The key to this year’s holiday party success is the perfect Christmas party theme. Picture it now: Mariah Carey playing in the background, the smell of the fir forest candle tickling your nose, and your friends and family having fun…all dressed as Santas! Or all exchanging gifts, or maybe the party is pet-themed. Setting a theme for your holidays has many benefits like offering guests a more engaging experience, showing respect towards your loved ones, and inspiring everyone to share their holiday cheer. So, sift through our 35 suggested Christmas party themes to spark your creativity and create an unforgettable holiday memory this year.
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Fortunately, whenever you’re ready to move forward with your party planning, Postable can help even more. Once you’ve picked a theme, remember Postable offers Christmas party invitations as well as Christmas cards. We make it easy too — all you have to do is choose a card, write a message, and upload your address book. Then, we take care of the rest! We address, print, and mail your invitations so you can finish your party planning on time. Without further ado, let’s begin reviewing our Christmas party theme suggestions.
Christmas costume party themes
Ugly sweater party
Firstly, is an ugly sweater party! We’ve all been to one and yes, they are all a blast. Encourage your guests to wear the ugliest holiday sweater they can find! Prepare a prize and hold a ugly sweater competition once everyone arrives.
Christmas meme party
Second, invite your friends to attend this year’s Christmas party as their favorite Christmas meme. Maybe Mariah Carey will show up, or the Grinch, or Buddy the Elf — one thing’s for sure, the party will be a total laugh.
Red, green, and gold party
It’s a classic and simple color theme: red, green, and gold. From the decorations, to the food, to the dress code everything red, green, and gold! Here’s a fun idea, wear blue like Mother Mary to differentiate yourself as the host!
Santa-con party
If you’re not dressed up as Santa Claus, you can’t party with us. Require all of your guests to wear a Santa costume to emulate the infamous New York City Santa-con.
Pajama party
A pajama themed Christmas party is a great option for both kids and adults. Everyone is comfortable and cozy, which means everyone is happy. Provide a hot chocolate bar for maximum coziness.
Christmas party theme ideas for adults
Naughty Christmas party
This is for the ho–ho-homies out there that did not make the nice list. Host a naughty list themed party for the most exciting people in your life. Party favor ideas include: a lump of coal and a really strong cocktail.
Christmas cocktail party
Classy and elegant, a Christmas cocktail party is ideally an “adults only” event. Create a timeless ambiance with mistletoes decorating doorways, a Christmas charcuterie board, and cocktails! Because no one needs kids running around with coupe glasses everywhere.
Mistletoe all the way
Undeniably, Christmas is all about peace, love and joy. Invite adults to a mistletoe themed party to share the love through good humor, openness, and kisses! Hide mistletoe in unsuspecting places for mischievous fun. Then implement one rule, if you’re caught under a mistletoe with someone — share a kiss!
Christmas brunch
Christmas parties usually happen at night, but a bottomless Christmas brunch is a refreshing take on a holiday celebration. Provide champagne and orange juice, a breakfast buffet, and plenty of coffee for the ultimate Christmas party brunch.
Formal Christmas party
During the holiday season we focus more on giving people our best. Though, a formal Christmas party gives us the opportunity to look our best. It’s the perfect excuse to get another wear out of your tuxedo and the gorgeous gown you bought on sale.
Holiday activity and competition-themed Christmas parties
Gingerbread house building competition
The main incentive inspiring guests to attend this party? The main event: a gingerbread house building competition! Supply the gumdrops, frosting, and gingerbread, prepare a prize, and have guests sign up to participate.
Christmas cookie contest
It’s the same premise as the gingerbread house competition, but with cookies. Sugar cookies are the best type of cookie to use for this holiday activity so be sure to have frosting and sprinkles for the participants.
Christmas Olympics
The Christmas Olympics is the game of all Christmas games! Once you’ve sent out your Postable invitations and people have RSVP’ed, divide them into teams. At the party, the teams will compete against each other in an array of Christmas games including, Pin the Nose on Rudolph, the Snowman Stack, and Eggnog pong.
Virtual Christmas hangout
Sometimes we can’t meet in person to celebrate the best time of the year. Hosting a virtual Christmas party is an easy solution to this holiday season challenge. Make the virtual party a trivia game by preparing holiday-themed trivia questions for those online and in person to compete against each other. The winner wins bragging rights!
Christmas crafts
Holding a Christmas craft competition offers more opportunity for anyone to participate and show off their talents. Designate one station for gingerbread houses, ornament decorating right next to it, and more.
Classic Christmas party themes
Winter wonderland theme
A white Chrismtas is the dream! Make it a reality by hosting a winter wonderland-themed Xmas party. All white food, everyone wears white to the party, and decorate the location with paper snowflakes.
Summer Christmas theme
A winter wonderland may be a great theme but so is a summer-themed Christmas. Dark, cold days are tough even if it’s the best time of the year. By hosting a summer-themed party, you bring the heat and offer a break from winter’s worst.
Meet Santa
We can’t lie, the big guy has a lot of clout. Invite/hire a Santa Claus to attend the party so guests of all ages can meet Kris Kringle himself.
Starry sky soiree
All stars everything! Starry napkins, starry Christmas decorations, starry guest list. Guide everyone to the party with a beautiful Postable invitation, just like the North star did for the Three Wise Men!
Christmas movie marathon
Invite your loved ones over for a cozy Christmas movie marathon. Guarantee snacks like hot chocolate, Eggnog, Christmas cookies, chips, and popcorn. Guests bring their own blanket and the screening should be the following: “Home Alone,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” and finally, “Elf.”
The Nutcracker theme
For a quirky and whimsical Christmas party theme, make your party Nutcracker-themed. Adorn the house with walnuts and Nutcrackers big, small, cute, ugly, all kinds! Most importantly, don’t invite anyone with a nut allergy!
Happy howl-days: Pet-centric party
One of our favorite Christmas party themes is a pet-centric party! Whether it’s a party for dogs, a party for cats, or for all species of pets — a pet-themed party is a creative way to include members of our furry family.
Chrismakkah
Host a holiday party this season for people who celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah. Make latkes for dinner alongside some Eggnog. Play dreidel and open presents next to a Christmas tree. Everyone is included at a Chrismakkah party.
Cozy Christmas party
Imagine a small fire in the hearth you never use, everyone gathered around in comfy chairs and sweatpants, drinking hot chocolate, and crocheting together listening to a “Christmas Carol.” Remember, parties and fun are subjective! Make your Christmas party the coziest of the season.
“The Nightmare Before Christmas” party
If you’re a fan of “The Nightmare Before Christmas” movie, make it your Christmas party aesthetic. Instead of Elf on the Shelf, it’s the Pumpkin King himself. Decorate the house in black and white with pops of green and red. Think big!
“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” themed party
This goes for “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” Embrace the aesthetic of a crowd favorite for an engaging Xmas party. Serve tons of fudge, style your hair like Cindy Lou Who, and invite the Grinch!
Gift exchange Christmas party themes
White Elephant
Encourage your guests to participate in a White Elephant gift exchange. Send out a Postable invitation with the details such as the itinerary, the gift price limit (usually $20), and a reminder to bring the present wrapped! Then, at the party, the exchange commences. During each participant’s turn, they select a wrapped gift from the pile or the unwrapped gift someone just opened.
Secret Santa
In addition to White Elephant, is Secret Santa. One person not participating assigns a Secret Santa to each person attending the party, the name is the person you buy a gift for. Then each Santa brings a wrapped gift for the person and reveals themselves as the person’s Secret Santa.
Toy drive
Running a toy drive is a great incentive for guests to attend. Collect toy donations from the guests and donate to a local community organization to embrace the true spirit of Christmas.
Charity fundraiser
An easy way to host a fundraiser is by scheduling a Christmas party and charging a cover at the door. Make it a totally wild Xmas house party so there won’t be any Scrooges at the door.
Ornament exchange
Tell your guests they’re invited to an ornament exchange party. Anyone who plans on attending brings an ornament gift to place under the tree for someone else. At the party, guests select one gift from the pile at random. An ornament exchange relieves a lot of the guess-work typically experienced in gift exchanges.
Food-themed Christmas parties
Candy cane lane party
Think Candy canes, big and small, everywhere! The food too! Candy cane-adorned hot chocolate, candy cane fudge, and red and white as far as the eye can see.
Fondue holiday gathering
Make it an elegant Christmas with a little fondue. Try out the Swiss delicacy to bring your friends and family together for a delicious warm meal. Must include favorites for dipping are pieces of bread, meats, vegetables, and afterwards, a chocolate fondue with fruit.
Holiday pot luck
Host a pot luck dinner to maintain connections with your loved ones and their culture. Entrance to the party requires a homemade dish of the guest’s choosing — and then everyone shares. In essence, pot luck embodies the true Christmas spirit.
Sweet treat exchange
A sweet treat exchange is the same concept of pot luck but with desserts instead. Brownies, cookies, and cupcakes, oh my! People of all ages deserve a sweet treat on the holidays.
All of these Christmas party themes have one thing in common: connection. Connection is by far, one of the most important themes of Christmas. That’s why Postable helps you send out your next Christmas party invitations. We take on addressing, printing, and mailing out your invitations as you’re completing the finishing touches on the party planning. Browse our holiday party invitations today to send them out in time for this year’s festivities.
