How to Have a Successful Christmas Party

As Christmas nears, you may be thinking about hosting a Christmas party at your home. Whether it's your first time, or if you've had parties before that have needed improvement, here is a step-by-step guide to hosting a great Christmas party.

1. Think about what kind of party you want to have. Do you want to have a sit-down dinner party, or a mixer where everyone mingles amongst themselves?

2. Pick a date. Make sure you have ample time from the day to pick the date, to the date of the party, to prepare for the type of party you want to have.

3. Send out invites. Traditional mailed invitations are fine and dandy, but word-of-mouth, phone calls, and e-vites are more convenient. Make sure you include all the information: date, time, location, and what needs to be brought, if anything.

4. Shop. Make a list of all the items you need to pull off your party. This includes decorations and food. Don't forget to pick up paper plates, disposable cups, and plasticwear.

5. Do all your cleaning a day early, so you don't have to worry about that the day of your party. Make sure you get it all done, so it's out of site, out of mind.

6. Food. If you're doing a dinner party, chances are, you're making all of the food. Start early, to make sure you leave some extra time open, in case you make mistakes. If you're doing appetizers, chances are, you're going to make a few, and you've asked everyone else to bring a little something. Here is a list of ideas for appetizers, if you're looking for some. For Christmas appetizers, make sure you put them on festive plating. Also make sure you put your drinks in the fridge, so they are cold. Alternatively, you can wait a little longer, and put them in a cooler. If people are bringing appetizers, if they haven't already done so, have masking tape and a Sharpie to label their plates, so no one's items get lost.

7. Seating. This is very important, as some people may be uncomfortable standing. If you need extra seating, borrow from a neighbor, or ask your church if you can borrow some folding chairs for that day,

8. Entertainment. It's no secret that the excitement of Christmas parties can die down as the party wears on. To ensure people don't get too bored, make sure some Christmas music is playing in the background, and plan some games. My favorite is Dirty Santa. However, if you plan on playing this game, be sure to put in the invitations that each individual brings an inexpensive gag gift. You can always do a search on the web for activities. At the Christmas party I go to every year, the host prints out a piece of paper with images depicting different Christmas songs, and you have to guess what songs they are. Whoever gets the most wins (be sure to purchase inexpensive gifts, like gift cards, for winners.) Another big, entertaining hit at parties, is playing Catch Phrase.

9. Wrap up. Find a polite way to end the party. You don't have to tell everyone to leave. But just a friendly suggestion will do.

10. Clean up. Either yourself, or with the help of some generous friends at the party, make sure everything gets cleaned up, and everyone's dishes get returned to them. Don't forget to recycle your recyclable items!

If you want to host a successful Christmas party, follow these ten tips. You will then be a hit this holiday season, and will likely be a favorite person to host parties in the future!