As the holiday season sets in, there’s nothing better than curling up with your friends in front of the TV and watching some holiday classics. Whether you’re a seasoned host or leading your first festive gathering, let’s unwrap the best tips to hosting the best movie marathon this Christmas season.
Create A Winter Wonderland
You will want to deck the halls to create the perfect ambience for movie watching. Hang up some string lights, wreaths and garlands to infuse your space with a warm, festive glow. Light some Christmas-scented candles, like apple or cinnamon, and bring in some seasonal colours. Add some green and red pillows, blankets and mugs to fill your living room with holiday cheer.
Curate The Perfect Movie Selection
The pièce de résistance of the evening: the movie line-up. It is important to mix in a variety of genres. There are many classic Christmas movies you could include like ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’, ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ and ‘A Christmas Carol’. Mix in a family favourite like ‘Home Alone’, ‘Elf’ or ‘The Santa Clause’. Don’t forget the animated specials like ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’, ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ or ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’. Ask your guests for their favourite holiday movies and mix them into the marathon for the perfect evening.
Craft Some Holiday Snacks and Drinks
Nothing accompanies a movie night better than some festive treats. With popcorn being a movie staple, add the option of holiday toppings like chocolate and icing or make sweet popcorn with cinnamon or peppermint. Candy canes and gingerbread are also important as they are quintessential goodies around the holidays. Lastly, there are many festive desserts you can bake – like shortbreads and sugar cookies – that can be made special from family recipes, further adding to the homey nature of the evening. For beverages, hot chocolate is a go-to. Add some flavoured syrups, marshmallows, whipped cream and toppings and you’ve got the perfect drink for a cozy night.
Plan Some Holiday-Themed Activities
It’s important to get up and move between movies while keeping the Christmas energy going. Host holiday trivia, challenging your friends to guess things like Christmas traditions, phrases and most popular songs and movies. Next, you could host a cookie decorating competition. Put 20 minutes on the clock and create your best biscuit masterpieces. For the ultimate challenge, get everyone to create their own ugly Christmas sweater and host a competition to see who has the ugliest one.
Moments like these can become cherished traditions with any family or friend group. While preparing may feel stressful, it is sure to be a fun and festive event. If you follow these tips, you will feel the Christmas spirit in everything you do – from the first hello to when the final credits roll.