Christmas Games

It’s possible that no other single activity really embraces camaraderie, playfulness, and fierce (but friendly) competition as heartily participating in playing indoor games with friends and family. Christmas games do all those things but also serve the purpose of bringing friends and family together to interact directly with each other in a competitive and happy way.

Participating in Christmas games is another way of sharing, but it is also doing something tangible to get into the festive, jolly, and relaxed mood for the holidays. Otherwise, it’s easy to get caught up in all the preparation and shopping and become ridden with anxiety. Here are some holiday and Christmas games that will cause fierce but friendly competition and leave everyone in a jolly mood.

For the “Gift Wrap” game, items needed will be small gifts, wrapping paper, scotch tape, and music that can be turned on and off at will. Each gift item is wrapped in several layers of paper. The number of layers used will depend on how long you want the game to last. A gift is given to the group which should start passing around the gift when the music starts. Whenever the music stops, whoever has the gift should remove one layer of gift wrap. This continues until the last layer of paper is removed. Whoever has the gift unwrapped gets to keep it.

The items needed for the “Sock Guessing” Christmas game are two or three thick, new thermal socks, items used or seen during Christmas, pens, pencils, and paper. Each sock is stuffed with 20-25 items that are used or seen during the Christmas season. These can be useful items such as scotch tape, ornaments, decorations, etc. Each sock should have the same items and the opening should be tied with a ribbon so the contents inside aren't visible. The socks are then passed around for each person to try to feel and guess the items then write down what they think is in the sock. The person with the most correct guesses of objects is the winner and can be awarded a special gift or token.

The “'Gift Grab Card Game” requires two decks of cards and a few small Christmas gifts that are wrapped to look very interesting and enticing. One deck of cards is passed out one card at a time to guests. Each should have an equal number of cards from the deck. The gifts are then placed in the center of the group. Someone then calls out cards from the second deck. Whoever has the matching card gets to choose a gift. When all the gifts are taken, everyone can steal gifts from each other until the deck is finished and those with gifts get to open and keep them as prizes. The fun increases when the stealing begins, because everyone will have different ideas about which gift looks interesting and will try to hang onto it by stealing it over and over if it is stolen.

A children's Christmas game is “Pin the Nose on the Reindeer,” which is the Christmas version of “Pin the Tail on the Donkey.” The items needed are a drawing of a reindeer's head, with an incomplete drawing of the nose, and several noses with the names of the children on one side and tape on the other. The picture should be placed against a wall so that children can reach the nose. Each child then gets a nose. They take turns being blindfolded, spun around a couple times to disorient them a little, then told to walk to the reindeer to place the nose on the picture. The child who places the nose closes to the reindeer's nose wins.

A delightful Christmas game for work is the “Match the Desk to the Item” game. A day or so before the Christmas party at work, someone needs to secretly take one item from each person's desk and assign a number to each item. At the party, all the items are displayed for everyone to guess whose desk the item belongs to.

Holiday Parties at Home

Holiday Parties at Home

It can be very satisfying to cater to friends, family, and loved ones during the Christmas holidays. Taking the time to share food, fun, and laughter in a happy, jovial manner truly embraces the spirit of Christmas.

In deciding to have a party at home, one of the first things to consider is whether it will be formal or informal. Among the key things that must be considered are the number of people to attend, the menu, the preparation of food, and the arrangement of decorations that are attractive and festive. It's also important to make a note of how much, if any, help will be available from friends or family members.

A formal Christmas party likely would include a small number of people - not more than 12 and likely fewer - who would be seated at a table for the duration of the meal. It means that place settings and seating arrangements have to be done and a decision made on whether the meal will be a three- or four-course dinner.

The advantage of a formal dinner is that it is very organized, it has a known content, and everyone around the table usually engages in pleasant conversation. It also usually provides a good opportunity to get to know and hear from everyone present without having to initiate any small talk, which some people are not comfortable doing.

As the host of a formal dinner, you will also have the responsibility of keeping the meal flowing smoothly by having each course brought out at the perfect timing and also by being aware of any special needs that a guest may have.

In contrast, an informal Christmas party at home is organized in a different manner and does not have the predictability of a formal one. The fun and festive spirit of an informal holiday party comes from groups of people who mill around, move about freely to have conversations, laugh, and enjoy munching on Christmas treats, goodies, and other foods.

Despite the easy, fun-filled atmosphere, it is necessary to plan the use of space and to think about the area that people will use or wander around. Making such a plan will facilitate contact between partygoers so that the party spirit will pervade everywhere and put participants in a livelier mood.

Another consideration to make for an informal Christmas party among friends and family is if children will be present. Children, even older ones, need careful supervision. If children are going to attend a holiday party at home, arrangements should be made for adequate supervision for them and special activities should also be provided that can occupy their attention.

An important feature that must be a part of a festive Christmas party at home is the right mix of music. In selecting Christmas music, consideration should be given to what will be played at the start of the party as guests are welcomed and introduced to each other, the songs that can be played later to inject or enhance liveliness, and even later to create the right mood as the partygoers bid farewell with “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays.”

Along with the music, Christmas decorations, and even the food, can also help to enliven a Christmas party at home. Food that is interesting because it looks pretty, due to the color palette of items, infuses a mellow feeling among guests and adds an intangible element to the level of enjoyment and excitement of the partygoers.

Christmas parties at home can also be personalized with special cookies, treats, and dishes that are ethnic. The presence of some ethnic food, but not an overwhelming quantity, will be different and will add something that is unique to the host. That is a part of what a Christmas or holiday party at home is about. It's to entertain family, friends, and acquaintances with a personal style, while enjoying some merriment in the season of goodwill and good cheer.

Holiday Parties at Work

During Christmas and the holiday season, the festive spirit and relaxed mood extends into the workplace where the pace is likely to slow considerably as the volume of work is lessened. By having parties at work, everyone can unwind a bit, have some fun, and enjoy the satisfaction from the results of a year of hard work. Colleagues at work can celebrate goals that have been accomplished and look forward to an even more rewarding year.

Parties at work during Christmas and the holidays may include a voluntary gift exchange and individuals have to make a decision whether or not they will participate in it. In a situation where an individual may not know other colleagues very well and is unsure what Christmas present to give, it may be better to opt out of exchanging gifts. If the party and gift exchange is among a fairly large group, such as company-wide or with several departments, it may not be noticed if someone doesn't participate in the gift exchange. If it's a small group however, it is likely to be noticed. To eliminate the possibility of any negative talk regarding non-participation, it would likely be better to be among those agreeing to exchange gifts.

A basic thing to remember in selecting gifts for Christmas gift exchanges at work, which are usually called Secret Santas, is to not choose anything that could be considered inappropriate or offensive. Although the sender won't be revealed, it won't leave a good feeling and it will become the topic of conversation among everyone.

Separate from the 'Secret Santa' Christmas gift exchange at work, it may also be a good gesture to give Christmas presents, which can be small tokens, or even just candies or treats, to colleagues in a division or department, especially if you are the leader or manager. Such a gesture shows thoughtfulness and that the work of the individuals has been appreciated. It will be a good note on which to end the year and on which to start a new one.

Another important thing to observe during Christmas parties at work is good behavior that is considered casual but still business-like. Although there will be much fun and laughter, it will still be occurring within a work environment or within the parameters of work. So, individuals will still be observed by their colleagues. It is of utmost importance that one is careful about how much drinking is done, or how much alcohol is consumed, because drunken or offensive behavior will not be tolerated and could have negative repercussions on one's career.

The consideration of good etiquette is also something to be remembered and observed at holiday parties at work. As examples, talking and laughing with food in one's mouth, emptying a platter of delicious hors d'ouevres, or bagging candies, cookies, or treats to take home, are all considered poor etiquette.

A Christmas party at work can also provide an opportunity to have a brief conversation with supervisors, managers, and other company officials with whom one may not come in contact frequently. It can be the ideal time to leave a good impression on a key decision maker. By introducing yourself and striking up a conversation, it is also putting a face to a name or making yourself known and standing out among fellow colleagues. For those who are strivers, and who want to advance, such interactions at work holiday and Christmas parties can be beneficial and advantageous.

It is, therefore, important to keep in mind that while Christmas parties at work are fun, there are still ways to inconspicuously seek some benefit while you laugh and enjoy a break from the stress, competitiveness, and daily routine of work.