house party

A house party is, at a minimum, a party held at the home of the party's host, as in the 21st century, most parties are. Usually a house party means that the guests stay overnight, perhaps for a weekend, but often for a week or more. Organization A house party might be organized several months or just a few hours in advance. News of a party may be spread by personal invitations, word of mouth, posted leaflets, or notices on social networking sites. Broad notice of a party – sometimes unintentionally – can result in large numbers of people attending who do not know the host personally, and may be disruptive. A person who attends a house party but has not been invited, is typically referred to as a "gatecrasher", particularly if the party is open only to invited guests; they are usually perceived negatively, but may nonetheless be welcomed by the host. History An early example of a house party can be seen in the play Mostellaria (The Haunted House) by the Roman playwright Plautus. In the play, a young man called Philolaches holds a house party with many friends while his father Theopropides is away on business. House parties have become a prominent feature in popular movies, particularly movies aimed at teenagers. While many have probably been present before the movie, The Party is one of the first to properly provide a scene of a house party. However, the most popular film later on is House Party featuring hip hop duo Kid 'n Play.