4. HAVE YOUR GUESTS PARTICIPATE IN CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES

Sure you can let your guests just chat and eat, but this is a Christmas party, so we demand that you do some Christmas-y things. Here are some suggestions:

Trim the tree
Go Christmas caroling
Make cookies
Exchange gifts

Trim the tree

We already touched upon this earlier, but we'd like to reiterate that this is the perfect dorky activity for a Christmas party (especially after everyone has already had a few drinks). Purposely leave your tree naked, and invite your guests to dress it up for you. Lay out your collection of ornaments and lights, as well as art materials like construction paper, glue, glitter, cardboard, magic markers, yarn, cotton balls, and popcorn. It'll be a fun group activity and everyone can take pride in the finished product. Even if it comes out hideously, it'll be funny. And you can always re-trim it after the party is over!

Go Christmas caroling

Here's a site with the lyrics of popular Christmas carols. Print out copies of your favorites, hand them out to your guests, and go caroling around the block. Here are some extra tips on caroling:

  • Inform your guests of your intentions to lead them on a caroling expedition, so they'll know to bring gloves, hats, and scarves.

  • If you go caroling at night, bring along a couple of flashlights, in case it gets too dark for your group to read the song sheets.

  • Ring your neighbors' doorbell and wait one minute before moving on. If your neighbors don't appreciate your musical stylings, don't push it.

  • Buy some drinks that you can heat up, like hot chocolate or cider, and prepare it for the carolers when they get back to warm them up.

Make cookies

Instead of having the gingerbread men already made for your guests, gather the ingredients and get your guests to make the cookies themselves. Baking is another great group activity. You can have your guests bake several kinds at once - just make sure you've got enough materials. Here are tons of cookie recipes.

Exchange gifts

  • Secret Santa style. If you've invited a small group and your guests all basically know each other, ask them if they'll agree to a Secret Santa gift exchange. If everyone is game, arrange for it to happen. Here's how:

    1. Throw everyone's names into a hat and draw "Secret Santas" for everyone at least two weeks before the party. (Or you, as host, can stay out of it and assign everyone a Secret Santa via e-mail.)

    2. Inform each guest that they are the Secret Santa for someone else and must buy a present for him/her. Set up a spending limit of $10 to $15 (or some other range with a discrepancy of $5).

    3. Ask your guests to wrap the presents, label them appropriately, and stick them under the Christmas tree upon arrival. Then designate a segment of your party to opening up each others' gifts.

  • Grab bag style. Make sure that everyone is willing to participate in a grab bag before you decide to hold one at your party. Then limit everyone's spending to $10 to $15. On the day of the party, get a large garbage bag and have your guests throw their (wrapped) gifts into it. Designate a segment of your party to randomly picking out gifts and opening them. To be particularly fun, institute a rule of no gift certificates, lottery tickets, or anything else that could be construed as a cop-out.

    So that's it! Throw a great party and save us some food…but no fruitcake, please. We already have 8 of them.