Christmas is a favorite holiday for many, and parties are a great way to get together and enjoy company.  Celebrating traditions by creating memories will bring people back year after year because there exists a feeling of joy and comfort.  

Planning ahead is the best way to ease the hostess stress.  If you are throwing a formal get-together, send out the invitation early so that people can reserve the date. These days, email invites are great for less formal gatherings.  Keep a list of guests next to the phone and computer so that you can mark down their responses as they reply.  Many will offer to bring something, so let them!  It is enough to prepare your home so when they offer, be ready with a specific request.  Drinks, cookies, chips, rolls and salads are all great things to ask guests to help supply.  

Planning a special activity can help unite everyone who comes and allow everyone to get to know each other in a more meaningful way.  Name games in a  Bingo format during appetizers or a hunt for how many Santas or Christmas trees are in the house are great icebreaker games.  Food brings everyone together, so between a main course and dessert, making up new words to a Christmas Carole and singing the new rendition can be hilarious.  Following dessert, a hardy game of Christmas charades, men against women, can keep the party going for hours.  Seek help online for more ideas.

Plan ahead.  Keep the activities the family and friends talk about for the next year and replace those that flopped with new ones.  Christmas unites us with traditions set and enjoyed.  Have a wonderful holiday season!