CHRISTMAS IDEAS
Creative Christmas Dinner Ideas
It’s okay to plan outside-of-the-box holiday meals
It’s the most fabulous time of the year. It’s sparkly and it’s bright. It’s nostalgic and contemporary at the same time. And it’s hectic and it’s rushed, too. But it’s spiritual and peaceful while fun. It’s Christmas!
The most beautiful thing about Christmas is the traditions that families embrace. Year after year, generation after generation, favorite things and special routines reflect the spirit of the season. These things reflect family values, too. And Christmas dinner remains an important part of familial holiday customs.
Every year families everywhere look forward to a meal embedded in traditions that are uniquely theirs. Here are a few examples of this.
- The family patriarch may carve a huge juicy turkey or ham after sharing a heartwarming prayer.
- A toast may be offered by an elder during the hearty meal.
- The religious leader of the family may read the Biblical story of the birth of Jesus before the meal is served.
- Jazz Christmas tunes may play in the background as plates are filled to overflowing as loved ones pass through the mouth-watering buffet line.
- And all the dishes that are served including the appetizers, desserts, and beverages highlight cultural pride.
The list of traditions that take place as the family gathers for Christmas dinner is nearly endless.
But, as each Christmas day embraces the novelty of a new season, families should be open to changing their meals. After all, change is good. And thinking outside of the box opens the door to creating fun memories at the Christmas table.
This story is all about creating a unique dining experience during Christmas dinner.
Out-of-the-Box Christmas Dinners
The best way to make traditional family Christmas dinners nontraditional is to allow your imagination to guide your meal planning so that a memorable dining experience follows. Fourteen enjoyable and innovative ideas are shown below.
- A boxed Christmas dinner could be served. Side dishes could be placed in small festive containers or also wrapped in a festive manner. All the food including the holiday-themed napkin and colorful plastic flatware could be placed in a decorated Christmas box. Guests could be presented with their dinner gift when they sit at the table.
- Just as Christmas dinner can be served in a decorated box, it can also be served in a festive gift bag. The host can use all the suggestions highlighted above for making this dinner presentation beautiful.
- Have a fun colored theme Christmas dinner. In addition to all the guests wearing that color, make sure that all the food that is served highlights that color. And this includes all the table decorations and table service.
- It has become popularized for families to wear matching cozy pajamas on Christmas day. To contribute to the relaxed feel that goes along with their comfortable attire, comfort foods could be served for dinner. Along with the food, cozy accouterments could be used. For example, a blanket could be used as a tablecloth. Or, a blanket could be spread on the floor, comfort foods could be served on trays, and Christmas movies could be watched during the meal.
- A menu from another culture could be served. Utensils and other table accents from that culture could be used, too. And all the dinner guests could wear clothing and other adornments from that culture. This will help the family develop an appreciation for the diversity of others.
- Another way to celebrate diversity at the Christmas dinner table is to have a global food theme. Serving food from around the world could be a wonderful way to do so. All the serving dishes that the international food is served in could be used. Each food name along with a brief explanation including the country of origin could be added to table cards placed next to the global dish.
- Replicate your favorite fast food restaurant. Post unique signage made by the entire family in your dining area. Create and serve your version of the food. Just be sure to make the presentation festive.
- An outdoor Christmas dinner theme could be hosted. Menus could be developed around a picnic, camping, beach, cookout, nautical, or wilderness theme. Activities like a bonfire or the meal served poolside or in a tent could make the outdoor dinner complete.
- Celebrate your favorite sports team by having a Christmas tailgate dinner. Invite all guests to wear sports attire to honor the team. Serve popular foods eaten at tailgate parties at this special meal.
- No matter what the menu is, encourage guests to wear their ugliest Christmas sweaters. This added humor will contribute to the fun, especially if a silly prize is awarded to the winner.
- Switch it up. Create Christmas brunch for dinner. And serve all the delicious foods and beverages that are traditionally served for brunch. But make your meal more interesting by trying new and different recipes.
- Conversation prompts with a short explanation written on them could be added to small table cards. Messages about the meaning of Christmas could be written on all of the cards. Then, each card could be strategically placed where family members and dinner guests will sit. As dinner is being enjoyed, every person could share their response to the conversation prompt.
- Instead of eating at home, plan to have your Christmas meal on the go. Depending on the size of your group reserve a party bus or a limousine. Develop an itinerary for taking a drive to appreciate Christmas lights and decorations. Be sure to include photo opportunities at designated locations. The ideas for the meal in the gift box or gift bag could be used so that Christmas dinner is enjoyed during the beautiful drive.
- Also related to the meal on the go theme is a roving Christmas dinner. This would be perfect if several families are planning to enjoy their meal while spending the day together. All of the courses of Christmas dinner could be served at different homes. The appetizers could be served at one house and the main and side dishes could be served at other houses. The roving celebration could conclude with desserts served at the last house. As each home is visited so guests can enjoy its course, a special Christmas activity could be planned to enhance the time spent at the location. This could include inexpensive gift exchanges, watching a short Christmas movie, playing games, or singing Christmas songs.
What other ideas can you think of for creating your unique and out-of-the-box Christmas dinner?
The Final Thoughts About Christmas Meals
There are no right or wrong ways to host your version of a creative holiday meal. No menu nor dinner theme is the right one. However, whatever dishes you decide to bless your family and friends with becomes your right choice.
No matter what is served for dinner or how it is presented, one thing remains important. As you dare to be different, just share your love.
Merry Christmas…and enjoy your delicious Christmas meal.
What ideas can you think of to make your out-of-the-box Christmas dinner both memorable and unique? Keep the conversation growing. Be sure to add your ideas in the comment section of this story.
Thank you for reading this story.
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Dr. Deborah M. Vereen is a retired Teacher and School Administrator. Her website is www.Drdeborahmvereen.com and her YouTube Channel is
Copyright © 2022 Dr. Deborah M. Vereen. All rights reserved.