Seasonal Celebrations ©

by

Phyllis Cambria

exclusively for

PartyPlansPlus.com

 

        With our shrinking planet and the multicultural diversity we enjoy in our communities, the holiday season brings not only great opportunities to join with a friends and family to celebrate the season, it can also bring some challenges.  For some people, hosting a Christmas celebration is perfectly acceptable.  For others, it's important to be mindful of the beliefs of our wide circle of family and friends.  With this in mind, in the following plan you will find an array of ideas suitable for traditional Christmas parties or those which are more seasonal, rather than religious-based.

 Invitations:

1.    Type the invitation on a piece of paper that's geared to your celebration (Christmas, Winter Wonderland, Snowman, Starry Night or generic)

2.    Roll and tie with colorful ribbon

3.    Insert the invitation into a clean, empty plastic soda, water, shampoo or salad dressing bottle.

         *       For a  Christmas party add:

                    * A sprig of pine (or a stem of rosemary which resembles a pine sprig), mini ornaments or Christmas trinkets

*       Winter Wonderland, Snowman or generic party add:       

*       Artificial snow or bits of white tissue paper

*       Starry Night Party add:

*       Glittery holiday confetti

5.    Attach appropriate festive stickers.  Add a pre-addressed label.

6.    Mail from the post office. (Be sure to mail one to yourself first to determine the length of time it takes to arrive and its condition.)

*       Remove the hook from a clear, plastic Christmas ornament.  Roll and insert your invitation, being careful to leave a little piece sticking out for easy retrieval.

 

Atmosphere:

*       Add a wreath to your door adorned with tiny birds, fruit or any ornaments you'd like. 

*       Attach candy pieces to your wreath for a whimsical welcome to a child's party

*       Let Santa greet your guests with a full-body cutout.

*       Snowman or Winter Wonderland

*       Add a snowman bucket or basket to your front door design.

*       Starry Night celebration

*       Drape your doorways and windows with shiny star garland.            

*       Greet your guests with  the sounds of  holiday music..

*       Tie  snow-flocked ribbons to your indoor plants to give them wintery feel.

*       Rim archways or tables with holiday garland .

*       Use fresh pine cones and fruits with candles as mantel decorations.

*       Fill a basket with pine cones, ornaments and pine sprigs. (After the holiday, place the pine cones outside for squirrels and birds, yet to fly south for the winter.)

*       Give your bathroom a holiday touch (and cut down on your laundry) by placing Christmas or snowman design guest towels for your company's use.

*       Suspend snowflakes cut from doilies  on white thread from the ceiling fan (set on low) to give guests a feeling of dining outdoors in a blizzard.

*       Line your walkway with luminarias you created from white, red or green paper snack/lunch bags, sand, votive candles, and paper punch (or use a very large needle to create) designs to let your dinner guests know they're on the right trail to your holiday happening.

*       Adorn the backs of each chair with a holiday garland or ribbons.

 

*       Add glow to the gathering with a collection of holiday candles such as a snow family creation for a Winter Wonderland or Snowman celebration or a red and green star-shaped pillar for a trim-a-tree or Christmas party.  Tiny candles in the shape of ornaments grouped together will create a festive fire.

*       Save hours of gift wrapping by simply using colorful gift bags which can be color-coordinated with your decor to really add sparkle under your tree.

 

Activities:

*       Take turns reading  Twas the Night Before Christmas

*       Bring out the camcorder or tape recorder and interview the guests (especially the elder family members) about memories of earlier holiday celebrations.  If you've done this in the past, play the previous tapes.  Add recollections of any guests who had not been to your previous taping.  Then make a copy of the tape(s) for each family and to send to out-of-area relatives who missed the celebration.

*       Get the kids to make up placecards by creating Christmas ball, snowflake, gingerbread man or snowman designs.

*       The kids also can cut out and decorate Christmas ball, snowflake, gingerbread man or snowman designs from light pieces of cardboard for use as trivets to keep hot plates from marring your table.

*       Ask each guest to bring a non-perishible food item to make up a basket to give to a less fortunate family through your church or temple.  There will be an even greater need after the holiday when many folks forget about their giving spirit but your area's less fortunate still need food.

*       Collect everyone's favorite leftover turkey, ham or other meat or seafood dish recipe you generally serve and share with all the guests.

*       Share your good fortune by inviting friends or neighbors who may be celebrating the holiday alone.

*       Ask each guest to share a special "thank you" as a gift to someone at the celebration who was particularly helpful to them that year.

*       Instead of having everyone sit and enjoy their gifts on Christmas morning (or on Christmas Eve), bring your family to help out at a local soup kitchen.  It's a great gift to share with your children by giving them an appreciation of their own good fortune and to teach generosity of spirit.

*       Encourage younger guests to look through their toys or clothing for items in good condition to take to donate to a shelter or charity.

*       Have each guest write a letter to someone who is serving overseas in the armed services to thank him or her for their efforts. Contact your local chapter of the American Red Cross for information on writing to a serviceman or woman. To find a local chapter, go to:  http://www.redcross.org or look in your Yellow Pages.

  

Refreshments:

*       Ask each guest to bring a favorite dish and then compile a list of menu items and the chef's name to create a program to put at each guest's place setting.  It won't be a hardship on your guests who will enjoy being able to participate and it will be less work for you.

*       Tie ribbon or garland to stemmed glasses for greater holiday flair.

*       Food will be more festive when set into holiday designed platters and bowls.

*       Lightly spray your tablecloth with hairspray, then while the cloth's still damp, sprinkle holiday style confetti and then mist it again with hairspray to help set the pieces.  Let dry and set your table as usual.  After the party, use a small brush to loosen the confetti and shake inside a plastic trash bag.

*       Try one new recipe to share with your guests and be sure to have copies of the recipe on hand to share.  (Don't serve too many untried dishes to ensure you have enough food favorites.)

*       Give a gift to yourself by substituting paper plates for china in one of a variety of designs to serve hors d'oeuvres or dessert.  Solids in green and red foil can be the basis of your own creative settings. Don't forget that plastic glassware will save you time in the kitchen as well.

*       Cut paper towel, toilet tissue or wrapping paper tubes into 1-2 inch sections and have children pretty them up with colored yarn, paints, paper, stickers and/or glued trinkets for use as napkin rings.

*       Wrap utensils in napkin packets and place in a whimsical basket or bucket at the end of your buffet table.    Holiday napkins complement the holders.   

            *     Set the stars out to dazzle on your holiday table, plates, napkins,  garland, confetti all in  silver and gold star designs.

Party Favors, Gifts and Prizes:

*       Compile a packet of dinner recipes to share with your guests.

*       A book of Holiday stories  from around the world will keep guests grateful for years.

*       Every home will be merry with a holly design napkin holder

*       Kids will love treat packs, without or without the snack when they come in a Santa puppet style packets.. Neat little cup wraps make a game of holiday refreshments.

*       Kid-sized books with holiday themes will keep them busy.     Let them don their own Santa's Helper hat, that you've personalized with their names hand-painted on.                                                  

*       An instant photo with Santa or against your festive background will be a keepsake especially when in a colorful folder, plain white for your own decoration or in a "Santa" or "Snowman" design.  Digital photo frames, too. InstantPhotoFrames.com.

For many of the items mentioned in red, visit the following sites to check on ordering information.

Celebration Fantastic

Unique gifts and decor at PlumParty.com

 Back to Holiday Links

Holiday Decor Makeover Release

Executive Entertaining Etiquette

©All rights reserved, 2002, Phyllis Cambria

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