Party favors on the decline

I’m happy to report that according to data from The Knot, the number of couples giving wedding favors to their guests is down 21 percent over the past five years.

Many couples are reportedly opting out of favors amid concerns about sustainability and in an effort to rein in costs.

I support this trend. I have attended many weddings over the years. Received many favors from those weddings.

I don’t think I own a single one today.

I’d also like to see this trend proliferate into the world of children’s birthday parties. The amount of needless waste in a gift bag at a child’s birthday party is astounding.

One person is supposed to receive gifts at a birthday party:

The child celebrating their birthday.

The rest of the children receive a slice of cake, a scoop of ice cream, and amusement of some kind.

They should be exceedingly pleased with this arrangement.

They do not need plastic doodads, paper trinkets, and confectionary sugar in the shape of African megafauna.

Enough is enough.