Party horn

A party horn

Party horn multipack

A party horn (also known as a party blower) is a paper noisemaker which unfurls and produces a horn-like noise when a person blows into it. Party horns may be distributed at birthday parties, New Year's Eve, and other celebrations to create festive noise.

Children blow party horns at a birthday party

English does not have a single, consistent term for this but different places employ neologisms and variants with synonyms of blowing (puffing, blowout etc.) and onomatopoeic names (whistle, squeak etc.).^{[citation needed]} The term for party horn in several other languages translates to "a mother in law's tongue" (e.g. Portuguese língua de sogra).

The party horn became a popular party favor in the early 1900s.^[1] Modern variations have a plastic mouthpiece to prevent damage to the paper from moisture of the mouth. The paper tube often contains a coiled metal or plastic strip that rapidly retracts the horn after it is blown. Others have a brightly coloured feather attached to the end which vibrates in the outgoing airflow.^{[citation needed]} Party horns are often sold in multi-packs for parties and other celebratory events.

Blooper and the Phillie Phanatic, each a mascot of a Major League Baseball team, have party horns in their ears and as a tongue.

The world record for the most people blowing party horns at one time was set on November 21, 2009 with 6091 people in Tokyo, Japan.^[2] In September 2020, David Rush and Eirinn Hannon, both from Idaho, made 108 toots from party blowers in one minute, breaking a previous Guinness World Record of 78.^[3][4] They were required to alternate each toot.

See also

• Bourdon tube
• Party popper

References

1. "Homemade Noisemaker Activity". Iowa.gov. Retrieved 11 April 2026.
2. "Most people blowing party blowers simultaneously". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
3. "Watch: Idaho duo break their own record for party blower toots - UPI.com". UPI. Retrieved 2026-04-13.
4. "Watch: Idaho men take on Guinness record for party blower toots - UPI.com". UPI. Retrieved 2026-04-13.