Guest Post: Getting the Family Together for Christmas

The old guard is out, including your mother and father and grandparents who each year took on the task of planning and executing the annual Christmas family gathering. All you had to do was show up with a poinsettia as a gift of thanks to the older generation graciously hosting the event.

They are now gone or incapable of overseeing family gatherings so it is up to you to do it. You are officially the old guard. Get used to it.

Take a deep breath. You can do this. It’s not rocket science.

If you do not take on the role of keeper of the hearth – hey, somebody’s got to do it – your family members will eventually go their separate ways, spending the holidays with their in-laws, in their own homes or with their friends, instead of with mom and dad. You don’t want that. You want to keep them coming back, at least during the holiday season, for as long as possible. Carrying on family traditions is very important.

First off, devise Christmas invitations that are so alluring friends and family can’t resist. Do it however, you wish — write a clever poem – enticing them to show up and take part in the family festivities. Be sure to include the date and time. You may want them to RSVP so you know how many to expect. Include your phone number and/or email address on the invitation.

If you aren’t the creative type, do not despair. Forget designing your own card. There are a host of fantastic and inimitable kinds of Christmas card invitations that both affordable and special.  The invitations will grab the recipient’s attention, and he will surely mark the date on his calendar. Anyone who takes the time to send such an awesome invitation is going to put on a bash that no one wants to miss.

Perhaps you are intent on hosting a Christmas party for your children and their cousins and friends. Once again, sending out an invitation well in advance of the event is a surefire way of getting people to come to the party, ensuring it will be a success.

Select a card that represents the type of party you are having. If it is going to be a wild and crazy event, pick a wild and crazy card. If it is going to be sophisticated, choose an invitation that reflects that. If the event is for children, make that obvious based on the invitation.

Your options are endless. This is going to be fun. Really!