CHRISTMAS DAY DINNER is often a highlight of the season… 

Everything about the day, whether it’s the smell of mulled wine before you put the turkey on, the sight of your loved ones around the table, or the laughter at a lame Christmas cracker joke, everything about Christmas Day dinner has the chance to be its own special moment.

Hosting and feeding your loved ones on Christmas Day can be a lot of pressure, but it doesn’t have to be. In this week’s edition of the Allianz Home Magazine, we’re here to give you advice on hosting a Christmas Day dinner that’s all about family, fun and food. 

All about the atmosphere

Before your guests get a chance to sample your food, they’ll notice the atmosphere that you’ve created. Naturally, your house will already be decorated for Christmas, but the Christmas dinner table deserves an extra bit of care. Natural elements are an especially nice touch. Holly and mistletoe are two staples when it comes to adorning the table, while Christmas crackers are always a conversation starter. 

Make sure to have a playlist of Christmas carols and other Christmas classics to set the mood. It’s worth putting time into this playlist, as your guests will certainly be buzzing to hear their favourite Christmas song. From White Christmas to Fairytale of New York, make sure to cover all the classics. Keep it at an ambient volume, well below the level of conversation, and let the Christmas tunes make everybody happy subliminally. 

All about the timing

Christmas Day dinner is a day for being together. For this reason, it can sometimes feel a bit disjointed if all of the food is being brought out at different times. Make sure to have appetisers always available to your guests, whether that’s a cheese and charcuterie board on the table, fresh bread rolls, and nice jams, sauces and chutneys to spread.

As for the courses themselves, try to make sure that your vegetables, your meat, your gravy and your sauces are all piping hot and ready to go at the same time. Serving everyone all at once will give an efficient air to proceedings with no waiting around. 

Keep ‘em talking

Family time is wonderful, but if you’re hosting a wide array of guests, it’s possible that not everybody will know each other very well. In the interest of keeping the conversation flowing, you can lay out your table so that everybody has a conversation card in front of them, with friendly topics that could generate fun chat around the table as the night wears on. For example: ‘Is Die Hard a Christmas film?’ or ‘Will Ireland qualify for the next World Cup?’

Another nice touch is to have the board games and/or card games ready to go after dinner. This fun for all the family will re-energise everybody after their delicious meal. 

Think about yourself

What good is throwing the perfect Christmas Day dinner if you’re not there to enjoy it? Naturally, there will be some amount of serving that you’ll need to do as the host, but you can reduce the amount of time you spend on your feet by preparing what you can in advance so that by the time everyone takes their seats, there’s a little for you to worry about as possible.