Story: Birthdays and wedding anniversaries

Lolly scramble

Lolly scramble

Children take part in a lolly scramble (where sweets are thrown for the participants to catch) at a Gisborne children's party in 1902. In the 19th century children's birthdays began to be observed for the first time, a reflection of the increasing importance placed on childhood as a special time of life. Parties such as this one tended to be held in well-off households, but the custom gradually became widespread.

Using this item

Tairawhiti Museum, Te Whare Taonga O Te Tairawhiti
Reference: WFC-1-4-3869
Photograph by William Crawford

Permission of Tairawhiti Museum, PO Box 716, Gisborne, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Nancy Swarbrick, 'Birthdays and wedding anniversaries - Celebrating birthdays', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/38840/lolly-scramble (accessed 28 March 2024)

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 5 Sep 2013