One of the treasures of the Christmas season is the opportunity to come together with family and friends for a wonderful array of festivities. The air is filled with the aroma of holiday baking, pine needles and scented Christmas candles, while folks eagerly await the season’s next gathering. This year, why not join the ranks of party-givers and host a celebration of your own? A festive Christmas Luncheon offers a delightful break in the day’s hectic schedule and won’t tend to be overshadowed by other holiday events, which typically take place during the latter part of the day.
If you’ve never had the pleasure of attending this type of yuletide event and don’t know where to begin, here are some suggestions that may assist you in putting together a Christmas Luncheon that will, perhaps, mark the beginning of a holiday tradition in your family. Plans will include menu selections which address main courses, side dishes, beverages and desserts (recipes can be found in cookbooks or through online searches), as well as favors and activities.
Although a number of suggestions are offered in each menu category, you may choose to offer one or more, depending upon your tastes and preferences.
BEVERAGE SUGGESTIONS
Hot Mulled Cider
Hot Mulled Wine
Peppermint Tea
Eggnog
Coffee
Tea
Cranberry Punch
ENTREE SUGGESTIONS
Spiral Sliced Ham
Smoked Turkey
Spiral Sliced Beef
Smoked Salmon
Fillet of Sole
Roast Duck
Rack of Lamb
SIDE DISH SUGGESTIONS
Stuffed Mushrooms
Coconut Shrimp
Gourmet Cheese Assortment
Festive Holiday Salad
Wild Mushroom-Cranberry Stuffing
Parsnip & Pear Soup
Red Cabbage Slaw with Cranberry Dressing
DESSERT SUGGESTIONS
Christmas Cookie Platter
Blackberry Jam Cake
Fruited Pound Cake
Christmas Cherry Cake
Plum Pudding
Holiday Fudge Platter
Chocolate Tart with Peppermint Mousse
Though not a requirement, favors provide a special touch to the holiday meal and offer a nice “thank you” to those who attend. If you’re planning a sub-theme to the luncheon, you may have specific favor ideas in mind; otherwise, you can choose from among many options that reflect the season. Whether you choose to offer the same favor to each guest or provide a bit more diversity by selecting a number of favors and distributing them at random among those who are attending, there are a number of items that would be perfect for such an occasion. Here are several suggestions, from which you can choose one or more.
HOLIDAY FAVOR SUGGESTIONS
Scented Christmas Candle
Christmas Ornament
Christmas Goodie Tin
Unshelled Walnuts with Nutcracker
Holiday Bell
Peppermint Bark (Homemade or Pre-Made)
Chocolate Holiday Spoon
Entertainment and holiday activities are also an important part of hosting a successful Christmas Luncheon. Depending upon the tone of the gathering, you might wish to choose more subtle forms of entertainment or – if you’re looking for something a bit more exciting – you can include lively party games or sing-alongs.
HOLIDAY ENTERTAINMENT AND ACTIVITY SUGGESTIONS
Cookie Swap
Christmas Ornament Swap
Christmas Carol Sing-Along
Holiday Charades (integrate a holiday theme into the traditional game)
Cookie Decorating Table (provide guests with plain cookies and decorating items)
The Aromas of Christmas (fill small jars with holiday scents for guests to identify)
Holiday Reading (guests select and share their favorite holiday stories)
Details such as holiday decorations and Christmas Luncheon attire are entirely up to the judgment of the host or hostess. Traditional holiday decorations work best – with a tasteful Christmas centerpiece - and guests can be instructed to wear holiday colors, costumes representing the season or simply casual or dress attire.
Be sure to send the invitations well in advance of the event, since holiday schedules are often booked up rather quickly. In the event of specialized costuming, swaps which include cookies, ornaments, etc., or holiday reading, you’ll need to include necessary instructions in the interior of the invitation itself, or on a separate sheet of paper that can be tucked into the card.
While it’s true that the holidays can add a lot of extra stress to our busy lives – what with baking, shopping, decorating and attending festivities – a well delivered Christmas Luncheon is a wonderful addition to the holiday season and can quite easily become a regular tradition that’s eagerly anticipated by all. Perhaps arrangements can be made to rotate the hosting of the luncheon each year, as well, in order to provide an atmosphere of variety and flexibility during the busiest time of the year.
