I found a charming article in The Farmer's Wife magazine from 1928. Members of a local club with about 27 members found out that the hostess that week was celebrating her 72nd birthday and scrambled to plan surprises for her the night of their meeting. I thought the creativity was inspiring considering they didn't have many of the resources we have today! This could easily be used for a family member or friend at a birthday party, and as I was typing it up I realized it would make a neat Mother's Day celebration for mom and grandma too with a little bit of variation!

These are the gifts and presentations they came up with:

First presenter:
"Somebody's having a birthday. Someone whose name I'd tell. For somebody's having a birthday, and somebody wishes her well. It's Mrs. ______'s Birthday.

Second presenter: Read the attractive parts of the horoscope for that date.

Third presenter:
Read Mark Twain's account of a christening; naming the baby of course, for the hostess. (read it here )

Fourth presenter:
A shining new penny was presented in a small box, and this was read:

"Dollars and cents, shillings and pence. A penny we add to your store. Good luck may it mean, though strange it may seem, we hope you may have many more."

Fifth presenter:
A pretty birthday card containing the names of the club members was presented, the verse being read aloud.

The Cake:
A large two-tier cake was baked with a hole in the center. A flat candlestick holding a tall green candle, was placed on an old fashioned glass cake stand. Over this was built the cake, a pound cake with a candle standing up through the center. The whole cake was iced with marshmallow icing and was decorated with lavender roses, birthday greetings and the date. The candle was lit and the member that had baked the cake approached the birthday gal saying:

"Here is the cake, Of American make, stirred in a bowl, baked with a hole, to harbor the light, for a birthday bright for Mrs. _______ of ________."

Next, a beautiful blooming pink primrose was brought in and presented, then afterwards there was the usual social hour with refreshments, which included the birthday cake. The whole program did not take over 15 minutes. It was a complete surprise to the hostess and greatly enjoyed by her.

MORE TIPS: Birthday parties for kids on a shoestring budget! It can be done and without spending a fortune:
http://www.oldfashionedliving.com/birthday.html
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