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Christmas Birthday Party Ideas
by Kimberly Ripley
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Overview
If someone's birthday is on or near Christmas, she kind of gets the raw end of the deal. Well-meaning friends and relatives spend a little extra on one gift and tell the recipient it counts for both. While this is generally okay for adults, kids feel like they've missed out on one or the other. For those Christmas or near-Christmas birthdays, plan a party that is indicative of the season but celebrating just the birthday.
Instead of birthday party hats, hand out fun variations of Santa hats.
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Decorations
Go ahead and get double duty from your decorations. Christmas decorations make most people feel really good. Bright lights, sparkling baubles, red and green finery throughout the room--it all works well for a Christmas birthday party. Be sure to include a banner that says "Happy Birthday" and some party hats and paper goods that, while complementing the Christmas decor, lend themselves to a very definite birthday theme.
Go one step further and put some birthday decorations on the Christmas tree. Take simple glass Christmas balls and write "Happy Birthday" or "Happy 12th" on them with felt tipped permanent markers.
Hand everyone a fun Santa-type hat instead of traditional party hats when they arrive.
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Gifts
Go ahead and put the birthday gifts under the Christmas tree, but do wrap them in birthday paper. Nothing says afterthought like wrapping birthday presents in the wrong themed paper. If you've completely run out, use brown paper and decorate it yourself.
For a fun twist for either a child's or adult's Christmas birthday party, rent a Santa suit and enlist a family member or friend to hand out the birthday presents. Santa can also hand out the goodie bags (featured in Christmas stockings with their names written in glitter) when it's time to go home, after everyone takes a turn telling him what they want for Christmas in the coming days.
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Games & Activities
Pin the nose on Rudolph is a fun twist on a traditional birthday game and appropriately themed for a Christmas birthday. If you can't find an actual game, make your own by buying a large cardboard cutout decoration of Rudolph and some bright red pom poms to use for noses.
If you live in a cold climate, go outside and have a snowman-making contest. Even adults will love this game. Give everyone a theme, like the name of a movie star, and ask them to create their snowman to resemble him or her.
Don't forget to have mistletoe available if it's age appropriate and incorporate it into a game of truth or dare.
Serve hot chocolate and sing Christmas carols or go out into your neighborhood caroling as a group activity.
Decorate Christmas cookies with icing, sprinkles and candies, and give everyone a dozen or so to take home.
A Christmas birthday needn't mean being left out of one or the other festivities. With a little creativity, a Christmas birthday can be one that is remembered for a lifetime.
