6 days and counting!

Aside from the countdown to Christmas – with the excitement of seeing loved ones and opening presents, our Christmas Eve has become just as important to my family and me as Christmas day. We look forward to our Christmas Eve party with great anticipation and enjoyment.

My family and I look forward to our annual Christmas Eve party. We start planning for it as soon as Thanksgiving is over. Crazy, huh? Every year it begins the same way: We browse through our cookbooks for new recipes and began making a list of food ideas, plan out games and fun activities, create music playlists, and of course the alcoholic beverages. Nothing spells ‘fun’ like a family planning their holiday party.

If you and your family are looking for some fun ways to enhance your own Christmas Eve party, I have some ideas that are delicious, fun, and economical. When it comes to serving up some holiday treats, there are a number of finger foods that are delicious and easy to cleanup afterwards. The choices are limitless for customizing your party of choice, and there are plenty of things your family will like.

1) Food Ideas:

Cocktail shrimp rings, caviar and crackers, crab dip, BBQ lil smokies, meatballs, vegetable platter, cheese ball, divinity, fruit cake, and Christmas cookies.

2) Game Ideas:

Cards, classic board games, Wii games, and bingo with prizes. For bingo, my family loves to buy gag gifts. Kid coloring books and crayons, soap dispensers, beef jerky, silly putty, and Old Maid card games are some of the fun prize ideas we’ve awarded the winners.

3) Music Ideas:

Any preference of music will do. My family and I like to kick start the evening with 90’s dance hits and later switch it to Christmas classics.

4) Drink Ideas:

My mom makes an awesome punch made with orange juice, champagne, 7-Up, and orange slices. You can never go wrong with a holiday punch. Wine and beer are always good choices, too.

5) Stocking Ideas:

Before we turn in for the evening and await Santa’s arrival, we pass out the stockings filled with all kinds of delights. Scratch-off cards have become a hit with the family and are always an inexpensive stocking stuffer. Lip balms, earrings, little action figures, key chains, candy, and puzzle games are also some great stuffer ideas and can be purchased under $5.

I hope some of my family’s traditions can help you plan your own for this holiday season. Thanks for reading. Merry Christmas! :)

Mary xoxo