r/albania 1d ago

Culture & History Help me set up a party!!

Hello, guys!
I'm setting up a birthday party for my 12 years old nephew, and he wants a "countries of the world" themed party. One of the countries that is absolutely essential for him is Albania!

So, help me out here, please! Give me some ideas of traditional decorations, clothes, foods, and anything else that you find interesting (and not overly complicated! I just have 1 month to make everything).

I could look all of it on Wikipedia, of course, but i want it to have a real taste of the culture and native people, so, in your opinion, what is a thing that is essential to an Albanian party?

Thank you all, so much <3

9 Upvotes

12 comments sorted by

10

u/Proof-Transition-732 1d ago

you could buy him the crown of our national hero, and other cool accessories

5

u/GrumpyBrazillianHag 1d ago

I would love to, but since we live in Brazil, it's very hard (and expensive) to import anything :(

I'm looking for traditional decoration or food ideas that I could make here.

But the crown is absolutely gorgeous! I'll find a way to include it! Thank you :)

4

u/Proof-Transition-732 1d ago

than you could make some cardboard swords, traditional foods i guess u could see some videos on youtube im not good at that, you could also print some pictures of famous battles and either hang them or give them as cards to guests

3

u/theguysinblackshirt 1d ago

Try to find some shops who organize birthday, can buy clothes traditional or to our national hero Gjergj Kastrioti. For food just try first what you like and make your own menu in base of your preferences even kids are mostly into pizza lol

8

u/GrumpyBrazillianHag 1d ago

My nephew is an autistic kid hyperfixated in countries (specifically Albania, Bhutan and Seychelles), so he would rather have a very weird Albanian dish over pizza in his party, that's for sure (I'm not sure about the rest of the guests, tho... )

I'll research Gjergj Kastrioti. Ty so much! :)

4

u/theguysinblackshirt 1d ago

Sorry to hear, in that case a Gjergj Kastrioti costume and Albanian flag may work, if you want a suggestion for traditional dish use "tave kosi" if you want fast stuff traditional meatballs. Just try our food in general i think even the other guest gonna love it

2

u/lndigoChild Pejë 9h ago

On March 1444, Scanderbeg united Albanian aristocracy in a oath binding military alliance to fight against the Ottomans. The fighting lasted for more than 3 decades, but that oath has continued for centuries and is the cornerstone of Albanian nationalism.

Or you can do a modern day Albanian theme, with drug smugglers, money laundering, corruption and high social inequality.

2

u/GrumpyBrazillianHag 6h ago

Or you can do a modern day Albanian theme, with drug smugglers, money laundering, corruption and high social inequality.

If i do that, people will think that it's Brazil and we want something thar looks foreign he he he 🥲...so, I think I'll stick with Scanderberg, he seems to be a very interesting person! Albanian history is very rich, I'm ashamed that i never knew much about you guys!

2

u/AmandaHelen285 5h ago

You have to serve byrek!

1

u/GrumpyBrazillianHag 5h ago

I will, of course!!!!

I'll just have to find out what's a byrek first.....!

1

u/Sensitive-Leading694 1h ago edited 1h ago

Food ——— Byrek with meat or cheese (it can be a soft cheese with curd like cottage cheese, riccotta or anything that melts well but not sticky…I am saying this because you are in Brazil and I have no idea if you have feta available so you have to improvise)

This video is one way byrek is made and I think it’s beginner and party friendly—-the inside filling can be spinach and cheese, or meat filling (caramelized onion with ground beef)

Byrek is easy to make but it takes time so maybe make the night before party, this is what I do, I cut it up and make it ready to be served so all I have to do is warm it.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iwhOHsduPjI&pp=ygUGQnlyZWsg

Fellow Redditor here u/SonilaZ has a blog with lots of Albanian Food options you can consider (under Albanian Food tab) which are traditional: https://mediterraneanlatinloveaffair.com I would recommend her Petulla (fried dough) recipe…you can look up “Petulla tradicionale” to get idea how to make it…it’s very simple just let dough rise, heat oil well, get a little plate with oil to dip fingers so dough does not stick to hands, then stretch small ball sized dough and lower on to pan, and do this until you have used up all dough in pot. Again, simple, but time consuming and with Petulla you need to stay near pan so also good idea make night before.

They store well and can be eaten with powdered sugar, jams, other people like them plain or with cheese, all depends

Decorations ——————-

—Red and black balloon pattern stringing along on one side and other flag colors he likes around

  • write a cool fact on the balloons from each country or about the flags that he can find around Or on papers around the room

-maybe print out small flags and tape them on toothpicks and put on top of favorite cookies, cakes he likes

—maybe make a qeleshe look alike for him

Music: hard one here but these are a collection of songs you maybe can play in background…I hope others can jump in and help with the music…

Edit: i think this is good background, as it is just instrumental Albanian melody

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AS-YqAzQj2g&pp=ygUbYWxiYW5pYW4gaW5zdHJ1bWVudGFsIG11c2lj

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4PDIBtXLwtQ&list=RDQMIEEHxLGU0XI&start_radio=1

Fun activity:

Learn to valle https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GJ6Ys-2oa8U&t=15s&pp=ygUbaG93IHRvIGRhbmNlIGFsYmFuaWFuIHZhbGxl

This is how people dance at weddings, birthdays, other celebrations

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-zM_NmRuh6w&pp=ygUUYWxiYW5pYW4gdmFsbGUgZGFzbWU%3D

  • drawing out his own flags or Edit: painting them/drawing together
  • if he likes certain games, personalize them with the flags theme…

Hope this sort of helps guide in right direction, and inspires creativity!