So you have decided to jump in and have a Christmas party this year. That's Fantastic!
And after reading the first installment of this series, Planning A Christmas Party (Part 1), you have a good handle on the decorating scheme for the party. Have you decided how you are going to decorate yet? Good.
The next most important aspect of your Christmas or holiday party planning should be what type of theme you want to encourage for your guests. I say "encourage" because unless your party is a real formal affair where folks attend a party dressed to the nines with the expectation of being entertained for the evening, it will be up to you, and your committee if you have one, to decide just what will be happening at the party.
Having a themed Christmas or holiday party, is a wonderful way to put some fun and a unique spin on a fairly common tradition. Here are some examples of a few of the more popular Christmas party theme ideas.
Have a Cookie Exchange Party: This one is good idea for a lunch time party in the workplace but can work just as well for a home party. Everyone brings in a couple dozen homemade cookies. ( You will obviously have to set a particular number of cookies that everyone brings beforehand.) After the lunch has been served, the cookie swap usually begins by encouraging the guests to walk around and mingle with each other.
Each partygoer starts with 2 plates. One that has their cookies on it, and an empty plate. As each person goes around the room, they take a cookie off someone else's plate and exchange it with one of their own. So if everyone brought to the party 3 dozen cookies, say, then everyone gets to take home 3 dozen cookies. This is not a particularly unique idea, but one that brings a bit of fun into the workplace.
Christmas Gift Wrapping Party: For a fun and offbeat tradition, these parties are a lot of fun. Get a 
group of friends, co-workers or family together to wrap their gifts while sharing in some holiday cheer. Hosts may serve finger-foods and desserts, or just about anything they choose. Guests can also be encouraged to bring in their favorite holiday-related foods. Each partygoer usually brings some gift wrap along with ribbons and any other items such as scissors or scotch tape and any other decorations they may need to accomplish their gift wrapping.
Christmas Movie Party: Another good choice for a themed Christmas party that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, and that works well when inviting both friends and family, is a themed party based on a well-known Christmas movie such as "Its A Wonderful Life" or "A Christmas Story." You can get really creative here and incorporate different elements from whatever movie you choose to base your theme on, and your guests get to watch a great movie in the process.
Christmas Tree Decorating Party: Why not have a Christmas tree decorating event? Everyone brings 6 ornaments and as a group, decorates the tree. This is a great way to share the Christmas spirit with loved ones, or if at work, to build team spirit while enjoying the holiday. And the end result ... a beautifully decorated Christmas tree for the home or office.
I'm sure that at least one of the themes listed above, will help you to get your creative juices flowing. Just take an idea and then slice-and-dice it, to suit your own unique needs.
But wait ... there's more.
In the spirit of giving, I'd like to offer a couple of additional themes for your Christmas party that you can design as your own unique statement.
Nothing brings people together like a group activity designed to help others. What if you took that to heart and started a new tradition with your friends, your family and your co-workers this year?
What if you came up with an activity designed to help those less fortunate?
- You might adopt a local family and everyone in your home or office purchases items for that family.
- You might choose instead, to purchase Christmas trees for less fortunate families.
- If you work in a business that the public visits, you might even begin a "sharing" tree and people can bring items to put under the tree for les fortunate families or foster children.
- Maybe you want to encourage friends, family and co-workers to gather supplies for the local animal shelter.
- Then, as a group activity, maybe even instead of a Christmas or holiday party, your family, friends or your co-workers, can then deliver these items to their intended recipients.
Let's call this party theme ... a theme of Christmas Love and Goodwill .
This article got me thinking about the office parties that I have attended over the years with the secret Santa format.
It would have been nicer to have done something for thoses less fortunate instead.
That would have shown the true meaning of Christmas, that of Giving!
Ernie B
Posted by: Ernie Bunker | December 03, 2006 at 05:31 PM