Christmas Parties
New Zealand Christmas Parties
They don't call Christmas the silly season for nothing! Get some inspiration for celebration, with our tips for Christmas parties, themes, festivities and games at the home or the office.
Christmas party themes and ideas to get you in a festive mood
One of the best ways to get in the Christmas mood (if jangly Christmas jingles aren’t doing it for you) is to give your Christmas ‘do a theme. It’s the silly season, so make the most of the chance to dress up, make over-the-top Christmas decorations and have fun! Here are just a few ideas for a themed Xmas shindig:
- A nativity theme – Dress up as nativity characters (Joseph and Mary, the three wise men, Jesus or even barnyard animals!). Make it more authentic by holding it at a stables or making great nativity scene décor.
- A red and green theme – Picture all your friends or workmates dressed in shades of red and green. For added effect, give each guest a santa hat on arrival and decorate your venue in festive colours too.
- An international theme – Get ideas from Christmas traditions around the world, and them to the mix at your Christmas party. There’ll be a diverse range of Christmas food, music and celebration to add to your Kiwi Christmas celebration.
- A white Christmas theme – Yes, it’s summer here, but a winter-themed Christmas party can be a lot of fun. Decorate your party venue with snowflakes, snowmen and sparkling decorations in white, silver and blue. Add to the impact with mulled wine and candles.
Still stuck for inspiration? Get more Christmas party theme ideas online and shop for Christmas party supplies.
Corporate and work Christmas party ideas
Throughout the year, you spend forty or more hours at work every week, so the arrival of Christmas is a great chance to celebrate with your workmates and see the social side of your workplace team. For a work Xmas party with a bang:
- Plan well – make sure you plan well in advance. Deciding on your Christmas party venue, date and time will be first on your list. Will it be at your workplace, at a hired venue or at a restaurant? Make sure you give everyone plenty of notice to ensure a good turn-out.
- Serve great food – Make sure there’s something to suit everyone’s taste. You’ll have to choose sit-down dinner, snacks or buffet dining, as well as a style of Christmas food: Mediterranean, Indian, Japanese or Kiwi. Talk to your favourite local restaurant or catering company.
- Enjoy celebratory drinks – Instead of the usual wine, beer and other alcoholic drinks, you might want to celebrate with a festive cocktail, punch or mulled wine. Thre’s bound to be drinking at your Christmas party, but make sure you celebrate responsibly and provide plenty of food along with your party drinks!
- Hand out office Oscars – Prizes for best dancing, best dressed, best entertainer at the office… the possibilities for humour here are limited only by your imagination.
- Give secret Santa presents – Get everyone to bring a small gift (limit it to $5 or $10) and make sure you have a Christmas tree to place them under. Maybe one of your workmates can dress as Santa to hand out Christmas gifts?
Shop for Christmas party supplies, including theme decorations, costumes and trees.
Christmas party games
You’re never too old to play a festive holiday game or two. With a summer Christmas in New Zealand, you can enjoy playing games at your outdoor Christmas party too – on your lawn, at the beach or at the local park. Your family, social or staff Christmas event will be extra fun with these silly season games:
- Pass the candy cane – Hold four candy canes between your fingers and pass them on from one team member to the next without dropping one.
- Three-legged stocking race – Just like the usual three-leg race, but with a Christmas stocking worn on your joint ‘leg.’
- Pin the nose on Rudloph – No donkeys here; blindfold each person and get them to pin the red nose on Rudolph the reindeer.
- Lolly scramble – Get a Santa stand-in throws lollies to all your party guests.
- Decorate the Christmas tree blindfolded – This one is self-explanatory. May the best decorator win!
- Christmas song karaoke – Great for any Christmas get-together and sure to bring out any closet performers.
- Make a Santa suit – Teams race to make the best Santa costume using only paper, cotton and tape.
Get more Christmas party ideas and supplies for festive games in your home or office..
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Seasons and Celebrations images from Flickr: Dyed Eggs, Chickees and Chocolate Bunnies.
