Planning Christmas Birthday Party Without Overcomplicating the Day

The worst Christmas birthday I attended was a party on December 23. The table had a Christmas tree centerpiece, red and green plates, and a cake that said “Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas.” The birthday person opened their gifts and got Christmas wrapping paper with a birthday tag. A Christmas birthday should feel like a birthday, not like an extension of the holiday. The trick is to separate the birthday from the Christmas decorations and make the birthday person feel like the day is theirs.

A Christmas birthday party is a celebration for someone whose birthday falls in December, near or on Christmas, where the holiday season can overshadow the birthday. The best Christmas birthday parties separate the birthday from the holiday and make the birthday person feel special. The worst merge the birthday with Christmas and make the birthday person feel like an afterthought.

The short answer: use birthday decorations, not Christmas decorations. Pick a color scheme that is not red and green (blue and silver, gold and white). Serve birthday food, not Christmas food. And celebrate on a day that is not Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

The Date

If the birthday is on December 25, celebrate on a different day. December 15 or January 5. The birthday person deserves a day that is theirs, not a day shared with the biggest holiday of the year. If the birthday is in December but not on Christmas, celebrate on the actual birthday but keep the Christmas decorations separate.

The Color Scheme

Avoid red and green. Pick a color scheme that says birthday, not Christmas:

• Blue and silver
• Gold and white
• Pink and gold
• Navy and silver

The birthday party decoration kit in gold or blue gives you a tablecloth, banner, and balloons that say birthday, not Christmas. The flaw: the kit is birthday-themed. Add a few non-Christmas decorations to make it feel special.

The Decorations

• Birthday banner (not a Christmas banner)
• Birthday balloons (not Christmas colors)
• A birthday cake (not a Christmas cake)
• Birthday wrapping paper (not Christmas wrapping paper)
• Candles on the cake

The Food

Serve birthday food, not Christmas food:

• A birthday cake (not a Christmas dessert)
• Pizza or finger food (not a Christmas dinner)
• Birthday snacks (not Christmas cookies)

The Gifts

Wrap gifts in birthday wrapping paper, not Christmas wrapping paper. This is the most common mistake. The birthday person should not open a gift wrapped in Santa paper.

What to Avoid

Avoid the Christmas tree as a backdrop for the birthday cake. Avoid the red and green color scheme. Avoid the “Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas” cake. Avoid the Christmas wrapping paper. Avoid the combined gift (“this is for your birthday and Christmas”). The birthday person deserves a separate gift.

The Verdict

A Christmas birthday party works when it separates the birthday from the holiday. Birthday decorations, not Christmas decorations. A color scheme that is not red and green. Birthday food, not Christmas food. Birthday wrapping paper, not Christmas wrapping paper. The most common mistake is merging the birthday with Christmas and making the birthday person feel like an afterthought. Make the day theirs.

FAQ

How do I throw a Christmas birthday party? Use birthday decorations, not Christmas decorations. Pick a color scheme that is not red and green. Serve birthday food. Wrap gifts in birthday paper. Celebrate on a day that is not Christmas Eve or Day.

Should I celebrate a Christmas birthday on a different day? If the birthday is on December 25, yes. Celebrate on December 15 or January 5. If the birthday is in December but not on Christmas, celebrate on the actual birthday.

What color scheme works for a Christmas birthday? Blue and silver, gold and white, pink and gold, or navy and silver. Avoid red and green, which says Christmas, not birthday.

What should I avoid for a Christmas birthday party? Christmas tree backdrops, red and green color schemes, “Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas” cakes, Christmas wrapping paper, and combined gifts. The birthday person deserves a separate celebration.

Should I combine birthday and Christmas gifts? No. The birthday person deserves a separate birthday gift and a separate Christmas gift. A combined gift makes the birthday feel like an afterthought.

How do I make a Christmas birthday feel special? Separate the birthday from the holiday. Use birthday decorations, birthday wrapping paper, and a birthday cake. Celebrate on a day that is not Christmas. Make the day about the birthday person, not about the holiday.

What food works for a Christmas birthday party? Birthday food: a birthday cake, pizza or finger food, and birthday snacks. Avoid Christmas dinner and Christmas desserts. The cake should say “Happy Birthday,” not “Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas.”

References

• The Bash, “Christmas Birthday Party Ideas,” thebash.com
• Party City, “Birthday Party Supplies,” partycity.com
• Greenvelope, “How to Celebrate a Christmas Birthday,” greenvelope.com