Margaret Thatcher party packs: A celebration of a lifetime?

Margaret Thatcher, Britain's longest-serving prime minister since Queen Victoria was on the throne, has died at the age of 87. 

The Iron Lady — as she is colloquially called — was a polarizing figure to be sure, so perhaps it should come as no surprise that the news of her death has triggered an outpouring of merriment in addition to mourning.

Yes, anti-Thatcherites the world over are throwing parties to celebrate her passing. And not any old shindig cobbled together at the last minute.

No, no — while Thatcher's stroke-induced death shocked many this morning, for those who hated the former PM, today marks the end of years of what appears to be years of logistical party planning.

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In fact, at a TUC (Trades Union Council) conference in September 2012, a self-defined socialist bookstall called Bookmark, was hawking party packs emblazoned with, "Ding Dong, Thatcher’s Gone." The packs boast on the cover that they contain 'everything you need to celebrate the big day.’

What exactly does one need to celebrate Thatcher's death, you ask?

Well, according to the Daily Mail, the boxes house specialty themed balloons, party whistles, indoor fireworks and special invitation cards to hand out to your friends all in a conveniently-sized collectable cardboard box.

But the fun doesn't stop with the party pack.

According to The Telegraph, mugs and novelty T-shirts proclaiming "I still hate Thatcher" and "A generation of trade unionists will dance on her grave," were sold in anticipation of Thatcher's death.

Talk about morbid.

These party favors and other Thatcher-themed paraphernalia have been condemned by many as grotesque and disrespectful, but that hasn't stopped the goodies from flying off the shelves.

If the increased Thatcher-party-chatter on Twitter and Facebook is any indication of enthusiasm level, owners of the said party packs are chomping at the bit to finally crack open their box o'supplies.

When asked about the goings-on in London in the wake of Thatcher's passing, GlobalPost's senior Europe correspondent, Corinne Purtill, said: "Just got my first invitation to a party celebrating the Iron Lady's demise."

For now all we can do is eagerly wait for a full post-party wrap up from the field — but in the meantime, we will have to be content in knowing that the party ain't over until the Iron Lady-whistles ring.