Celebrating the Split: Divorce Parties Ring in a New Life Chapter

November 20, 2009

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When British T.V. personality Katie Price divorced her husband, Australian singer Peter Andre, it was, like any divorce, a painful experience. So, why, then, did she throw a divorce party? It may seem like a counterintuitive reaction, but divorce parties may soon be just another way to celebrate a newly accepted post-marriage phase of life. The divorce party, a surprising and increasingly popular ritual, is now de rigueur for recent divorcés.

When you’ve finally made it to the other side of a divorce, don’t ignore the elephant in the room, throw some streamers around it and celebrate it with your friends. At least, that’s the idea behind this modern day celebration. The goal is to put a positive spin on the decision to split, to reaffirm friendships, and to commemorate the opening of a new chapter in one’s life. “[Divorce] is part of life, and yet it’s the only major event for which we have no ritual,” says Christine Gallagher, author of The Divorce Party Planner. In a time where divorce is evolving into an increasingly common decision and a more widely discussed topic, it only makes sense that people would begin to treat it the way they treat life’s other key transitions – with a gathering of family and friends.

Since the phenomenon is relatively new, divorce parties tend to be varied and improvised. Whether it’s epitomized by burning a wedding dress, melting down a wedding band into the shape of a bullet, or putting on a fireworks display, divorce parties can channel the full spectrum of emotions tied to the end of a marriage, while adding a touch of humor to the proceedings. Unsurprisingly, Las Vegas has gained a reputation as the top destination for celebrating the matrimonial break-up.

Many event planners now advertise divorce parties alongside weddings and birthdays. Bear in mind that the number of divorce parties in the United States and Europe is expected to rise as the number of divorces increases. (Recent figures show that about 1 million married couples call it quits in the US annually, while around 160,000 do so annually in the UK). Celebrating a divorce emphasizes a lighthearted, perhaps irreverent approach to a challenging life change, but it can also be a way to reflect on one’s past mistakes and resolve to create a new, self-nourishing future.

The divorce party is also a testament to the constant possibilities for personal reinvention. It used to be that most lives followed a single course from childhood to married adulthood to married retirement. Now people’s lives are longer and healthier, even into their golden years; everyone’s staying active in body and mind. Men and women in their 40s, 50s and upwards are embracing modern-day habits and technologies that marketers often attribute to younger generations. The day your grandmother sends you a friend request via Facebook, you’ll know what we mean.

The growing number of divorce parties affirms that it’s never too late to take a new perspective on life, and what better way to face the transition than with a little cake, a bit of dancing, and some confetti?

Sources:
“Peter Andre relieved after divorce from Jordan made final,” mirror.co.uk;
“Divorce ceremonies for healing … maybe a toaster,” cnn.com;
“The States of Marriage and Divorce,” pewsocialtrends.org;
“Celebrating Your Divorce: A Step By Step Guide,” weddingringcoffin.com;
“Crack open the champagne - the divorce has come through,” timesonline.co.uk.
Photo courtesy of: jistenterprises.com.