A surprise bon bon is a party cracker let out of the Christmas box. This one is jumbo, wrapped in red tartan tissue with curled ends, and it holds seventeen to twenty small surprises in a ten inch tube. Set one at each place and the table is decorated, the children have something to do before the food arrives, and the favor bag is handled. That is three jobs from one object, more than a bowl of plastic trinkets manages. Because plaid is a pattern and not a season, it works at a February birthday as easily as at a December dinner, so keep a few for hostess gifts and last minute kids party favors. Small parts inside, ages four and up.
Are party favors necessary? Party favors are a courtesy rather than a requirement, and plenty of hosts skip them without any breach of etiquette. Where they earn their place is at children's parties and at seated holiday meals, where a favor at each setting gives guests something to do at the table and doubles as the decoration.
