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Christmas is a time for special events and celebrations with family and friends. There are so many unique and uplifting ways to celebrate the season! This year, plan ahead and make time to do some of these suggested Christmas activities. You'll be making memories to savor for many Christmases to come!
Ok, so caroling is old-fashioned and a little hokey. But, oh, is it FUN! Why not organize a caroling party this year, if you like to sing, even if you don't have a voice like Barbra Streisand? Print up half a dozen Christmas carols, religious or secular or a mixture of both, or purchase some inexpensive Christmas caroling booklets. Choose the best caroling neighborhood among those where your fellow carolers live; you'll want the houses pretty close together and the streets not busy ones!
Ok, so caroling is old-fashioned and a little hokey. But, oh, is it FUN! Why not organize a caroling party this year, if you like to sing, even if you don't have a voice like Barbra Streisand? Print up half a dozen Christmas carols, religious or secular or a mixture of both, or purchase some inexpensive Christmas caroling booklets. Choose the best caroling neighborhood among those where your fellow carolers live; you'll want the houses pretty close together and the streets not busy ones!
Prior to your caroling, prepare some goodies and a nice, hot cocoa or wassail drink. Then, dress in brightly colored scarves and hats, or a sprig of artificial holly in your hair if it's warm where you live. You may practice together beforehand, if you have time, but chances are you will be familiar with most of the tunes. You can carry vintage-looking battery lanterns or purchase tiny lights you can wear around your neck to see your caroling books.
Prior to your caroling, prepare some goodies and a nice, hot cocoa or wassail drink. Then, dress in brightly colored scarves and hats, or a sprig of artificial holly in your hair if it's warm where you live. You may practice together beforehand, if you have time, but chances are you will be familiar with most of the tunes. You can carry vintage-looking battery lanterns or purchase tiny lights you can wear around your neck to see your caroling books.
Children will love this event too, but don't forget to be mindful of traffic!
Children will love this event too, but don't forget to be mindful of traffic!
Christmas Caroling
If someone plays guitar, flute, or any small instrument, even a tambourine, by all means, have them bring it along! Walk slowly through your chosen route, stopping in front of every other house to sing, or sing as you walk, or a bit of both. Smile and wave at neighbors who open their doors or peek out their windows!
Wind up your path at the house where yummies and drinks await, and congratulate your musical triumph by toasting with a mug of hot wassail or chocolate. Nothing will do more to put you in the Christmas spirit!
Attend a Christmas Performance
Don't let this Christmas season go by without checking into which holiday performances are available near you!
Find your local "events" page online, or check the local papers. There are usually both musical and stage events to choose from.
I remember a Boston Symphony Orchestra performance of Handel's "Messiah" that absolutely transported me.
My mother and I always attended The Nutcracker ballet in Boston, and there is usually at least one local theater that presents a holiday themed show. Get your tickets in advance for the best seats, and splurge! A holiday performance will have you smiling that special Christmas grin!
Christmas Cookie Party
An easy and fun party to host is the Christmas Cookie Party! If you have a bunch of friends (six or more total) who love to bake Christmas cookies, by all means, host one! The more participants, the better. And you'll go home with a holiday's supply of a variety of Christmas cookies. What could be better than that?
Make a list of friends and family who love to bake. This should be within the first 2 weeks of December, if you want your cookies to be enjoyed throughout the season; later, if you want some left for New Year!
Each party goer should bake as many dozens of their favorite Christmas cookie as there will be party goers. So, if you are inviting 8 people, each person will bake 9 dozen cookies, counting you. (9 dozen of the same kind of cookie!) Then you need to put out 9 reusable shopping bags for you and your guests to put your loot into.
Everyone will have 9 dozen cookies, separated into zip lock bags by the dozen. As each guest arrives, they distribute their 9 dozen cookies into the 9 shopping bags. Then relax and trade baking stories and sip some wassail or mimosa as you chat and enjoy one another's company. When it's time to go home, each person takes a shopping tote full of 9 dozen Christmas cookies! YUM!
Of course, Christmas cookie baking is universally loved by children of all ages! Have your child or grandchild help with mixing, rolling dough, cutting and, of course, decorating the goodies! You can use any or all of the following decorative toppings: colored sugar, tubes of "writing" gel, raisins, walnuts, gum drops, sliced or slivered almonds, chocolate or white chocolate chips, tiny peppermint candies, M&Ms, licorice whips, and tons more! Use your imagination.
Here is an easy recipe for Christmas butter cookies that are rolled and cut out and then decorated!
Simple Christmas Butter Cookies
by Emily @ handmadefarmhouse.com
Ingredients:
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 Cups All purpose flour
1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar
1 1/2 Sticks Salted Butter 12 Tablespoons
Decorating Frosting:
3 1/4 Cup Powdered Sugar
4 1/2 Tablespoons Milk Add a teaspoon at a time more if it is too thick. Humidity and dry air can affect this.
1 Teaspoon Lemon or vanilla extract If using vanilla I would suggest getting clear so your frosting stays white!
food colorings
Decorating yummies:
Gum drops, licorice whips, mini-marshmallows, sprinkles, colored sugars, raisins, walnut pieces, sliced or slivered almonds, peanuts, peppermint candy bits, M&Ms, Reeses Pieces, white and milk chocolate chips, toffee chips, and more!
Method
Preheat oven to 325°
Mix butter, flour, and powdered sugar. Generously dust counter with flour and roll out dough.
Use holiday cutters to cut dough and place onto a parchment lined pan.
** this is when you can add decorative yummies, like using raisins for eyes, a licorice whip for a smiling mouth, a walnut piece for a nose, then paint the frosting on for shirt and pants after they're cool!
Bake for 14-15 minutes. Allow cookies to set and cool on tray.
Whisk together powdered sugar, milk and extract. The glaze should be thick but still run smooth without breaking when you lift the spoon/whisk up. When you lift the spoon it will run in a steady flow back to the bowl but it will slightly keep its shape before dissolving back in. If it is too runny, it will not hold any shape as it runs back into the bowl. Test a little bit of your glaze on one cookie to make sure it's not too runny or too thick. The frosting shouldn't drip off the sides and it should smooth/level out after filling the centers and swirling with a toothpick/skewer.
Use food coloring to color frosting and fill piping bags or ziplock bags.
Fill a piping bag or gallon ziplock with frosting and clip a very small end off of the bag.
Pipe an outline on the cookies and fill the centers. Working quickly, use a toothpick to smooth frosting by moving it in small circles.
Cookies will need several hours for the frosting to set up enough to package and have them touching. I like to make them and leave them out overnight covered with plastic wrap.
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