Lately, we’ve been thinking about how the way we live and host adapts to suit the seasons of the year. In the summer, we crave cool drinks, outdoor activities, brightly colored decor. In wintertime, coziness becomes a driving factor in the gatherings we host and the food we eat.
Each family has their own traditions associated with wintertime and the many holidays during this time of year. Here in the South, we go a little overboard on comfort food: casseroles, pies, cookies, hot chocolate. We create ambiance with fires in the fireplace, and Christmas lights and music.
There’s a shift to make the inside of a home warm and enveloping, in contrast to the cold and bareness outside.
So how does this translate into hosting gatherings and events? Or does it?
One beautiful aspect of winter is there is often an emphasis on togetherness. When hosting holiday parties or simply enjoying a winter’s evening with friends, there’s a shift toward activities everyone can do together, such as charades.
Looking for some new group activity ideas for your upcoming holiday party? Here are ones we include at our own events!
5 Fun Group Activities for Your Holiday Parties
1. Table talk.
This game is an excellent way get to know people through the questions on the cards. It can be played as an icebreaker, around the dinner table, or as intentional game time.
2. Board Games.
There are more options than we can list; however, Code Names is great fun if you like word associations. Perfect for a two team face off.
3. Cookie Decorating.
Set the stage with white or colored frosting, non-pareils, sprinkles, and small candies. It’s so much fun to decorate cookies as a group. For those who need to eat gluten free, it’s an especial treat when you create this quintessential holiday festivity entirely gluten free.
4. Making or decorating ornaments.
There are so many options for this one! You could cut out clay or salt dough ornaments, bake, and paint. Or paint clear or frosted glass balls. Making ornaments from found objects outside also adds the element of a scavenger hunt.
5. Random act of kindness.
Band together to do something that will help and encourage the hearts of others. It could be something like writing letters or cards to our troops or those in nursing homes. Or making a gift basket for a family who needs cheering up during a hard time.
With activities like these, we actively engage with each other and the result is a feeling of connection. Beyond connection, there is often laughter, creativity, flexing our neural muscles in new ways, and encouragement.
So if you are looking for new activities to include in your holiday parties, we hope you’ll give these options a try. Let us know if you do!
And if you want more planning help for an upcoming event, check out our post on 5 Tips for Planning a Holiday Party.