Celebrate the holiday season with a party

With the holidays at hand, it's party time. If you are going to all the effort to clean and decorate your home, you might as well invite friends in to celebrate the season.

Inviting guests to your home is a warm, friendly gesture. It's a good way to get to know someone better and to thank people for special help or previous gatherings. Don't be intimidated. Your guests are your friends, and you'll be glad later that you invited them into your home.

There are some simple ways to make the experience fun:

Know your entertaining style. Choose what works well for you, your lifestyle, your budget, and your home. Creativity is the key. If a casual occasion -- such as a chili supper or a cookie-decorating party -- work best, no doubt it will be fun.

Know your limits. Don't spend more time and money than you can afford. Decide if you can do everything yourself. If not, consider hiring someone, such as a neighborhood teen, to help with errands or cleanup. Or plan a potluck or progressive dinner, which moves from house to house, where the work is shared.

Be inclusive. Casual parties are great ways to introduce a new neighbor, acquaintance or co-worker to your circle of friends. For a new family, include children.

Reciprocate in your style. When it's time to reciprocate for earlier invitations, you don't have to return the favor in the same manner. A formal dinner can be returned graciously with a casual Sunday soup supper. If you can't entertain, treat your friend to a restaurant meal or a movie ticket.

Collect menus and ideas. Look for simple do-ahead recipes. You might feel more like entertaining if you have a stockpile of menus and dishes you can make with confidence.

Make your parties memorable. Pick a theme, such as pizza night or fondue night or chocolate dessert night, and have fun.

For holiday meals, buffets are good ways to accommodate a larger crowd. Plan your traffic flow and arrange your table with stacked plates, flatware and napkins at a logical starting point. If needed, rent extra chafing dishes to keep food hot, and extra wine glasses. Arrange a separate table with drinks, glasses and coffee service. If guests will be sitting at a variety of places, be sure they can eat easily while sitting with a plate in their laps. Make food easy to eat.

These are some of the holiday and special occasions this time of year to celebrate:

Thanksgiving. For an extended-family celebration, develop the tradition of having various family members and friends cook their specialty dishes for the day. For example, the host might provide the turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and beverages, and the guests bring the side dishes.

Hanukkah. The Festival of Lights brings lights to the darkest time of the year to the Jews of the world. They celebrate with special foods, such as potato latkes served with applesauce and sufganiyot, little doughnuts.

Christmas. Neighborhood gatherings are fun, because people can walk over for a casual time. Keep the menu simple, such as hot drinks, light munchies and desserts.

Kwanzaa. African-Americans celebrate their heritage from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1. Kwanzaa is a Swahili word meaning "the first," referring to the fruits of the harvest. Fruits from the market go into the centerpiece, such as papayas, plantains and mangoes. Various other symbolic elements include a straw mat, a seven-branched candleholder symbolizing ancestors, ears of corn representing children and small gifts honoring personal achievement.

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. A simple open house with coffee, cake and champagne can bring together friends on their way to other late parties. For families with small children, it can be a party with games and activities. For New Year's Day, a brunch, casual lunch or early supper work well.

Planning ahead:

Choose a guest list and type of party.

Invite guests.

Select and test menu.

Shop for food and beverages; make what you can ahead of time.

Clean the house before party day so you aren't exhausted.

Decide what you'll wear.

Last-minute tips for party day:

Do last-minute shopping (fresh bread and flowers).

Set the table, arrange the flowers, chill the wine and other beverages.

Prepare last-minute dishes and garnishes; set up the bar and grind the coffee.

Relax and enjoy your party.