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Easy Holiday Entertaining
You're starting over as a single (or about-to-be-single), and you want to have friends and family in to celebrate the holidays. But your budget is shoestring-size, and a frayed shoestring at that!
Tree Trimming Party: Are you tempted to forego a Christmas tree just because it's too much trouble? Simplify the ordeal and start a new tradition all at one time.
Buy a small, real or artificial tree and stand. (Don't get a large one unless you have ample off-season storage space.) If you have a low stool or table, fine. Set it up there. If you don't, use a cheap plastic crate. Buy or borrow some sort of tree skirt. (This can just be 4 holiday napkins pinned together, a small cloth or plastic holiday tablecloth or one from the Good Will store.)
Invite folks a couple of weeks in advance, and ask them each to bring: a tree ornament to help start your Newly Single holiday tradition handmade, hand-me-down or fresh from the store and a dozen Christmas cookies. You supply a big plate of linguini with tomato sauce and Parmesan cheese, hot garlic bread and a tossed green salad. If they're up for a small challenge, have them make old-fashioned cranberry and popcorn strings for the tree. Have a gallon of stale popcorn (it won't shatter like fresh would), two or three bags of fresh cranberries, sewing needles and thread.
Pot Luck #1 Wine & Cheese: Invite a mixture of old and new friends for a wine and cheese tasting. Ask everyone to bring a bottle of wine and one kind of cheese to share. You supply crackers and French bread for the tasting, and coffee and cookies for later in the evening.
These events usually start with the driest wines and work up to the sweeter ones like Port. Hand out paper and pencils and ask everyone to comment on the wines. Compare notes after all the tasting is finished.
Pot Luck #2 Holiday Dinner: If some of your friends and family have no plans for Hanukah, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or Kwaanza, invite them to an "extended family" party at your place. Ideally you just supply the location, plates, napkins, utensils, cups, glasses and beverages. The others bring ham or turkey, side dishes, breads, snacks and dessert. Sing together, play games like Pictionary® and Taboo®, go for a walk after dinner, and munch on leftovers later just like you used to do.
Never mind that they really want is just to see and talk with you, and that they don't expect you to "go to any trouble." It'll do you a world of good to actually entertain successfully all on your own!
~ December 1999
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