High school graduation parties…

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LoooongFurb@reddit

Yep. Even my broke-ass family had a graduation party for me.

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chadwickipedia@reddit

Always been a thing. I cleaned up, both high school and less so college

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Ok_Explanation4813@reddit

Most of my friends had hs grad parties. I didn’t want one but my parents definitely would have hosted if I did.

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Proof-Emergency-5441@reddit

This has been the norm since Jesus was a baby where I live.

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DrewBaron80@reddit

Yeah. I didn’t have a big group of friends or anything like that, but me and my buddies definitely took advantage of our parents letting us drink at graduation parties.

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Proof-Emergency-5441@reddit

Also this isn't a friends gathering. It's family.

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Proof-Emergency-5441@reddit

The drinking parties were later and no parents. This is not that. The local VFW frowned upon underage drinking in their establishment, even back in olden times.

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Proof-Emergency-5441@reddit

Whatever works for your budget. No different than a wedding.

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No_Wear295@reddit

Depends on what they're driving.... That math could end up in the $200 range if they're driving a pickup or suv

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Dorothyismyneighbor@reddit

True. This year I'll gift what my 12gal tank costs!

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Far-Veterinarian6465@reddit

We are going to some in a couple of weeks. I plan on giving $50/ea.

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Powerful_Leg8519@reddit

Seriously? This is your first experience with a graduation party?

What do you think graduation announcements were for? They were for you parents to announce your graduation and hopefully for people to send you cards and gifts.

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Jr5309@reddit

My parents gave the option of lump sum from them, or family/friend party. One brother took the cash and 2 of us had parties. Not sure whom got the better deal. I don’t remember the amounts.

Same with my kids. My daughter graduated 2025 and she wanted a big party. Think it cost me about $800 for rental/food/drinks… She made $1500. When my son is up in 2028, I’ll offer the $800 from us or he can has party.

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MetalEnthusiast83@reddit

Been a thing forever. My parents had one for me. Most of my friends had one.

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blamberr@reddit

I had a big ass graduation party during which I was showered with gifts and attention, only to fuck off early with nary a goodbye to hang with my friends

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awmaleg@reddit

And then send Thank You cards out a few months later because I kept procrastinating and mom made me

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blamberr@reddit

God I hope I sent thank yous, but I probably didn’t because I was such a self-centered asshole

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FevreDream42@reddit

I technically had a graduation party after high-school, but it was combined with a celebration of my mom going back to school and getting her PhD.

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GXP_2009@reddit

When I graduated, 1997, it was common for some people to have a party. Usually at their house with family and friends. We did the same for my daughter last year. She attended some of her friends parties too.

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wheatgivesmeshits@reddit

This might be a class difference more than time. I was the first person in my family to get even a GED, and then a bachelor's and this was not a thing in my family. Graduating highschool was an achievement, but nobody had any money to have a party for it.

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Spiritual-Promise402@reddit

OP, if you were poor like me, we just either take out for dinner to celebrate (a group of graduates and our parents). Or we had a get together at home where whoever was hosting would bbq and other parents (and other graduates) would bring a dish. At some point the parents would either take over the back yard or living room and the graduates would head to the bedroom for games and such

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bivo979@reddit

No. We went out to eat and got a card. Graduating High school was an expectation, so no reason to celebrate.

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Wissmaniac@reddit

I graduated in 2003 and think I got $100 from my parents in a card. My grandparents came to my graduation and that was it. No party.

Five years later my brother graduated and my parents bought him a new computer, but no party either. I’m still a lil bent out of shape over that computer though!

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yahoo_determines@reddit

Don't read too much into it; they just like him more

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Wissmaniac@reddit

This is actually the truth! I like to think Dad liked me more, but he died in 2006. Mom definitely loves baby brother more!! I’ve come to terms with this.

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CaptPotter47@reddit

My brother can up you.

In 1999, my mom gave me her old car, an ‘85 Monte Carlo since she was getting a new car and she needed me to pick my younger brother from overnight care (she was a paramedic working nights).

In 2000, for Xmas, “Santa” brought me a new computer. My brother thought it was for both of us or a general family computer, but then I took the tag that had my name and said “nope, it’s mine”. Disappointment abounded from him.

In 2005 my mom gave me the car she used to replace the Monte Carlo, a 2000 Cavalier, when she bought a new car.

My brother on the other hand, didn’t get a computer from “Santa” until 2004 and it was arguably less up to date than mine was comparatively. And he was also 2 year into college, I got my while I was in HS.

My brother also didn’t get any free cars…he bought a Malibu from my grandfather (old person gold, slight hint of smoke) about 9 months before my mom gave me the Cavalier.

He is still bitter about both and bring it up occasionally.

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Mackheath1@reddit

High School graduation?! We just got with friends - nothing formal at all. I didn't drink back then, so I was DD, but other than that, there was nothing else.

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Dapper_Peace2019@reddit

Yeah, this is not new.

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Frosty_Literature436@reddit

I have never seen or heard of this outside of very wealthy families.
Our grad party was the school renting the community center out of town so that we could all go out there and party (the other school in town rented out the hockey arena for the same reason, but, they also let kids sleep it off there).
I do seem to recall my roommates giving me a couple cartons of cigarettes and a few bottles of liquor. My co-workers put my graduation picture up in the control room and took me for beers. From family though, no. My mom came to town for my graduation dinner at the school.
My son graduated during covid. Not really even a graduation. He and his friends went out. We had a BBQ with family. We did get him a gift, but, I don't recall what it was. Nothing big I don't think.

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MinusGovernment@reddit

I got just under $1000 total and a TV with a Nintendo built in at my graduation party.

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eyelers@reddit

Absolutely. I graduated in 01 and had a party like just about everyone else

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Witty-Management6094@reddit

My daughter graduated last year and we had a party. She felt so loved. 🥰

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RudyPup@reddit

I had one. It's been a thing before our generation

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JamesMattDillon@reddit

My brother and I never had the parties, but we did have our grand parents over and we'd go out to eat, maybe have a couple gifts. I don't remember any cash. Of course others in my cities had them, but I wasn't popular enough to get invited.

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Significant-Rush-129@reddit

It was a thing back in the late 90s where I was at but not the big deal it became. A lot of people had them at their house or in their basement, or the party room at the family-owned Italian restaurant that had been in the hood forever. That sort of thing.

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Traditional_Entry183@reddit

It was totally normal like that where I grew up. Myself and my siblings and cousins, neighbors, the kids of my parents friends, etc. I went to those in the 80s as a little kid and continued into my 20s for younger relatives.

Where I live now, it seems to be the extreme opposite. Graduation is just the event itself and then nothing. No party, no picnic, no gathering, just goodbye and goodluck. Even for close family. It was shocking.

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she-dont-use-jellyyy@reddit

I graduated in 1999 and EVERYONE had a grad party.

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MundaneHuckleberry58@reddit

I’m guessing in the last 15 years. Aka the age of Instagram. It wasn’t a thing among my hs cohort growing up. And we definitely didn’t get parties for graduating college either.

My nieces & nephews (children of slightly older GenX) - no grad parties. So I’m guessing it started with millennial parents?

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ONROSREPUS@reddit

I had a small one. It was mostly a party for my dad and uncles to get a keg. The neighbor passed out on one of the benches and his wife just told my mom leave him there, if that is alright, he will find his way home. He was gone in the morning.

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BigDaddyUKW@reddit

My parents had a bash for mine. Catered by my favorite local bbq joint, a half keg full of Labatts Blue Light, and the after party at my parents house for a select few where I think we downgraded to Beast lol.

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no_clever_name_yet@reddit

Where I grew up in MN it's always been a BIG DEAL. Like, BIG. Such a big deal that some people we knew were OFFENDED on my older sister's behalf when they found out our grandparents from NYC weren't coming to hers. (My sister was popular; when I graduated 4 years later no one cared those grands weren't coming.)

But now? hand waggle It depends. Stepson graduated 7 years ago and his mom didn't have a grad party for him (I never found out why). It was weird. WE didn't have a grad party for him because we didn't live in his school district and it would have been far for his friends to come and awkward for her side of the family to come. So we took him out to a nice meal and our side of the family sent him cards and money.

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NPC261939@reddit

I know some of my classmates had such parties. I didn't even consider it as I hate attention, and just want to be left alone..lol. I did receive cash, tools, and a car stereo for graduating high school/vo-tech.

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psilosophist@reddit

I went to a few when I graduated in the 90's, but it was either for some well to do kids, or kids who had deep roots in the area and had 30 family members they could invite over.

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ARazorbacks@reddit

Yeah, my impression was it was really only the well off kids who got them back in the 90s. No one in my circle had one.

To everyone saying they’ve been a thing forever, that’s awesome! I don’t think we celebrate stuff nearly as much as we should.

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K2sX@reddit

Same. My 'rich' friends had a big party with friends and family and whatnot. Myself and my other delinquent friends got someone's mom to rent us a hotel room and did our best not to get kicked out.

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Inevitable_Pride1925@reddit

They were a thing. The wealthier the family my friends came from the more likely they were to happen.

I did not have one

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Constant_Roof_7974@reddit

I had one. We had embossed invites ordered through the school to use for the parties. Most of the parties were an open house with some kind of food and graduation cake. My dad stepped it up from the typical cold cuts and served grilled burgers at mine.

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NicePatience43@reddit

I graduated in 98, my sister is 94 we both had parties where we got cash and gifts.

I was informed at some point this was a Midwest regional thing and has grown now.

My sons both got parties, the money they received was used for college whole they looked for part time jobs.

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AKookyMermaid@reddit

My parents had one for my brother and myself. His was larger than mine and involved more of my parents friends than mine but honestly I didn't have a lot of friends back then.

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eightdotthree@reddit

I had one. I didn’t walk away with a few grand, closer to 600-700. That was 96.

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No_Bobcat_No_Prob@reddit

I feel you, OP. My highschool graduation present from my parents was a suitcase. Not so subtle with the hints, my people.

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tultommy@reddit

We had graduation parties 30+ years ago lol. Of course it was mostly parent sponsored drinking and debauchery lol... i mean, we all sat around and sang church hymnals and volunteered for community service. There was no weed or booze to be found... ... .. .

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stephsco@reddit

We called them open houses. I had one, and then every weekend for a month after graduation I rotated stopping by different parties.

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WendyPortledge@reddit

That sounds nice! I definitely didn’t have that, nor did anyone I knew. We partied and drank. There was no family grad party or adult gathering.

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digitaljestin@reddit

I spent my graduation weekend (and several of the following ones) hopping from party to party. This was always the tradition.

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Mac_A81@reddit

I had one when I graduated in 2000. All my friends did too. I actually don’t think I know anyone who didn’t have one.

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Ginger630@reddit

It was a thing when I was a teenager. I went to a bunch of graduation parties.

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bfjizzle@reddit

This was definitely the norm when I graduated in 2000

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CaptPotter47@reddit

I had one in 2001. I didn’t get thousands of dollars, but I cleared about $600. But my Eagle Scout Ceremony was 2 months earlier and I cleared over $300 from that.

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twelveoverten@reddit

These were absolutely a thing. Different friend groups coordinated them for different days, even. Drama inevitably ensued, as fueled by terrible boomer moms.

Chicago suburbs. Late 90s.

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HeyYouTurd@reddit

Kinda had a little get together after the graduation ceremony. Nothing crazy. We were poorish though. I’m sure nothing like the spectacles people like to throw today for clout on social media.

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OriginalBad@reddit

These were definitely a thing when we were kids too lol.

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lEauFly4@reddit

Yup, I remember attending my older cousins’ grad parties as a kid (they graduated HS in 1994 and 1996, respectively).

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SpaceLemur34@reddit

My mom's youngest brother graduated in '90 and I went to his grad party.

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Live_Today1943@reddit

It was a thing when I graduated in 1996.

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Malaguy420@reddit

Yep. Had mine 25 years ago. Went to several others. It's not new.

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edasto42@reddit

Yeah. This happens. But every family, culture, and even micro region celebrates things differently. Like cmon, the world is big place and there’s variety in all things and it’s ok and normal.

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crymeajoanrivers@reddit

Graduated in 2001 and nearly every single one of my friends had a party.

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Pale_Row1166@reddit

Im a few years older and same. It was so much fun, going to everyone’s parties for like two weeks after graduation.

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Apprehensive-Cat-111@reddit

Same.

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RockItGuyDC@reddit

I graduated HS in 2001. Had a huge party with friends and family.

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blewdleflewdle@reddit

I didn't have one, and it wasn't the norm here except in certain cultures, and that was more of a family (and family friend) affair.

We had parties after Formal (our Prom) and then just regular parties to kick off the summer, but that was just kids organizing our own thing.

My parents didn't really do anything.

Here we have Commencement ceremonies in the fall where you go back to your highschool and walk to collect diplomas and whatever awards. Most of us went. My best friend skipped it to see a band lol. My folks brought me to that and sat in the audience. I think we might have gone out for supper first?

I'm from a big Canadian city.

I don't know what happens now because my kid is still in primary, but it's become more acceptable for some parents to make a lot of their kids' stuff about them, so I wouldn't be surprised if what you describe is more normal now?

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mrnoonan81@reddit

It's always been a thing from my perspective.

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SweetCosmicPope@reddit

I actually think they've gotten less common, at least where I live.

I had one when I graduated high school. Had all of my friends come over, as well as a bunch of family. I set out a money tree (a little tree with clips on it that people can attach money to). I think I ended up going home with about 2 or 3 grand, which was alot in 2002.

My son opted not to have a graduation party, and instead requested that we go on a trip. He wanted to visit Chicago and see all the places they filmed Batman, so that's what we did.

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post_blast@reddit

My parents had one when I graduated and invited all their friends and whatever family they all talked to. I got nothing but questioned.

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Pinkkorn69@reddit

My family has had graduation parties back in the late 50s. So I think it has been around and more common than you think.

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brilliantpants@reddit

These aren’t new. I graduated from HS in 2001 and I had one, so did a bunch of my friends.

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Powerful_Tale_1319@reddit

Going to doctor

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djsynrgy@reddit

I'd wager this is based on the size and economic standing of the family; common in big and/or affluent families; largely absent in small and/or low-income families.

Conversely, I definitely didn't get one, but I had a few friends who did. Some family came out for my graduation; we went to a Dairy Queen for ice cream afterwards, and that was about it for me. But I went to a friend's house (in a prototypical '90s McMansion neighborhood) after their graduation, and there were like 100 adults there. I never asked, but I presume there was a lot of cash involved, there.

We have another decade-ish before it's my kid's turn. I hate to say it, but most of what little extended family we still have, will probably be gone by then. 😞

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LineImpossible3958@reddit

I had a graduation party just like the one you went to in 1997

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YourGuyK@reddit

It was big in Minnesota back in the 90s, at least. We got these little invitation cards yonhand out, and most friends would try to coordinate so they weren't on the same weekend. We'd travel groups to a bunch of different parties and eat our fill of 6 ft. party subs and, if we were lucky, a taco bar.

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thetea98@reddit

I had a pony keg at my high school graduation party in 98.

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Active_Yellow_1573@reddit

Are you from Wisconsin?

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thetea98@reddit

Close, Iowa.

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Active_Yellow_1573@reddit

I bet you're really close to that boarder! 😂

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EastTXJosh@reddit

They were not a thing where I came from, but we did have Project Graduation the night of graduation. It was like a lock-in at our school. There was free food all night. Dancing. There were casino games set up throughout the high school where you could win gifts that had been donated by local businesses. It was a way for us to have one final night together as a class and our parents could ensure we weren’t out being unsafe. That was the last time I saw a lot of the folks k graduated high school with.

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Aught_To@reddit

Yeah, I graduated in 2000, i was the only kid that didnt get a party like this. I must have gone to 10 in one weekend. My fucking mother refused to let me "beg for money" from her family etc.

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Comfortable-nerve78@reddit

Only grad parties were the rich kids. We had a kegger but that was us not the parents. Oh yeah the fortunate kids had them and alway had them. It’s social media and how much everyone has to show off. Oh look at me I’m cool gotta post it. I need credit from strangers to make me feel better. Hard sarcasm there sorry I blame our situation on social media and people trying hard to be famous. Lolz 😂 👍

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ApolloWasMurdered@reddit

I remember going to the party after my graduation. Got shut down at 1am when some angry neighbour came out with an axe and said they’d called the cops on us. In retrospect, I’m pretty sure the cops would have more problem with the axe-wielding 50yo threatening teenagers, then with some 17yo making too much noise on a Friday night, but we all scattered at that point anyway.

Definitely didn’t get individual parties or envelopes full of cash.

(Elder Millennial here.)

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chainmailler2001@reddit

I graduated in 1997 and it was normal enough then that my parents told me about THEIR graduation parties. The fact that stores have sold graduation party supplies for many decades wasn't perhaps a clue?

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forsovngardeII@reddit

We had graduation dinners at a fancy restaurant and then friends and I would hang out and party. The parties wouldn't be all planned out as they are now.

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roadkillmenagerie@reddit

Graduated HS in 2000 and college in 2004. No parties. Got myself a bottle of cheap champagne for the college one. Drinking it solo was pretty depressing.

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jamie535535@reddit

My parents didn’t do stuff like that but definitely a few people in my class had them when I when in high school. And my husband’s parents had one for him when he graduated college.

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TraditionalMood277@reddit

I, being the oldest, didn't get anything because it was expected. ALL of my younger siblings got a party.

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HostilePile@reddit

In my family all of our graduations were always just a family thing. All the aunts, uncles and cousins and sometimes 2nd cousins came out. A friend or two might come over but we didn't have a big friend party. I did notice that everyone does these big friend parties now.

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DaphneMoon-Crane@reddit

In ''99 my Mom rented a room at a restaurant for after my graduation. It was like a party, got cards, money, gifts, saw everyone. I think it's normal.

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Apprehensive-Cat-111@reddit

I had a high school graduation party in 2001 and so did all of my friends.

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NoContextCarl@reddit

Generally, the let's shower the kid in gifts and cash type parties were more for the well off kids, so the ones I went to were typical backyard BBQ at home and sneak in vodka type parties.

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Deep-Interest9947@reddit

My parents threw me one. I stayed for a bit and then left with my friends to go see Can’t Hardly Wait. It was just their friends anyways. But I still have a collapsing laundry bag I got from that party.

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emmyg85@reddit

I had one with mainly family. A few friends came and I went to theirs when they had one.

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braywarshawsky@reddit

I had one when I graduated. A few of my friends from HS, Youth Group, and Hockey Team... then a ton of my parent's friends, relatives, cousins, etc.

The "Real Party" was later, after my parents went to sleep and all the little kids were in bed.

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jaqattack02@reddit

Nope, definitely didn't have any kind of party for HS graduation. Didn't go to college so no idea there. If any of my friends had them, I wasn't invited.

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InMyHagPhase@reddit

I didn't have one either, and my brother didn't. Four years ago we moved over to a somewhat high class area and that's all we see is graduation parties. Maybe it's a "got money" thing. When I graduated I went across the stage then went home and played Nintendo. These people out here got giant signs in the yard and have people over and such. Good for their kids I guess.

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jaqattack02@reddit

My dad took me out to dinner at some local italian place after my graduation, but that's about it.

Yeah, it does sound like something the people with money would do.

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MmmSteaky@reddit

Haha, same.

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eat_like_snake@reddit

Don't have kids. Don't want kids.
No one I knew had one, though. Sounds like some richie shit.

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sassysarah00@reddit

It is probably a regional thing but yes I had one and all my friends did as well. Tried to space them out during different weekends.

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Blackbird136@reddit

Had one but all of the guests were adults. My mom, her coworkers, her friends. Thinking back on it, that’s kinda weird lol. I wasn’t told I could invite any of my friends.

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silentsnak3@reddit

Yea we live about 2 hours from the beach. Graduation parties were just finding one adult that would let you use their card to book a room. And then everyone got the cheapest liquor we could and partied for the weekend. It was a tradition going back to my parents generation at least. They knew what we were doing, a few parents would go just to make sure we did not do anything crazy. And for the most part, nobody go arrested or did anything crazier than puking in the stairwell (sorry I really tried to make it).

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youcancallmet@reddit

Class of 2000 (and 2004 for college). Had a graduation party for both and so did most of my friends.

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Dr-McLuvin@reddit

It’s definitely been around since the 90s. Seems like a good reason to celebrate.

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anOvenofWitches@reddit

The ones I went to, the parents bought the booze!

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Funandgeeky@reddit

I had one when I graduated back in the 90s so it has definitely been a thing.

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wmubronco03@reddit

Was absolutely a thing where I grew up. Graduated in 97. I think most of my friends had one, myself included.

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triple_cloudy@reddit

I had a small party in 2000. Mostly family plus a few friends that stopped by. My older cousin had some weed in an Advil bottle, and we were just joking at my other cousin's kid's grad party yesterday that we should pull out the Advil. The kid doesn't seem like a smoker, but we were all proud when we saw him leave the party with a backpack cooler full of beer.

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Santos_L_Halper_II@reddit

Definitely were a thing in my town in 2000.

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4luminate@reddit

i had family come over and my dad bbq'ed. but also had project graduation that night, and state solo and ensemble the next day, so...didn't really party much.

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No_Today_4903@reddit

I graduated in ‘99 and had one. My friends all had them too. I was in sw Ohio and it was totally normal then. I got maybe $1500 back then? Went to Panama City beach and completely blew it all on a great time that I basically forget lol.

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frooootloops@reddit

Oh they’ve always been a thing. My kid is graduating and it’s kinda sad because we’re new to where we live and there aren’t any friends nearby

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A_lunch_lady@reddit

Having one for my son, our family is extremely spread out and we only see each other on special occasions. We are not well to do but my eldest has rarely been celebrated and graduating was no easy feat for him, so I fully intend on a celebration!

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Far-Veterinarian6465@reddit

The norm. Mine wasn’t as big as this, but there was still a party.

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larryb78@reddit

my parents did a small backyard bbq with family & a few friends when I graduated. there were some gifts but nothing lavish, as i recall with other friends it was similar

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RipErRiley@reddit

I went to a bunch of grad parties (and had one myself) in the 90’s during all years of high school.

Can’t speak to now though (I don’t have kids).

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Adventurous_Pin_344@reddit

Glad to see I am not alone! My friends and I had a bunch of graduation parties... Gifts were not expected. It was just a fun time to get kids and parents together to celebrate a milestone!

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throwsplasticattrees@reddit

Ya, this was a thing. Cleared some cash that helped buy books and dorm supplies.

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Active_Yellow_1573@reddit

I had one in 96'. It's the norm in St Louis

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seafox77@reddit

We had a school wide one for the seniors when I graduated, after commencement, hosted at the Sokol center nearby. Set up was a faux casino with some decent prizes. I won a Haverty's entertainment center but had already left when they did the drawing.

Though I didn't care much for where I grew up, (DFW '97) I remember being impressed that the rich families actually did kick in a lot to make it happen, and most of the seniors did show up, even the really angsty poor kids like me. Probably reduced the number of DWI incidents by a fair amount though I was on way too much acid to remember exactly.

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bigfancydelta@reddit

My family had one for me, and I invited my group of best friends. My Dad and Uncle fired up the smoker and cooked for everyone. It was pretty much just like a summer family get together, just with a graduation theme, haha! I went to a couple graduation parties of other friends, mainly because I knew certain females were also gonna be there 😉

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violetpumpkins@reddit

This was a thing when I was in high school. Not in my family, of course. My family wouldn't throw me a party. But I got invited to my friend's parties. You know, at the friend's houses who had pools or lived on the lake.

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_AMOK_@reddit

I went to a massive party in 98 when I graduated. Hundreds of people were there. I can still taste the tequila rose I threw up

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GuySmiley369@reddit

Lots of kids in my area had parties, we also had our class party. My 10 years older brother also went to friend's parties. It's been normal for as long as we have been alive.

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AshDogBucket@reddit

We had parties but not that amount of cash.

What's new to me that wasn't there when I was a kid - as an adult, my spouse and I are being invited to grad parties for kids of his friends whom I've never even met (we've been together 10 years) or kids I've met once or twice. Grad parties now seem more like parties where the parents invite all of their friends, including the friends from high school that they see once a year max. When I graduated, my grad party was for all of the people (of my generation and my parents) who i was close with, not my parents. So like yes my relatives who had come from out of town to attend my graduation would have been there, and my parents' friends who we were close with, and my friends. If my parents would've invited some strangers they used to be close with it would've been weird.

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mistyayn@reddit

I had one.

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Day2205@reddit

Yes, I had both a high school and a college graduation party that were mostly adults. I went to an top 5 university (US) so my family/community was especially proud of me, thus my parents wanting to have a big party for both

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aroundincircles@reddit

I didn't attend any because I didn't have friends (I graduated early because of issues, and that alienated my friends group). But a lot of kids I knew had them. My niece who graduated this year had one, but we didn't attend because they live a 15 hour drive away, and my own kids had end of year stuff I didn't want to attend.

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