Christmas Party Ideas
Here are some suggestions for your next Christmas Party.
Party Planning
- Think of a special theme for your party, such as Nutcracker, Christmas Toys, Christmas Sweets, Let it Snow, etc., and decorate according to the theme, including the ornaments on your Christmas tree, party supplies and invitations, and even the guest soaps and decor in the bathroom!
- See our general party planning tips for a full party planning timetable.
- Visit our pages: Holiday Party Supply Information | Free Printable Holiday Gift Tags
Decorations
- A bowl of plain Christmas ornament balls can be lovely. Using a crystal or festive bowl, fill it with ornaments in a size that fits well with the bowl; use all the same size or different sizes ornaments. They can be all one color (gold, silver, red, or green), two colors (red and green, silver and gold, silver and red, etc.) or several colors mixed in together. Add a Christmas bow, a couple of special ornaments, or some small pine cones for variety. A crocheted Christmas doily under the bowl adds a special touch, or wrap a short piece of tinsel garland around the base of the bowl. A little toy train on a track around the bowl could be cute.
- Remember: aromas help set the atmosphere. Spiced apple cider keeping warm in a crock pot, the smell of fresh-baked cookies, cinnamon or bayberry candles, a freshly cut Christmas tree or greenery...select one or two scents to focus on so there isn't too much competition. A crackling fire in the fireplace gives aroma, a holiday glow, and entertainment.
- Lights! Whether it's lights on the tree, electric candelabras in the windows, or string lights decorating the room, use them to add festivity to your party space. There are lighting choices to fit every budget, and something really simple can look spectacular is placed just right! (One thing we do every year: we have a string of colored icicle lights, which we wrapped with an equal length of silver tinsel garland along the cord. It hangs in our kitchen doorway, where we can enjoy it from the kitchen or the den. We leave the three little nails it hangs on above the door frame year-round, since you don't really notice them. Then at Christmas, we take it out of the box, hang it up and presto - it's Christmas!)
- Live Poinsettia plants or Norfolk Island Pines in decorative containers can be placed at an entryway, on a food table, or by the fireplace (not too close!) For a special touch, get a piece of fabric or heavy wrapping paper--in a solid metallic color or a Christmasy plaid--to wrap around the plant pot. Tie with a pretty elastic ribbon to hold it on the container. Fold over and tuck in the ends of the cloth behind the ribbon to finish it off nicely, or tuck the extra inside the pot if you are using double containers. If using paper, just trim it a little above the edge of the pot and fold it over a bit inside the pot.
Food Ideas
- Try our recipes for Wassail and Vegan Egg Nog.
- Spice Cupcake Muffins - our own wheat-free recipe.
- Baked cherry tomatoes - wash, cut in half, place closely together, cut side up on a non-stick or lightly oiled baking sheet. Top with some fresh or dried herbs (oregano, basil) and a little salt. Pop them in a 300 degree oven for a few minutes to warm them up. Remove from oven, and let them cool just a little. Place on a serving tray with bits of parsley as garnish in between them, and there you have it...a lovely, low-calorie Christmas appetizer.
- Buy or make some cheese pizzas. After baking, cut into bite size pieces, place on a serving dish, and sprinkle some fresh chopped sweet peppers on top (some red, some green). Or use crackers, top with pizza sauce or spaghetti sauce, sprinkle on a little oregano, top with grated cheese. After baking, top with sweet peppers as above.
- For guests who are on a milk-free diet, get some Christmas candy molds, melt some milk-free chocolate, such a Ghiradelli semi-sweet chocolate baking chips, in a double boiler or microwave. Pour it into the molds. Remove when cooled. They'll really appreciate a treat they can eat!
Activities
- Pin the tail game variations: Pin the Sack on Santa, etc.
- Make ornaments, then decorate the tree with them! Good old fashioned fun! String popcorn (unbuttered!) and cranberries for a garland.
- Make peanut butter filled pine cone feeders for the birds!
- Karaoke with Christmas songs, the modern twist on singing Christmas carols.
- Make, decorate and bake Christmas cookies. Use Christmas cookie cutters or decorate round cookies with icing, sprinkles, etc. Christmas M&M cookies are always popular.
- Make a gingerbread house before the party, and let the guests have fun decorating it.
- Make Christmas wrapping paper. Take large plain sheets of white or brown paper. Use ink stamps, markers, and/or finger paints to decorate them to use for wrapping gifts!
Party Favors
- Get some red and or/green netting. Cut in circles 8 to 10" in diameter. Fill with Hershey's Kisses and Christmas trinkets. Tie with a pretty Christmas ribbon.
- After Christmas this year, buy some little Christmas items for next year's party favors! You'll get more bang for your buck.