Ideas For Holiday Parties

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 It's that time of the year where holiday parties abound.  It's fun to get together to enjoy each other's company, eat, dance and to celebrate the holidays.  It's nice to have a specific theme or focus to your party, too so the guests know what to expect.   Here are some basic party ideas.

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One of the most popular is the cookie exchange.  A certain number of guests are invited and each will bring a predetermined number of cookies to divide with the other party guests.  It's a great way to try new cookies and discover new recipes.

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 The white elephant gift exchange party tends to be quite fun (especially if you have a rambunctious crowd).  The rules are simple, each person brings a wrapped gag gift to exchange.  The guests take turns choosing a new gift to unwrap or having the option of taking an unwrapped gift from someone else.  There ends up being a lot of taking and exchanging gifts which adds to the fun.  Especially when the items are strange, silly or just plain odd.

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 I've been to ornament exchange parties that have been done a few different ways.  One way is to ask each guest to bring one ornament, either from a store or handmade.  They then exchange them in a similar way as the white elephant party.  I attended an ornament exchange a few years ago where each person handmade twelve different ornaments and exchanged them at the party with the other twelve guests.  Each person ended up with a dozen new ornaments.  It was fun but a lot of work.  There was also a range of the quality of the ornaments, too.  This type of party would probably be best with guests of similar crafting abilities.  Another idea would be for the guests to actually make an ornament at the party.

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Another theme similar to the cookie or ornament exchange is to have each guest bring handmade gift tags or cards to exchange with the other party attendees.

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Gaining in popularity is the ugly or tacky sweater party.  Each guest just wears a hideously tacky Christmas sweater.  Goodwill, Salvation Army and grandma's closet are usually great resources.  While shopping, be on the lookout for anything from the 1980's either with a Christmas motif or just a snazzy sequined design.
This can also be done like the white elephant gift exchange where guests unwrap and exchange the sweaters.

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Not all parties have to be centered around gifts.  A service exchange where each guest writes down a service they will perform can be exchanged in a similar fashion to the white elephant exchange.  Other ideas are that guests can bring canned goods or items to donate to a local shelter or food pantry.  Guests can meet to volunteer at a soup kitchen, Blue Santa or other charity or decorate a nursing home for Christmas.  Also inviting a few friends over to share in one of your family's holiday traditions.  And of course, the simplest and most traditional party idea is to go caroling.  (As Buddy the Elf would say..."The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.")

What are some of your holiday party ideas?