About Holiday Open Houses
Holiday season for many means parties, formal dinners and family get-togethers. The classic open house is a wonderful way to open your home to friends and family without the stress of a specific menu, time or dress code. It's an opportunity to build a holiday tradition and connect with far-flung friends who are in town for the holidays. Does this Spark an idea?
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Function
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A holiday open house provides an opportunity for a larger gathering of friends and family at a private home. It's typically a casual event that runs for a number of hours. You can drop in at any time during those hours and stay for as long as you want. Finger foods, punch (both alcoholic and not), small desserts and candy are typically served. These will be available either at certain locations around the home or at a buffet set up by the hosts. A holiday open house does not typically include a meal; it's strictly an opportunity to gather and visit with friends during the sometimes hectic holiday season.
Types
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Open houses come in two main types: a hosted event at a private home or a business event at a retail store.
A hosted event at a private home is purely for entertainment. Friends and family are invited by the hosts to drop by during a set afternoon or early evening. RSVPs are not always required and the event is seen as a refreshing break for invited guests.
Business open houses are an opportunity for a business to echo the casual nature of a private gathering, but the focus is on the opportunity to shop. While many loyal customers are invited to holiday open houses by their grateful retail purveyors, the purpose of this type of holiday open house is not purely entertainment. Business holiday open houses typically include food and drinks, but they may also include an incentive to purchase, such as a percentage off items during the open house or a gift with purchase made during the open house. -
Considerations
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Attending a holiday open house at a friend or colleague's home can be a relaxing afternoon for the entire family. But there are certain things that will make the visit a successful one. It's considered good manners to bring a hostess gift for your hosts. This doesn't mean a full gift, this would be inappropriate at this type of event and potentially awkward for the host who may not have a gift for you in return. A hostess gift might include a small box of chocolates, some small ornamental soaps, flowers or a bottle of wine. Don't bring food unless the host has specifically asked you to bring an item.
Benefits
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Holiday open houses give you a break during the running around that often accompanies the holidays. You get a chance to see your friends, many of whom you may not have seen in some time, as well as a chance to meet other families that may have entered your social circle. They're informal events that focus on the joy of gathering together, so you needn't stress over the right dress, shoes or tie.
They are also relatively easy to host. While you can hire a caterer, a simple menu that requires almost none of your time during the event itself is best. Serve foods that are easy to eat in one bite along with a big pot of something on the stove or in the crockpot, such as a chili or posole, accompanied by something simple, such as cornbread squares. Make a big batch of punch or have some cider warming on the stove. Grab a few bottles of wine, set some delicious holiday baked goods out and you're all set.
Expert Insight
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Send out invitations at least two weeks in advance and make sure the open house hours are at a time when you know most of your friends will be available: Saturday or Sunday afternoons are often best. Plan your menu at least one week in advance to ensure you have all the ingredients and supplies needed to serve the food. Most holiday open house menus (see Resources below) focus on items you can prepare the day before, if not days in advance, to ease any stress the day of. Use your existing holiday decorations to further enhance your event. For example, make sure the lights on the tree, if you have one, are on even if it's the middle of the day.
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