| While some societies have momentous coming of | | | | on the market as one of the 18th birthday gifts. |
| age ceremonies (boys in Papua New Guinea wear a | | | | A football theme: If the birthday boy or girl is football |
| conical hat draped in leaves which reach to below the | | | | crazy, you could arrange a kick-about, go to a game, |
| waist), we in Britain stick to the tried and tested | | | | wear replica shirts or hold a soccer-based quiz. The |
| routine of opening 18th birthday gifts in the morning, | | | | beauty of this theme is there are dozens of suitable |
| then spending the day in the pub getting merry. | | | | 18th birthday gifts based around football, so that's |
| But while that's fun, it's hardly original - and many of | | | | one less thing to worry about. |
| us do that every weekend, birthday or no birthday. | | | | A tube station theme: Challenge guests to find a |
| If you want to be a bit more creative, there are all | | | | costume that relates to one of the London |
| sorts of ideas for celebration themes which are | | | | Underground stations. This might seem hard, but |
| entertaining, and they don't have to feel like a kid's | | | | there are plenty of possibilities. You could come |
| party. Here are just a few ideas, along with some | | | | dressed as Paddington (Bear), Victoria (Queen or |
| suggestions for suitably themed 18th birthday gifts. | | | | Victoria), All Saints or Grange Hill - or if you're really |
| A country theme: There are a couple of ways to do | | | | stuck, just sling on a West Ham shirt. If you live in |
| this. One is the classic of picking a country and | | | | London, you can make the birthday guest go on a |
| getting everyone to wear appropriate clothing and | | | | station-based treasure hunt before they get all of |
| eat themed food and drink. For example, a Japanese | | | | their 18th birthday gifts. |
| theme could see guests dressed as sumo wrestlers | | | | An £18 theme: Guests have to come in as |
| and geisha girls, eating sushi and drinking sake. | | | | stylish, fashionable and trendy a costume as they can |
| Another twist is to do a global theme where every | | | | put together. The only catch is that their entire outfit |
| guest comes as a different country. You can even | | | | - from head to toe, including underwear and shoes - |
| award prizes for whoever manages to wear the | | | | has to cost less than £18. It will challenge their |
| most different items relating to their chosen country. | | | | creativity, and it leaves everyone a bit more cash for |
| And to make things fun, challenge everyone to find | | | | those all-important 18th birthday gifts. |
| 18th birthday Gifts that relate to the country. | | | | A casino theme: This has plenty of possibilities. You |
| A celebrity theme: OK, so you might have been to | | | | can serve Vegas-style cocktails, hold a buffet |
| quite a few parties where guests dress up as | | | | (though it's unlikely to be all you can eat), and play a |
| famous people, but there are other ways to do it. | | | | variety of games, whether for cash, drinks or just |
| One is to limit it to celebrities and public figures from | | | | forfeits for the losers. The dress code is up to you: |
| the year the birthday guest was born. Another is | | | | you can theme it with the black and red of roulette, |
| that everyone has to pick a famous person with the | | | | or go the whole hog with evening dresses and dinner |
| same first name as the birthday guest. | | | | suits - and don't forget that cufflinks make classy |
| A Krypton Factor theme: Anyone receiving 18th | | | | 18th birthday gifts. |
| birthday gifts in the next couple of years should still | | | | A golf theme: This can be as simple as a night out |
| remember this classic show hosted by Gordon Burns. | | | | dressed in polo shirts and plus-fours or something |
| You can adapt it into a day-long event with your | | | | more elaborate. We don't recommend visiting 18 |
| own twists, and either make it a contest for | | | | watering holes, but an 18-round quiz could make the |
| everyone, or just a challenge for the person | | | | day memorable - particularly if each round is about a |
| celebrating their birthday. | | | | year in the birthday guest's life. Lessons with a pro |
| The mental agility, observation, intelligence and | | | | make great 18th Birthday gifts for golf-lovers. |
| general knowledge rounds will probably be best during | | | | A party themed around the year of birth: For those |
| the evening when a few drinks will make them more | | | | getting 18th birthday Gifts in 2008, this gives you the |
| challenging. | | | | chance to celebrate 1990 with a German-themed |
| That leaves the co-ordination and physical ability | | | | party to celebrate the country's re-unification, or a |
| rounds for the day time. If you don't have a flight | | | | Russian-themed event to mark the Soviet Union's |
| simulator in your back garden, you could always pick | | | | collapse. |
| one of the many flight-related 'experience day gifts' | | | | |