Rapunzel Theme Invitation Cards:
Invitation cards can be in the form of a tower with a small cut-out for the window on the front page. Decorate the front of the card with two yellow braids made from wool or crochet cotton and dried herbs. Another idea is to make your card from paper that can be planted afterward. It will really suit the Rapunzel theme so well.
Decorations and Welcome Activities:
A tower will be one of the main features of a Rapunzel theme party. You can make one from a large, sturdy cardboard box - (ask at your local furniture shop for the type that new fridges and cookers are packed in). Using a craft knife, cut out a window on the upper part of the box; paint the box (using brown and yellow or grey and black paint) to resemble bricks.
Make two braids from thick yellow wool or yellow stockings and attach them to the inside of the "window sill". Decorate the sides of the cardboard box with lots of ivy or branches to give the illusion of thorn bushes growing against the tower walls.
Make a wig with long braids from yellow wool for every girl that will attend the party and make cardboard crowns for the boys.
Place a small table or chair inside the tower and let the birthday child hide inside on the day of the party. When the party guests arrive, they have to call "Rapunzel, Rapunzel let down your long hair", whereupon the birthday child will appear in the window, let the attached braids fall down and then hand out the wigs and crowns to her party guests. The guests will then be led to the party table where they will enjoy some witches' froth while they are waiting for Rapunzel to appear after the prince has saved her.
Table Decorations:
Choose green, yellow and lilac colours for the table decorations - (green for the forest and herbs in the garden, yellow for Rapunzel's hair and lilac for the rampion flowers). Decorate the table with herbs or other leaves and twigs. If you have lavender or any other purple/lilac flowers blooming in your garden, add this too.
Use stiff cardboard to make towers, paint and decorate as desired, then fill with candy or crisps and place them among the leaves and flowers on the table.
Rapunzel Birthday Cake:
The birthday cake can be in the form of a castle or you can make a faux cake by using empty cereal boxes to shape a castle. Cover the whole structure with aluminium foil, spread a layer of icing all over. Press biscuits and candy all over to cover the structure until the desired effect is achieved.
Other party snacks can consist of dainty sandwiches with coloured and flavoured butters; add some sturdier food like cheesy polony and egg pies for the lads.
Rapunzel Party Games:
If you have a sturdy wall in your garden, ask your husband or another adult to attach a few rope ladders to the top edge or just make a few knots in thick rope and attach firmly to tree branches.
The party guests can also play hide and seek and adapt the call of the enchantress and the prince ("Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair") to suit their names. The child that is out, must then go into the cardboard box tower and let down his or her hair - (the braids that were attached to the window sill).
Rapunzel Party Activities:
Keep the party guests busy with some craft activities that can also double up as party favours. The story of Rapunzel happened as a result of the rampion herb that her mother craved during her pregnancy, so crafts that center round gardening or nature will be suitable for this party. The kids can make mini gardens or terrariums, leaf prints or seed pictures that they can take home after the party.
As a last treat, let the children watch the "Barbie as Rapunzel" movie or read them the Rapunzel story written by the Brothers Grimm and published in 1812. Children love fairy tale stories and with a little imagination you can easily turn your child's birthday party into his or her own fairy tale.
