Do Your Research
Begin your worldwide journey by finding out as much as you can about the cultures you want to celebrate during your Christmastime festivities. Unique traditions, such as Dutch children receiving small treats from Sinterklaas or families in India decorating mango and banana trees, can be slightly altered to fit the aesthetic of the party. If you have friends from other countries, ask if they know about any special customs, such as the European practice of telling ghost stories on Christmas Eve—making the day memorable for both adults and kids alike.
Send out the Invitations
The more the merrier at this international affair. Let friends and family know they’re welcome to join in on the fun with handmade invitations. Get crafty when making seasonal invites that resemble the globe. Use stencils and scissors to achieve the perfect circle. Then draw an outline of the continents with colored pencils. Enlist children who are slightly older to add the finishing touches with glue and glitter. If they have neat handwriting, they can also jot down all the necessary information inside, including date, location and time. If younger children want to participate, stick with rectangular invitations decorated to represent each national flag. They’ll have a blast coloring them in with crayons and markers.
Craft a Menu
One of the best things about an international holiday party is the food. Set up a buffet in the dining room with Christmas favorites from across the world. Going with European fare? Place Finnish-inspired Christmas ham with mustard on a porcelain platter. Then, round out the main entrees with Portuguese cabrito assado (roasted goat), Scandinavian pickled herring and Icelandic hamborgarhryggur (cured pork roast) on serving dishes staged around the platter. On the kitchen island, make a selection of wine, beer and water glasses readily available. Keep regional beverages nearby for guests to enjoy. Some interesting choices include, julebryg (a Danish Christmas beer), Brandy Snaps from New Zealand and Italian Prosecco. For kids and guests who don’t drink, consider putting out fruit-infused water, tea, coffee or other favorite non-alcoholic beverages instead.
Serve Dessert
Satisfy everyone's sweet tooth with a tasty post-meal treat. After the main course is complete, do as the Germans do and take a bite out of a well-decorated gingerbread house. Serve it up in pieces on appetizer plates, letting guests pick which sections of the house they want to eat. For the chocolate lovers in attendance, offer up a British yule log instead. Buñuelos (fried dough balls) popular in Central and South America, Africa, and the Pacific Islands, are another delectable option. At the end of the night, wash everything down with Cuban eggnog or traditional hot cocoa.
Deck the Halls
Hosting your party at the beginning of December? Encourage everyone to pitch in with multicultural Christmas decor. If you reside in a warmer climate, emulate Brazilian families by accenting the Christmas tree with brightly colored ornaments and a garland. Then, as a final touch, add cotton to imitate freshly-fallen snow. For the little ones in attendance, have them engage in the Filipino custom of handcrafting miniature trees and star-shaped lanterns. Adults interested in creating handcrafted decor can partake in the Chinese tradition of constructing paper flowers.
Play Games, Activities and More
End the night on a fun note with interesting activities. Gather friends and family in the living room for a caroling session. Start with familiar tunes, then introduce two or three from other countries. Provide the lyrics to anyone who wants to participate. At the kids’ table, provide them with a printout featuring different ways of saying “Merry Christmas.” Include a pronunciation guide and listen in as they practice these seasonal greetings. Before everyone leaves, follow the Swedish tradition of filling guests' shoes with sweets or other small treats.
The best part of Christmas is sharing in the seasonal joy with loved ones. Whether you say “¡Féliz Navidad!”, “Joyeux Noël!” or “Stretan Božić!”, show us how you incorporate Christmas traditions from around the world at #CrateStyle.
