How to Make a Home Welcoming for Holiday Guests
Millions of individuals travel to see family and friends during the holiday season. The automotive group AAA estimated that roughly 115 million travelers planned to travel 50 miles or more during the 2023 year-end holiday travel period, which the organization defined as a 10-day window that began on December 23 and ended on New Year’s Day.
The 2024 holiday season figures to be just as busy for travelers as 2023, and many of those individuals will accept the hospitality of loved ones while away from home. Holiday hosts can embrace these
strategies as they prepare to welcome guests in the weeks ahead.
• CLEAR CLUTTER FROM WORKING SPACES. The pandemic sparked some lasting changes, including a greater number of professionals working from home. Some do so part-time while others have become fully remote workers. That shift has led many homeowners to transform guest rooms or pockets of shared living spaces into home offices, which can make a residence feel a little more cramped once guests arrive.
Declutter these spaces prior to guests’ arrival so they have ample room to relax and maneuver in guest rooms and to ensure there’s no shortage of seating or room to spread out in shared spaces like living rooms or dens.
• PROVIDE SOME GUEST ROOM CREATURE COMFORTS. Some creature comforts in the guest room can make guests feel right at home. A smartphone charging dock on a bedside nightstand is a nice touch that allows guests to keep their chargers tucked into their luggage, ensuring they won’t be forgotten when the time comes to return home. A scent diffuser in the guest room is another nice touch that can help travel-weary guests relax and unwind during their stay. A small handful of books and magazines left on a guest room dresser so guests have some nighttime reading material is another welcoming gesture that can make them feel right at home.
• ASK AHEAD ABOUT FOOD ALLERGIES. Cooking is a big part of holiday hosting, as the dinner table is a relaxing setting to catch up with loved ones. Prior to
planning a holiday hosting menu, hosts can reach out to guests and ask if they have any food allergies or other dietary restrictions. This small gesture lets guests know hosts are thinking of them even before they arrive, which can establish the welcoming vibe hosts are aiming for.
• GUESTS-ONLY BATHROOM, IF POSSIBLE. If hosts’ homes have multiple full bathrooms, designate one exclusively for guests during their stay. This gesture affords guests some privacy that they’re sure to appreciate. Parents can explain this gesture to kids before guests arrive so there’s no confusion during their stay.
As individuals prepare to welcome loved ones into their homes this holiday season, they can embrace various strategies to welcome their guests and ensure their stay is comfortable and relaxing.
A Season for Song
The Ultimate Playlist to Give Your Home the Right Holiday Season Vibe
Staying home for the holidays can make the season a little more convenient, saving celebrants from having to contend with the millions of individuals who take to the roads, railways and friendly skies each December. But staying home comes with its fair share of obligations, especially for individuals who are planning holiday get-togethers with family and friends. Mood and merrymaking go hand in hand come the holiday season, and music can be used to establish a celebratory vibe this time of year. Whether you’re hosting a holiday party or simply aspiring to create a festive atmosphere throughout the month of December, the following songs can help set the right tone this year.
• “SLEIGH RIDE,” by Ella Fitzgerald
• “THE CHRISTMAS SONG,” by Gregory Porter
• “JINGLE BELL ROCK,” by Bobby Helms
• “LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW!,” by Frank Sinatra
• “JINGLE BELLS,” by Kimberley Locke
• “SILVER BELLS,” by Tony Bennett, featuring Count Basie and His Big Band
• “HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS,” by Elvis Presley
• “HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS,” by Diana Krall
• “WHITE CHRISTMAS,” by Bing Crosby
• “WINTER WONDERLAND,” by Louie Armstrong
• “THE FIRST NOEL,” by the cast of “Glee”
• “HAPPY HOLIDAY,” by Peggy Lee
• “O TANNENBAUM,” by the Vince Guaraldi Trio
• “BOOGIE WOOGIE SANTA CLAUS,” by the Brian Setzer Orchestra
• “ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU,” by Mariah Carey
• “SANTA BABY,” by Eartha Kitt
• “MELE KALIKIMAKA,” by Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters
• “BLUE CHRISTMAS,” by Elvis Presley
• “FROSTY THE SNOWMAN,” by Gene Autry
• “SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN,” by Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band
• “DECK THE HALLS,” by Nat King Cole
• “FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK,” by The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl
• “RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER,” by Burl Ives
• “BABY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE,” by Dean Martin and Marilyn Maxwell
• “THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS,” by The Ray Coniff Singers
These are just some of the songs that can make up a merry and festive holiday season playlist.
Fun Ways to Make Christmas Eve Even More Special for Kids
Parents know that nothing quite matches the excitement young children feel on Christmas Eve. On the day before Christmas, youngsters anxiously anticipate the arrival of Santa Claus that evening, and are perhaps even more excited by the prospects of the following morning, when they’ll race into the living room and discover all that the jolly old elf left behind.
Christmas Eve seems to have some built-in magical components, but there are a handful of ways parents can make the day even more special for children.
• TRACK THE BIG GUY’S MOVEMENTS ONLINE. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and its predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD), has tracked Santa’s Christmas Eve flight for more than 60 years. Beginning on Christmas Eve, families can track Santa’s movements across the globe at Noradsanta.org. Kids can visit the site to see where Santa is at any given moment on Christmas Eve, growing more excited as the big fella gets closer and closer to their own region.
• CREATE A CHRISTMAS EVE CRAFT. Gather children and their cousins and/or friends to create a special Christmas Eve craft or decoration that can be displayed next year. This is a great way to channel youngsters’ nervous Christmas Eve energy into something productive, and it can make for a great tradition families can continue even after kids are grown.
• WATCH A FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIE. Hollywood has never shied away from holiday fare, so there’s no shortage of festive films to enjoy with youngsters on Christmas Eve. Enjoy a classic like the 1947 film “Miracle on 34th Street” starring Natalie Wood
as the adorable “Susan Walker” and Edmund Gwenn as “Kris Kringle,” or go with something more recent, such as “The Grinch,” the 2018 adaptation of the Dr. Seuss book How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
• TAKE A NIGHTTIME STROLL OR DRIVE TO SEE THE LIGHTS. Lighting displays are another component that makes the holiday season so special. After Christmas Eve dinner, take a stroll through your neighborhood to see the lighting displays or climb into the car to take in a different neighborhood’s offerings if you’re already familiar with those in your own neck of the woods.
Christmas Eve is a magical day for youngsters and their parents. Some simple ideas can make the day even more meaningful for children and their families.
Are you currently trying to figure out what presents to give your loved ones this Christmas? Handmade gifts are becoming increasingly popular! In an age when you can order a gift online with the click of a mouse, taking the time to choose a local shop's handmade gift or to make a handmade gift of your own, is a meaningful gesture.
A personalized gift that you pick or make yourself reflects the love and care you have for the person receiving it.
Whether you’re skilled in crafts or cooking, here’s a list of 15 thoughtful gift ideas you can make for your loved ones:
1. Knitted accessories, like a throw, scarf or pair of slippers
Gifts Teachers Will Love
Christmas is the perfect time of year to extend your thanks to your children’s teachers. Instead of giving them another “world’s best teacher” mug, choose one
of the following gifts that’s sure to please.
• PERSONALIZED PENCILS with their name printed right on them
• A TOTE BAG that’s roomy enough to carry all their work to and from school
• A PERSONAL LAMINATOR to neatly display student’s work (don’t forget extra laminating sheets)
• A GIFT CARD to a local coffee shop to keep them caffeinated while they’re marking homework
• A MEMBERSHIP to a local museum to inspire their lesson plans
• A SCARF to keep them warm
• A GIFT BASKET filled with supplies like dry-erase markers, red correcting pencils, glue sticks, grade-appropriate books and even classroom decor
• A NICE BOTTLE OF WINE to help them relax over the vacation
• A BOX OF ARTISANAL CHOCOLATES, because everyone deserves a treat
In addition, few teachers can resist handmade gifts, so anything your kids make is sure to be appreciated. No matter what you choose, don’t forget to have your child make a card that expresses thanks to the teacher for everything they do.
Pictures with Santa Claus: Tips for a Successful Experience
During the month of December, it’s customary for parents to bring their child to meet Santa at the mall or a Christmas market. Here’s how to make sure your child’s visit with St. Nick goes off without a hitch.
PREPARATION
Take time to prepare your child for this unforgettable encounter. Explain what’s going to happen in a way they can understand. For example, you could say, “We’re going to wait quietly. When it’s our turn, you’re going to sit on Santa’s lap. You’ll say hello and tell him what you’d like for Christmas. Afterward, we’ll take a picture or two, and then we’ll leave
so the other kids can see Santa, too.”
WAITING IN LINE
No one likes to wait in line — especially little ones! Plan to have ways to keep your child busy for several minutes. Small toys, snacks, juice boxes and books will do the trick. This way, your child will be less likely to get impatient, and your turn will seem to come faster.
REACTIONS
In the West, around 90 percent of children under seven believe in Santa Claus.
It’s quite possible that your child will start crying or want to hide behind you when they get close to Santa. If your little one is shy, acknowledge their emotions and reassure them. You can offer to sit on Santa Claus with them or to talk to him by holding his hand, for example. Above all, don’t force your child and don’t try too hard to take THE perfect photo — think of the other families waiting their turn.
Merry Christmas to you and your little darling!
WHAT’S THE RIGHT AGE?
According to experts, the ideal age for a pleasant first encounter with Santa Claus is between three-anda-half and four years old. Younger children often have an instinctive reaction of fear to this imposing, exuberant figure.
