Christmas Eve is a magical day – especially for most children across America. This is a time filled with magic, joy, cheer, and wonder! In this blog post, we will explore a brief history of Christmas Eve, as well as provide some Christmas Eve party ideas, Christmas Eve cocktails you can sip on, and other activities to enjoy on this special night.

A Brief History of Christmas Eve

The history of Christmas Eve dates back to the early days of Christianity. It is believed that the first Christmas Eve celebrations took place in the fourth century AD. At that time, Christians would gather on the evening before Christmas Day to sing Christmas carols, pray, and exchange gifts. 

Christmas Eve celebrations continued to grow in popularity over the centuries, and by the Middle Ages, they had become a major holiday in Europe. In the United States, Christmas Eve celebrations did not become popular until the 19th century. However, they have since become a beloved tradition (regardless of religion) in many American families.

Today, Christmas Eve is celebrated in many different ways around the world. Some people attend church services, while others sing Christmas carols or exchange gifts. Many families also enjoy watching Christmas movies or having a special dinner together. No matter how you choose to celebrate, Christmas Eve is a time to come together with loved ones and share in the joy of the holiday season.

Fun Fact: Christmas Eve is a public holiday in many countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

When Is Christmas Eve?

As most Americans know, Christmas Eve falls on the same day every year – the day before Christmas. Since Christmas is not a holiday that moves around, Christmas Eve doesn’t, either. Christmas Eve is December 24th, every year.

Christmas Eve Party Ideas

If you’re looking for some Christmas Eve party ideas to help you throw the perfect party, we have plenty of classic ideas for you to help get the creativity flowing. Let’s take a look!

Choose a Christmas Eve Party Theme

First, you should decide on a theme for your party. Choosing a theme is an important first step, because once you know what theme you want, you can start planning the food, drinks, decorations, and activities around it. This will make it easier to stay on track and make sure your party is a success. Some popular themes include:

• Traditional Christmas. This is a classic theme that is always a hit. You can decorate with Christmas trees, ornaments, lights, and garland. You can also serve traditional Christmas foods like eggnog, cookies, and hot chocolate.

• Winter Wonderland. This theme is perfect for those who love the snow and cold weather. You can decorate with snowmen, icicles, and snowflakes. You can also serve winter-themed foods like hot chocolate, snow cones, and ice cream.

• Ugly Sweater Party. This is a fun and festive theme that is perfect for people who love to have a good time. You can ask your guests to wear their ugliest sweaters to the party. You can also serve holiday-themed drinks like eggnog and hot chocolate.

• White Elephant Gift Exchange. This is a fun and unique way to exchange gifts with your friends and family. Each guest brings a wrapped gift that is worth around $20. Then, the guests take turns picking a gift from the pile. If you pick a gift that you don’t like, you can steal someone else’s gift. This is a great way to get some unique and interesting gifts for the holidays.

Choose Snacks and Drinks Based on Your Guests

It is important to invite people who you know will enjoy the party and who will get along with each other – especially since family holidays often get bad reputations! Once you have your guest list, you can start planning the food and drinks for your party. Try to keep in mind what each guest likes and doesn’t like. Here are a few Christmas Eve party snack ideas for your get together:

• Christmas cookies. These are a classic Christmas snack that everyone loves. There are many different types of Christmas cookies that you can make, such as sugar cookies, gingerbread cookies, and chocolate chip cookies.
• Cheese and crackers. This is a simple but delicious snack that is perfect for a party. You can serve a variety of cheeses, such as cheddar, Swiss, and mozzarella. And you can also serve a variety of crackers, such as ritz, saltines, and wheat thins.
• Veggies and dip. This is a healthy and refreshing snack that is perfect for a party. You can serve a variety of vegetables, such as carrots, celery, and cucumbers. And you can also serve a variety of dips, such as ranch dressing, hummus, and guacamole.
• Fruit and cheese. This is a delicious and healthy snack that is perfect for a party. You can serve a variety of fruits, such as grapes, apples, and oranges. And you can also serve a variety of cheeses, such as cheddar, Swiss, and mozzarella.
• Popcorn. This is a classic party snack that everyone loves. You can make your popcorn plain or you can add your favorite toppings, such as butter, salt, and cheese.
• M&Ms. These are a classic party snack that everyone loves, and M&Ms usually have a festive Christmas color mix around the holidays. You can serve them in a bowl or you can make them into a fun and festive garland.
• Pretzels. These are a simple but delicious snack that is perfect for a party. You can serve them plain or you can dip them in your favorite sauce, such as chocolate, cheese, or peanut butter.
• Chex Mix. This is a classic party snack that everyone loves. You can make your own Chex Mix or you can buy it pre-made.
• Trail mix. This is a healthy and delicious snack that is perfect for a party. You can make your own trail mix or you can buy it pre-made.

Fun Fact: In many countries, it is traditional to have a special meal on Christmas Eve, often involving fish or other seafood.

Make Sure Your Guests Have Something to Do!

There’s nothing worse than a party with no activities! So, make sure you plan activities for your Christmas Eve party to keep your guests entertained. You can play games, watch Christmas movies, sing Christmas carols, dance, have a potluck dinner, do crafts, or just chat and catch up. The most important thing is to have fun and enjoy each other’s company.

Christmas Eve Cocktails & Alcoholic Drinks to Try

No Christmas Eve party is complete without some delicious cocktails and alcoholic drinks! Here at Distillery Nearby, we love celebrating holidays with cocktails, so we like to list several holiday-themed cocktails for you to try for each holiday we write about. Here are some fun Christmas Eve cocktails you can try either at home or at a party on Christmas Eve this year:

Christmas Eve Classic: Spiked Eggnog

Now, there’s no reason to get fancy and make your own nog, but it’s certainly a tradition for many American families. If you’re interested in that, check out online recipes like this one. To make a spiked nog, use 1 part liquor to 4 parts eggnog. So, for example, you might use 1 ½ oz Bacardi spiced rum in 6 oz of eggnog.

Another fun (and delicious) variation on the traditional spiced rum nog is the “cinnamon nog.” Instead of spiced rum, use a cinnamon whiskey like Fireball or a liqueur with a similar flavor profile.

A Whiskey Sour

The Whiskey Sour is a classic cocktail that is known for its tart and refreshing flavor. The whiskey provides a warm and smooth base, while the lemon juice and simple syrup add a tart and sweet balance. The egg white, if used, adds a silky texture and a slight foaminess.

To make a whiskey sour, you’ll need 2 oz whiskey, ¾ oz lemon juice, ½ oz simple syrup, 1 egg white (optional), and a maraschino cherry and lemon twist for a garnish. Add all ingredients to a shaker filled with ice, and shake vigorously so that the egg white foams up. Strain into a glass and garnish with your cherry and lemon twist.

A “Hot Toddy”

The Hot Toddy is a classic cold remedy (whether it’s effective is questionable, of course) that is known for its soothing and warming flavor. The whiskey provides a warming base, while the honey and lemon juice add a touch of sweetness and tartness. The Hot Toddy is perfect for sipping on a cold, Christmas Eve day.

To make yourself a hot toddy, heat 2 oz whiskey or bourbon, 1 tsp honey, and a ½ tsp lemon juice over low heat. Once the honey dissolves, add hot water till watered down to your liking, then garnish with a lemon wedge and a cinnamon stick. Enjoy!

Fun Fact: In some countries, children leave out their shoes for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, hoping that he will fill them with presents overnight.

Distillery Nearby: Your One-Stop Shop for Local Spirits

Here at Distillery Nearby, we love celebrating the holidays with local spirits, mixed into delicious cocktails! But, how do you find and support local distilleries? We’ve created a single page of listings for the entire United States – simply click on your state and browse your area’s local listings. When you see something that piques your interest, you can use the contact information and location data to call the distillery or visit them in person!

Regardless of how you choose to celebrate the holidays, the team at Distillery Nearby wants to wish you a very happy holiday season.

Happy Holidays!

• The Team at Distillery Nearby