Tree Trimming Party – How to Throw One

The Christmas holidays should be a joyous affair spent with family and friends, but

unfortunately it seems we have less and less time to enjoy such moments. We rush around buying gifts, preparing and worrying what may go wrong, and never seem to take the time to really appreciate Christmas for what it is, a time to be with the ones we love and cherish. So, why not start a new tradition this year and throw a tree trimming party where you can spend at least one relaxing afternoon in the company of those closest to you.

The first step to throwing a successful tree trimming party, in fact any party is planning. As they say, fail to plan, then plan to fail and it can be very true. First and foremost, you have to choose a date when to hold the party, preferably on the weekend and sometime during the afternoon or evening. Next, send out the invitations either by mail, email or fax with an RSVP so you will have an idea of how many people will be attending your party.

Next step is the tree of course, which you need to go out and buy, or get out of the closet if you already own an artificial Christmas tree. It doesn’t really matter what type of tree it is, because the point is to enjoy some quality time with your family and friends, therefore whatever suits your fancy will be perfect. In any case, artificial Christmas trees can barely be distinguished from natural ones now.

A day before the party you should set up the Christmas tree, as you don’t want to be running around, panicking on the day of the party worried that you don’t have enough time to do everything. Also, put the Christmas lights up because your guests are coming to have a relaxing and fun time, not to work. A tangled, knotted mess of Christmas lights means work. You also want to get your ornaments out and see if anything is broken or dusty. Throw the broken ones away and clean the rest. You can place them in baskets within easy reach of the tree so that everyone can pick and choose what they want to put on the tree.

On the day of the party you can prepare some quick appetizers and make sure the bar is stocked. You don’t want any food that is sticky or that will make a mess, and its best if everything is bite-size. This isn’t a sit down dinner, and you don’t want people struggling to eat. Something like sweets and small cakes would be ideal. In terms of drinks, you could prepare some eggnog or some hot chocolate or even both. Before your guests arrive, put some Christmas carols on to set the mood.

You could also prepare a table with various supplies so that everyone can make their own ornaments to take home as keepsakes of a lovely afternoon. If there are children coming as well, you should consider getting some coloring pages with a Christmas theme and crayons, because children get bored very quickly and their fascination with trimming the tree will soon disappear.

The last, but most important step is to enjoy your own party. Don’t stress out over every little detail, remember this is not about how organized everything is, or if there’s enough food, or whether or not you finish decorating the tree, which probably won’t happen. This party is about enjoying quality time with your friends and family.