I have a letter written by Jack Carroll on February 12, 1942 to a person in Everett, Washington, which explains the early workers' attitudes towards parties. The letter was written giving the workers rules regarding wedding ceremonies, receptions and showers.
The workers disapproved of "frivolity" and the "customs of the world." They didn't believe in sending invitations for any kind of gathering. They didn't believe in inviting people to any occasion where gift giving might be expected.
He said, "The parties getting married should remember that the friends to whom such invitations are sent are only theirs as a result of the labor and sacrifice of others and that they never would have known them apart from the gospel. It has been said that the underlying purpose of this needless advertisement is usually selfish and mercenary."
"We have heard of showers in connection with some marriages accompanied by lightness and a spirit of frivolity most unbecoming to the children of God. We cannot approve of such gatherings. If any wish to make a present to either party, they can send it by mail or deliver it personally and thus avoid any conditions or circumstances that would grieve the Holy Spirit of God."
When I was young most of the workers did not allow anyone to have any kind of gathering unless the workers were present. Sings were not usually allowed either, without permission. And when they were present, there was no frivolity allowed. The children were made to behave as if they were sitting in meeting.
Birthday parties were rather suppressed. Of course, some families ignored this, but they didn't usually invite anyone but close family members.
The workers wanted people to think that their way of life had been around since Jesus was in Galilee but the fact that they had to give people instructions in wedding protocol proved that their way of life was new, not old. They definitely wouldn't have approved of the wedding Jesus attended.
The workers have always used words in an unusual way in order to control people. By using the words "get together" instead of "party" they were able to demand different behavior. The word party automatically defines a happy occasion....."Get together" defines somber behavior, much in the same way the word "privilege" means work and "visit" means admonition or trouble.
Can you think of other euphemisms that the workers use control people or deceive them? How about penniless, homeless, grace, God, mercy, forgiveness, truth, profess, friend, love, testimony, etc.