Should You Throw a Period Party?

Written by Cinestie Olson

If you were anything like me, starting my period was the scariest thing that has ever happened to me. I was uneducated and unprepared regarding menstruation! Now that I’ve gotten the hang of it, periods have become easier and easier. My first period was over a decade ago, and now first periods don’t need to be as scary. Some people even choose to celebrate with a period party!

What’s A Period Party?

If you haven’t seen one of the first and most popular videos of a period party, you can watch it here (it’s pretty iconic). The feedback from this video was mostly laughs from its sarcasm, but some parents and menstruators loved it! The empowering and positive messages behind having a period party inspired normalization around someone’s first period, and period parties were born.

A period party is simply a party or ritual to celebrate someone’s first period. Many other cultures have a traditional ceremony for menstruation, like the Apache Sunrise Ceremony, but the recent waves of period parties are rising in western cultures. 

How To Throw The Best Period Party

Whether it’s your first period, or you just want to celebrate your flow, period parties must be red-themed (obviously). See below the best ideas for each category of party planning!

Food and Drink:

• Red fruit punch, cranberry juice, and maybe some red wine.
• Red berries like strawberries or raspberries!
• Red candy (think licorice, Swedish Fish, Skittles, M&Ms, etc.)
• A themed cake (see our favorite examples below)

(all photos via Pinterest)

Decor: 

• Red balloons and streamers (obviously)
• Red party hats
• Pinata (check out this amazing one)

Activities:

Every good party needs some fun and games!

• Share Your First Period Stories 
• Pin the Ovary on the Uterus 

Guest Gifts:

Lastly, you can’t forget about your guests. Treat them with a gift!

• Like these homemade pad slippers

Why Throw a Period Party?

All jokes aside, throwing period parties can help normalize menstruation for all ages and celebrate such a monumental time in a young person’s life that could otherwise be scary! We all know that historically (and sometimes still today), periods have been too stigmatized and taboo to openly talk about. Throwing period parties for someone’s first menstruation can relieve that generational stigmatization and anxiety of periods. And remember, let’s normalize menstruation and bring #PowerToThePeriod :)