As the holiday party season quickly approaches, family and friends become inundated with demands on both their time and pocketbooks. Fortunately hosting a party where people can get together, work on their shopping list, give back to others, and enjoy themselves all at the same time is completely realistic with a little creativity and initiative.
Cards Party
Many families send out holiday cards every year with a picture, family letter, and maybe a brief personal note. It takes time to buy, write, and address these cards, time that is often spent in a vacuum. Instead of a traditional holiday party, host a cards party where everyone brings their holiday cards to fill out together. A cards party works best in small groups. While attendees will focus on their cards, they will also talk and exchange reminiscences about their year.
Adding a “giving back” element to the party is simple. Hosts can choose an area such as children in the hospital, older adults in assisted living homes, or troops serving overseas, and attendees can address individual cards to them as well. Or the party can purchase holiday cards sold by churches or other nonprofit organizations as fundraisers.
DIY Party
When most people hear do-it-yourself or crafts, they think of potpourri, yarn and the gifts children bring home from school art class. But with the emergence of Stitch and Bitch parties and the renewed interest in knitting and sewing, crafty parties and DIY holiday gifts are cool again, not to mention economical. A holiday crafts party is an excellent venue for friends and family to gather and put together their holiday gifts. Crafts parties do not have to be limited to sewing, but can encompass photography albums or scrapbooking, Internet orders through sites such as Shutterfly, and personalizing pre-bought gifts.
DIY parties and crafts parties are the perfect venues for sharing holiday cheer, both directly and indirectly. Hosts can have a food drive by asking guests to bring culinary staples to put together a holiday food basket for a local food pantry. Similarly, guests can bring ornaments or decorations, or make an extra of whatever craft they are compiling to send abroad to bring holiday cheer to soldiers. Or the theme of the party can be making or gathering items for those who need them.
Carols Party
The days of Christmas caroling seem to be well in the past, but they don’t have to be. A carols party is a fantastic way to ring in the season, even for those who are tone deaf. Hosts play only carols for background music, organize a neighborhood caroling outing, or just sit around the fireplace acting like children. Caroling goes hand-in-hand with hot chocolate and hot apple cider, and is good for all ages.
Additionally, caroling at a senior center, children’s ward in the hospital, or soup kitchen is guaranteed to brighten someone’s day. All the “host” need do for this party is organize the when and where details and guests can just arrive. To tie the carols party together everyone can return to the host’s home or go out together post-caroling.
Anne Chekal - I am a freelance writer, grant writer, and professional researcher who works in the non-profit arena, primarily with social service ...
