Happy 21st... Kiwi Style

So apparently yesterday was Kristen Stewart's 21st birthday.

I hear on the wires tonight that she may or may not have been caught smoking pot outside the BD wrap party. Well I should bloody well hope so. The girl is turning 21, FFS!

This brings me on to 21sts in general. Now, I'm not sure about where you are, but 21sts are BIG in New Zealand. I know from my time in the UK that your 18th is a bigger deal than your 21st, but here, it's all about the PARTAY at the big 2-1. I can remember mine, only just, because I was so wasted it was ten years ago - but I thought I'd give you a run down on what a young kiwi can expect on their big day.

@vampthenewblack, SparklyJul and eds_piano may chime in with their opinions, but this is what I know from my vast 21st party 'research'... albeit some time ago!  And as SparklyJul was at my 21st, she is banned from embarrasing me further in the comments...

Drinking. It's ALL about the drinking. There's a tradition, mostly for guys but I've seen some chicks take it on, of the full yardie. That's a yardglass, to you. Basically, a fuckload of beer, in a massive glass, all at once:

From what I can remember know, there are basically two rules. If you can't finish, you lose. You can stop to vomit, but you lose SERIOUS man-points. I don't think I've ever seen anyone NOT hurl. Oh, and if you vomit in the yard, you gotta keep going and down it, chunks and all. Oh god, I want to hurl just thinking about it. This is always done outside and the drinker usually needs a change of shirt.

Personally, I took the more 'ladylike' option - 21 shots. I remember quite clearly telling my friends that I was only doing 21 shots if they were of punch. "Of course..." Yeah. Well. Judging by the hangover, I was bloody suspicious and later found out they were shots of vodka with a little juice thrown in for colour. I love you guys.

My 21st was in a marquee on my parents' lawn. Because I moved out at 18 to go to university, they'd never really been witness to my friends and I drinking on a large scale (now is probably a good time to point out that the legal drinking age in New Zealand is 18). This was a BIG night.

I can remember that my BFF asked my Mum for shot glasses, and she didn't know what that meant. I can remember that we managed to destroy Dad's soundsystem thanks to dancing all night on the dusty floor of the marquee and fucking up the electronics. Oh, and to top it off, my gorgeous mother decided to wait until I was drunk before convincing me that removing my tongue piercing would be a good idea. Thanks Mum. You can't put those back in the next day. Ooh, she knew what she was doing that night.

Now that I think about it, I also recall boys inhaling what may or may not have been legal substances out the back of the tent, my young cousin being drunk for the first time ever (she was 16, and reminded me of my bad influence years later at her 21st) and some INSANE conga dancing... those were the days.

Speeches. Cripes. This is an event where family and friends combine. Your parents tell stories of your childhood that embarrass you in front of your friends, and your friends tell stories of your more recent exploits that embarrass you in front of your parents. I remember at a friend's 21st her schoolmates told her parents the true story of how she totalled her Dad's van. He had no idea. Awkward much. I don't have anything to say about my embarrassing stories, except that I was sufficiently embarrassed, from all angles.

Anyway, Happy 21st Kristen. You've come a long way, baby. Now let's hope that fuckhawt boyf of yours has helped you to celebrate in style - with something a little more exciting than a poptart.

Anyone got any embarrassing 21st stories?