a compound reveal: the gender-reveal party

[Laurence Horn]

In today's Style section, an article--
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/08/fashion/at-parties-revealing-a-babys-gender.html
--goes into some detail on a new trend, the "gender-reveal party":
===========================
A Boy or Girl? Cut the Cake
By ALEX WILLIAMS and KATE MURPHY

THE house was filled with balloons and confetti, the chips and artichoke spinach dip were ready, and the guests, about 25 of them, were decked out in team colors, ready to cheer. Minutes before the party kicked off, they eagerly cast votes on the outcome.

But this festive gathering, held recently at the Miami home of Carolina and Carl Marrelli, was not a Super Bowl celebration. The decorations were all in very un-N.F.L. pinks and powder blues, and the sides involved were “Team Boy” and “Team Girl.”

This was a gender-reveal party, during which expectant parents share the moment they discover their baby’s sex, unveiling results of the ultrasound test among loved ones (often replaying the moment later on Facebook or other social media). It’s the rare surprise party that people can give for themselves.

Until recently a little-known practice, the concept is quickly becoming a pre-parenting custom, a dress rehearsal of sorts — or sometimes a replacement — for the baby shower. 
==============

There are several other references in the article to the popularity of the "gender-reveal party", and one to "gender-reveal party discussion threads".  (No references to the "sex-reveal party", which might suggest a different sort of social event.)  And from the write-up, it appears that the Gender-Reveal Party is more popular than its Republican and Democratic rivals combined.  

LH

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org