since our kids have been going to school in costa rica we were lucky enough to be invited to a few costa rican birthday parties. and we loved them. 

here are the differences between american and costa rican birthday parties:

- if you bring a gift you give it to the birthday child right away to open

- no thank you notes so no reason to write anything down, you get thanked right on the spot, i always thought those thank you cards were a waste of trees anyways

- always plenty of food and the good healthy food, usually plenty of appetizers and a warm dinner or lunch (there is no difference between kid and adult food like in america, everyone eats the same ) 

- always music playing and space provided lots of dancing too

- usually an activity of some sort but not always, we have had ballet dancer teach a class, painting or going to the river for a swim... 

- no time limit on birthday parties here, it goes as long as the guests are willing to hang out while in the states its usually an hour and a half...here they take their sweet time to celebrate, for that matter no need to arrive early either

- always a birthday cake, no cupcakes here 

- last but not least a PINATA, done differently then in the states, takes much longer to open, kids sing a song while a kid beats it with a stick and all while pinada goes up and down on a rope. pinatas are filled with small toys, chocolates and peanuts (for adults.) we hear this tradition goes well beyond the early childhood with bigger kids doing it blindfolded. 

no matter where we are our family loves parties :)