I can barely contain myself; the holiday season is quickly approaching. It’s time to shop for gifts, decorate the tree, and plan for holiday parties! If it is your turn to host, you’ll benefit from these Christmas dinner party ideas. Take some time to look through the following tips. Then send out the invitations and get ready for some holiday cheer!
Have a Dessert Party
Avoid preparing a six-course dinner by throwing a dessert party. Bake Christmas cookies and treats in advance and freeze them. When it’s time for the party, pull out the desserts. Make cider and eggnog to go with the goodies. You can also ask guests to bring desserts for more variety.
Candy Cane Match
A friend gave me this idea. Buy a collection of assorted candy canes. Break each one of them in half. Hand out the various halves, giving one to every guest. Then ask them to find the missing half of their candy cane. This game also works with frosted Christmas cookies.
Eat and Run
There’s no rule that Christmas dinner parties have to be held inside your home. Suggest going to a holiday movie or Christmas event in the area. The group can eat out at a restaurant before or after the event.
For a variation of this Christmas dinner party idea, hold a quick meal in your home before the outing. Ask each guest to bring a dish or dessert. Enjoy the holiday food, and then head out to the movie or to view Christmas lights. This is a good way to spend time together without having to prepare huge meals and host a party all night long.
Deck the Halls
Ask each guest to bring a small Christmas wreath. When they arrive, have them place the wreath on a board or string them on a hanging cord outside. You can also buy materials for wreaths and have guests create their own during the party. Display the artwork and vote on the best wreaths. Hand out prizes to the winners.
Christmas Open House
For this party idea, send out invitations with the times of the open house listed. This way guests can drop in when they have a chance and leave when they need to. Set out a simple buffet, such as cheese and crackers, sausage, sandwiches and hot soup. You may want to have a “build your own eggnog sundae” area for fun. A table with frosting to decorate sugar cookies will keep the children busy. If you are feeling ambitious, have someone dressed up as Santa Claus ready to listen to guest’s wish lists.
Gift Exchanges
Consider having a gift exchange. We did this last year as we had a mixed group of friends over for a sit down dinner and not everyone knew each other. Ask each guest to bring a wrapped present. When all have arrived, have them sit in a circle. The first person chooses a gift and unwraps it. The next person does the same. This person then has the option of keeping the gift or exchanging it for one that is already opened. Besides gift exchanges, you can ask guests to bring cookies or ornaments to exchange.
Tips for Planning
To get ready for the Christmas dinner party, be sure to start planning early on. Start by making a guest list. Choose a theme and send out invitations. When thinking of Christmas dinner party ideas, remember to stick with foods and recipes that you have successfully made in the past. Make as many desserts and dinner dishes as possible ahead of time. Clean the house a week before the event. Set the table or buffet the day before the party.
You may want to ask others to help you with Christmas dinner party ideas. They can provide advice and extra hands to pitch in with the work. Plan ahead this holiday season; then sit back and enjoy the company of family and friends.
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9 comments:
Hey!!! Thanks for the tip. I was actually wanting to skip Christmas all together this year after what has happenend. But I guess a little Yuletide cheer can do a lot of good for everyone. I was thinking of getting the caterer but your idea seems a lot more fun. I am thinking of a DIY luncheon/ dinner cum carolling session at my place. U have any recipe ideas for that? At least the door gifts for all the guests have been bought from the trip in Bangkok. Bangkok is such a wonderful place to get all these stuff. Cheers!
tell the truth, Gin, I'm very not in da mood for xmas this year, but anyhooo.....the things you do for them lil kiddie you pop out, eh?
Are you planing a trad xmas lunch/dinner or malaysian style? lemme know, then maybe I can contribute recipe ideas lor. :-)
tk care!
Well, to tell you the truth, I'm not too keen on getting all worked up and sweaty in the kitchen lah, this time round. Learned from last year's Xmas bash. Mebbe some crossover/ fusion recipe. Forget Asian, coz the preparation itself is too tedious. Note to myself: Need to get the tree up ASAP! I've got new X'mas lights from BKK. They are funky!!
ooh, what's BKK? any tips on the decorating front? dunnolah, tis year not so inspired lah!
BKK=Bangkok. They have some really funky Xmas lightings and they are cheap! (RM15/box). Well, this year, I'm going for a more colorful theme rather than the normal frosty silver and gold. I'm Hanging colourful beads from SSF. The place and tree now looks awsome. I even have these colorful mini voodoo hanging on my tree. Hahahaha!!! I'll get the pics loaded up soon. So, any suggestions on the menu?
Eeek, you just made me very nervous. I am the only 'real Christian' (aka the baptised one) in the family and both inlaws and my siblings are asking me when is the party. Nervous nyerrr...And I hope the gahmen allows turkeys from USA (the one with the pop-up button) cos I hate french birds! Last year, they buat pasal and the shipment came in too late. I am finding excuses not to celebrate cos my laki baru dapat kerja baru and he won't have annual leave to help me. Help! I am freaking out. LOL.
BTW, terenceloh.com is back in action.
hi guys! sorry ginseng, I owe you a couple of recommendations but I'm kinda stumped for ideas at the moment....in fact, we're having TWO perties, so this year's going to be a bit tricky....
5xmom - you are too funny lah! I got EVERYONE asking to invite themselves over this xmas but this year betulbetul tarak mood coz we are very busy with my little sister's wedding which falls smack in the middle of it all, so....I know how you feel! Where you getting your bird? you nak masak sindiri or get mr ho's to do it for you? we got one from mr ho's last year, it was a tad dry, so am welcoming suggestions on where else to get a big bird for xmas. I'm not cooking that thing in my oven! I need it for other things!
Got the new Isetan catalogue. They are selling cooked turkey too. Slightly expensive, but considering on the hassle one needed to go through, it might be worth a shot. But have to order 1 day in advance lah. Why don't u try calling Isetan and see? BTW, Shaz, got my menu set up. It's going to be very simple and Asian (I know I'm eating my words..eekk!) Will be having a DIY beehoon kerabu main dish, ordered a couple of platter of good nyonya kuih's, and will be getting fried drummets and spring rolls for the kiddies (just in case!). I managed to get all my Xmas shopping done and wrapped!!! Woohoo!!! Now, it's just to prepare the food and get the pad cleaned.
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