Christmas Wrapped

I’m always surprised by how busy the holiday season is. We keep things simple at my house, so it’s not as if I have lots of baking to do or guests to host. Even so, I’m starting to feel the time crunch.

Last year, my neighbor introduced me to a wonderful way to share the holidays with a large group of friends and family with very little stress: the holiday open house. She invited guests to drop by any time between 4pm and 9pm and asked everyone to bring along a plate of their favorite appetizers or desserts. All she had to do was tidy up the house, turn on the music, and set out some egg nog and a few paper plates and cups. After that, she sat back and enjoyed the steady stream of guests, and her party practically ran itself.

We all had a wonderful time. Families with young kids could come early, eat a few bites, then cut out without feeling like they were offending anyone. Neighbors got reacquainted without the pressure of having to carry on dinner-length conversations. Even the busiest of friends could drop by for a few minutes. Everyone enjoyed sampling the wide array of goodies (the dining room table was laden with delicious contributions), and, best of all, the hosts were relaxed…the key to a fun party.

At the end of the open house, a few hangers-on helped clean up, and everything was washed and put away by 10:30pm. Lots of fun and celebration for very little effort and time.

So, if you’re hankering to host a party but don’t have the time or wherewithal to throw a full-scale holiday event, consider an open house. Let your guests help you celebrate, and everyone will have a great time.