Holly: Hi Samira!

Samira: Hi Holly! What’s up?

Holly: I have a huge problem: my birthday’s coming up soon.

Samira: Why is that a problem? I’ve already got a present for you and I’m looking forward to your party because your mum makes the best cakes.

Holly: Remember how my mum took us horse riding last year? That was great! And the year before I had that fantastic “Frozen” theme party! She asked me what kind of party I wanted this year – and I have no idea.

Samira: You could just throw a fancy-dress party. Everyone loves to dress up and it’d be just like Halloween.

Holly: No, I’d like to have a real theme party.

Samira: Hm, let me think … I have a fantastic idea. Do you know Holi?

Holly: Of course – that’s me.

Samira: No, I mean H – O – L – I, the festival that’s celebrated in India and Nepal. Have you heard of it? It takes place in spring, usually in March – the same month as your birthday! People celebrate the colours of spring and that the good things always win over the bad things. They throw coloured water at each other and sing and dance. You could do something like that!

Holly: My mum wouldn’t like that. Just imagine her face if we threw coloured water at each other in our apartment. She’d have a heart attack.

Samira: We could do it a little bit differently. Let’s paint each other’s faces and buy white T-shirts to draw on with coloured pens. I could also help you make colourful invitation cards.

Holly: Sounds like fun. I’ll talk to my mum about it and then we’ll see. I always love your ideas!

Samira: You still have a lot of time left. Your birthday is on the 15th and it’s not even March yet. I already know what I’m going to do on my birthday this year. I’m going to throw a pool party. Did you know my parents bought a swimming pool? I just hope it’ll be warm enough.

Holly: Lucky you! It’s always easy to have ideas for a summer birthday party!