Pirate Theme Party

Want to organize a pirate birthday party? Well, first ask yourself what was it like to be a pirated? Classic Americana gives us plenty of books and films to pour over in our quest for finding the real pirate. Few venture into the historical records to see what life was really like for the average pirate. From films like Pirates of the Caribbean, we see Jack Sparrow plunder his enormous bounty while escaping his enemies like the East India Trading Company. Real pirates were not so fortunate. Many of them were the castoffs of society and needed a place to survive, and pirating provided the perfect escape for many of the. Unlike current films, they were poorly fed, and did not receive the kind of bounty found at a pirate birthday party (pun intended)! Their enclaves could have been the first forms of modern democracy. The crew often chose the own captain. They democratically elected a leader who they thought would be fearless in battle. When the crew was not fighting, the real brains behind the operation was the leader; usually the navigator. This makes sense considering that the fiercest fighter of the group was not usually the brightest. In future blogs, we’ll talk more about life as a pirate. Arrrggghh and good day!

Ahoy Mateys! Whenever you write a pirate party invitation, don’t forget the women who made pirating so famous. Mary Read was a woman who walked the path less taken …. or should I say plank! From her earliest years, Mary was raised as a boy. She took to the role quite well and ended up in the Flemish Army of all places. She served with honor, all the while posing as a man. That would soon change as Mary fell in love with one of her fellow soldiers who didn’t know about her true identity. At first he was taken aback, but as soon as Mary revealed herself, he was quick to fall in love. They kept their relationship a secret until after the war. When they finally did reveal their love, all the fellow soldiers threw them a lavish wedding! Sadly, Mary’s bliss would only last a short while. Mary decided to take a new direction in life, and of all things, she chose to become a pirate. She was as good as any other pirate. At one point she fell in love with another sailor, but this time, the object of her affection did not return the interest. Mary was still determined to have him, so when her love interest was challenged to a duel by another pirate, she promptly murdered his rival! I don’t think Mary Read would need a pirate party invitation to show up! It seems like she’d be at the party even if she had to crash it! Ironically, Mary Read also served with the only other known female Caribbean pirate, the lovely Ms. Ann Bonny. Bonny even had a love interest with another sailor. Incredibly that interest was none other that Mary Read! She had assumed that Read was a man and was quickly overcome. No one knows if the relationship developed or not. The next time you send out your pirate party invitation, make sure to drop one in the mailbox for Mary Read.

“Such a day, rum all out. Our company somewhat sober. A damned confusion amongst us! Rogues a plotting. Great talk of separation so I looked sharp for a prize. Such a day found one with a great deal of liquor on board, so kept the company hot, damned hot. Then all things went well again.” An entry from Black Beard’s personal diary found on his ship, the Adventure. Looking to host a great pirate birthday party idea and need some inspiration? Look no further than the most notorious pirate of them all (non-fictional character that is). Black Beard! Black Beard was such an imposing figure that he stands in stark contrast with America’s other favorite pirate, Jack Sparrow. Black Beard was an enormous figure, and many were reputed to have surrendered immediately once they saw his terrifying face. He wore a beard that hid much of his face, and it was said that he weaved gun powder into his hair and then lit it just before a battle! Perhaps you don’t have a beard long enough to weave in gun powder, and the people at www.pirate-theme-party.com certainly don’t recommend this pirate birthday party idea (especially if you decide to light your hair on fire)! Either way, you have to admit that Black Beard must have looked truly fearsome. I certainly would not want to face with someone whose face was on fire! Some have speculated that Black Beard did this to make sure he always had a smoldering wick to set off his cannons, while others claim that it was simply a psychological ploy. If the flaming head were not enough, Black Beard also wore two swords; one on each side, but these cutlasses were not enough for Black Beard. Like a modern day commando, Black Beard also wore a number of holsters where he kept numerous of pistols. Play swords and pistols are cheap and easy to find. Perhaps a fake beard will also make a great pirate party idea. When you don your gear, don’t forget the menace who had made these props so famous!

With all the publicity following the release of Disney’s newest installment of Pirates of the Caribbean, people have become more and more interested in the real history behind pirates. Most people are interested in the Golden Age of piracy that spanned the 15th through the 17th centuries. Why shouldn’t they be? There is something very appealing about that era, and the public is enthralled with notorious characters like Black Beard, Captain Hook, and Jack Sparrow. Their swashbuckling demeanor and rebellious attitudes appeal to all of us. It’s always fun to read stories about these men, or look up a pirate birthday party idea, but the real truth is that piracy is not joke. At Pirate Theme Party, we aim to create and provide ideas for all those pirate lovers, but we also want to give some historical background and perspective on the subject. From time to time, we will research and write a short report on piracy and not just piracy during the Golden Age. As long as there have been ships on the water, pirates have raided the ocean. That is true today as well, where piracy still plagues many spots around the world. Within the last few years, the crime of piracy has exploded. These pirates do not carry around swords and look for Davey’s locker. These modern day pirates carry AK-47’s and rocket propelled grenades! They will go after anything from a private vessel, cargo ship, or even a cruise ship. Just a couple of years ago, a cruise ship narrowly evaded capture from pirates of the coast of Somalia. In fact, Somalia is well known to be a danger to cruise and cargo ships. Other areas include Iraq, South America, Western Africa, Bangladesh, Indonesia, the South China Sea, and the Malaccan Straits. In particular, the Malaccan Straits are an area that is very susceptible to piracy. The Straits are a very narrow passage that connects the Pacific and Indian Ocean’s, and it also is the main access point for central Asia. Because of this, The Malaccan Straits are the expressway for about 1/3 of the world’s goods, and the area makes an attractive target for thieves. As you can see, piracy is a very real menace. At Pirate Theme Party, we want you to enjoy your experience and perhaps gain a good pirate birthday party idea, but we also hope you keep in mind what piracy is really about! Enjoy and Arrggghhh!