diamond Jubilee of the Queen (2012), and the Queen's 90th Birthday (2016). The stree party traditin has chnged over time. They are no longer just for national celebrations. Street oparties are now organized just for local celevrations. They can be held at any time and are no longer just for the kids. Potigraophs no longer show the kids sitting down at a long table piled high with goodies. City residents all ver the country organiz parties to build community spirit at the street level. They are no longer so formal, but more relaxed BBQ with adults brining food to share for eceryone. Rather than sitting stiffly at a table, the children are allowed to play freely, often at specual events organmized--kind of a street fete.

Created: 5:06 AM 10/1/2018
Last updated: 5:06 AM 10/1/2018