Photo Credit: Alison Duke
This year, why not really celebrate what the holidays are about -- family and friends -- by throwing a party!
Here are a few ideas to get the party started:
Tree Trimming:
Invite all your guests to bring an ornament to hang on your tree. Go around the room and make everyone tell a story about the ornament they chose. When the last one is hung, you do the honors of adding the tree topper and plugging in the lights!
Cocktails:
Serve one or two specialty cocktails, a white wine, and flat or sparking water. This helps save money, and keeps you from playing bar tender all night.
Photo Credit: Peter Bohler
Here are a few to pick from:
- Pomegranate Martini
- Traditional Egg Nog
- Champagne Cocktail -- try a Perrier Jouet Fraise Sauvage!
- Hot, Buttered Rum
Photo Credit: Peter Bohler
Karaoke:
After a few cocktails, surely it is time for some Christmas karaoke! It is fun to mix the traditional Christmas songs with some oldies pop Christmas songs. Here are our traditional and modern holiday song recommendations:
Traditional:
- "Frosty The Snowman"
- "Jingle Bells"
- "We Wish You A Merry Christmas"
- "Have Yourself a Merry Little Xmas"
- "White Christmas"
- "Silent Night"
- "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"
Modern:
- "All I Want for Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey
- "The Chanukah Song" by Adam Sandler
- "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" by U2
- "Jingle Bell Rock" by Billy Idol
- "Wish List" by Neon Trees
Not into karaoke? How about playing a few games instead!
Games:
White Elephant Gift Exchange: This game can be downright righteous. Nothing like watching your shy uncle Fred duke it out with you B.F.F. over the entire series of Sex and the City.
Two Truths and a Lie: This is a great ice-breaker if you have a lot of guests that do not know each other. Each guest needs to go up to someone they don't know and tell three stories; two of them are lies and one of them is the truth. For the holidays, make guests tell holiday related stories, such as, their worst Christmas present ever.
Name That Carol: Make a list of lyrics from songs that only provides three to four words from each song (not the title). The person who names all -- or the most -- songs in a certain amount of time, wins.
Whatever you decide to do at the party, make sure you have fun and spend time with those that you love. 'Tis the season!