Holidays

Hanukkah arrives early in the holiday season this year, beginning on December 1. While many families have already planned their parties, those who have children in college may want to wait until their kids come home for winter break to celebrate the festival of lights.

A belated-Hanukkah party is perfect for those who won't be together during the actual holiday. Luckily, planning the shindig is almost as fun as attending!

Hang blue and white decorations to create a festive feel. While you may not be lighting the candles after the holiday has passed, be sure to prominently display your menorah on the mantle or in the center of your table.

While many Hanukkah parties revolve around a large meal, you don't have to host a sit-down dinner to enjoy one of Hanukkah's most delicious dishes – potato latkes. Prepare bite-sized latkes topped with a dollop of apple sauce and sour cream.

Stock up on dreidels and Hanukkah candy so that guests can play games throughout the night. Have a camera on hand to snap photos of your family enjoying the holiday celebration.

Remember, just because you may not be apart from loved ones during a holiday doesn't mean you can't celebrate it at a later date. A belated-Hanukkah party is a great way to commemorate a meaningful holiday when your family is finally able to come together.

While some holiday parties are adult-only affairs, other gatherings include guests of all ages. However, there are a few measures you may want to take to ensure the kids have as much fun as the grownups.

Set-up an activities corner where children can play. Stock the space with holiday-themed board games, coloring books, playing cards and puzzles. If you aren't sure of the ages of the children attending the party, make sure to include items that will appeal to kids of various ages.

Carefully consider the placement of the activities area. While you want the kids to have a place of their own, it should be close to the main party space so that parents can supervise their youngsters as they mingle with the other adults.

Cocktail fare may not appeal to younger palettes, so have a plethora of snacks on hand that kids will devour, such as mini-pizzas, chips and juice. Don't forget the Christmas candy and cookies – this is a holiday party after all!

As the night continues, little ones may begin to grow weary. Fill your den or TV room with pillows and blankets, and have an array of holiday movies available. Youngsters can drift off to sleep until the whole family is ready to head home.

With the holidays just around the corner, couples across the country are undoubtedly trying to determine one thing – whose family should you visit? Instead of having to choose between households, why not host a Christmas party and invite your relatives to come to you?

A family fiesta is a great way to celebrate the holidays, and bringing everyone together will definitely maximize the fun. However, plan carefully to ensure that the party goes off without a hitch.

Stock your fridge with food and beverages appropriate for relatives of all ages – you'll want wine and hors d'oeuvres to offer the adults as well as snacks that appeal to youngsters, like juice and cookies.

Because the holidays are a time for guiltless indulgence, make sure to have delicious confections readily available. Bowls of red and green Christmas candy are festive ways to satisfy any relative's seasonal sweet tooth.

Fill your house with the holiday spirit by playing carols and hanging decorations. Items that complement your Christmas tree will create a cohesive decor that's both festive and beautiful.

Holiday parties are a blast, but coming up with a decorating scheme can be tough for those who don't want the celebration to center around one specific holiday. After all, you want the space to look more festive than a typical cocktail party, but you don't want to rely on red and green decorations.

Luckily, there's a simple and beautiful situation – turn your home into a winter wonderland! The snowy setting is sure to fill guests with the holiday spirit.

When selecting the decorations, opt for shimmery white and silver pieces that will remind partygoers of snow and ice. Hang glitter-covered paper snowflakes from the ceiling and string up twinkling lights – your guests will feel like they are dancing the night away on a snowy hill under the stars!

For a fun twist, asks guests to forgo cocktail attire and instead don festive holiday sweaters, scarves and hats. At the end of the night, hand out a prize for the most over-the-top cold-weather ensemble.

Remember, not every guest will win a prize, but everyone can leave with a favor! Delicious party favors, like chocolate bars with personalized candy wrappers, will be enjoyed by all. Make sure the favors fit with your theme as well – select wrappers that boast images of snowflakes or festive snowmen.