This post is about friendsmas.
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There's no way better to celebrate Christmas with friends than hosting a Friendsmas. Whether you are looking for a clever theme or invitations to send all your guests, we shared ideas for both!
We also included some easy friendsmas food ideas that will be crowd favorites! This guide is completed by the best games to end the night on.
This post is about friendsmas.
Friendsmas Theme Ideas
Pajamas & Peppermint
Host a cozy friendsmas where everyone comes in their cutest Christmas pajamas. Pair the comfy vibe with peppermint hot cocoa, candy canes, and a holiday movie marathon. It’s laid-back, nostalgic, and perfect for intimate gatherings.
Tinsel & Tinis
A sparkly cocktail-focused friendsmas where martinis (or any holiday cocktails) take center stage. Encourage guests to wear shimmering outfits and garnish drinks with candy canes, cranberries, or edible glitter. It’s festive, glam, and perfect for a toast-filled night.
Sweater Soirée
Bring out the tackiest, funniest holiday sweaters for a night of laughs. Add a contest for “ugliest sweater” or “most creative” to bring some competition. Decor can be kitschy, colorful, and over-the-top to match the theme.
White Elephant Wonderland
Make the gift exchange the main event with quirky, funny, or useful gifts under $20. This playful theme keeps the night full of surprises and laughter while putting the spotlight on friends’ personalities.
Santa’s Stocking Surprise
Each guest brings a stocking filled with small treats, trinkets, or gag gifts, and then you can swap or play a game to take turns picking. It’s low-pressure gift giving and so fun to see everyone’s creativity.
Secret Santa Sip & Swap
Instead of the classic white elephant, guests do a Secret Santa gift exchange! Pair everyone up ahead of time or do a drawing with everyone's names. Come up with some fun cocktails that play on the holiday season. Enjoy these before and during your gift exchange.
Friendsmas Favorites Exchange
Each guest brings a small, budget-friendly mini version of their favorite item. A go-to lip balm, a favorite snack, a cozy candle, or even a travel-size beauty product. Everyone gets to share why it’s their favorite, then hands one out to each friend. By the end of the night, each person leaves with a bag full of thoughtful, practical goodies and a glimpse into everyone’s personality.
The Ornament Exchange Extravaganza
Each friend brings a unique or funny ornament to swap instead of traditional gifts. You can even do a little “decorate the tree together” moment while sipping hot cocoa or mulled wine. Everyone leaves with a keepsake for their tree and plenty of laughs over the memorable picks.
Friendsmas Invitation Ideas
Red Invites
Green Invites
White Invites
Friendsmas Food Ideas
Festive Pinwheel Wraps
Ingredients:
- Burrito sized tortillas
- Cream cheese
- Deli turkey
- Cranberry sauce
- Baby spinach or arugula
RECIPE:
Spread cream cheese evenly over the tortilla, then add a thin layer of cranberry sauce. Lay slices of turkey across, sprinkle with spinach for a pop of green, and roll tightly. Slice into 1-inch pinwheels and secure with toothpicks if needed. If you have time, wrap them in plastic wrap after rolling up. Pop them in the fridge for a couple of hours before cutting!
Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Dates
Ingredients:
- Dates
- Goat Cheese
- Bacon
- Honey
- Thyme
- Assorted Nuts (Optional)
RECIPE:
Cut your bacon into thirds & slice your dates in halves the long way. Remove the pit of the dates or buy dates that already have the pit removed. Mix honey with your goat cheese and add thyme. Fill your dates with the cheese and wrap bacon around them. Secure with a toothpick and bake. The full recipe is linked here!
Gingerbread Dip
Ingredients:
- Cool whip
- Cream cheese
- Gingerbread spice or crushed ginger snaps
RECIPE: Mix cream cheese, Cool Whip, and gingerbread spice until fluffy. Serve with cookies or graham crackers.
Honeycomb Burrata
Ingredients:
- Burrata (8 oz.)
- Honeycomb
- Thyme
- Sunflower Seeds
- Naan Bread
- Flake Salt
RECIPE:
Toast naan bread for 5-8 minutes at 350 degrees. Warm a small pan on low/medium heat for 3 minutes. Add 1/4 cup of sunflower seeds to the pan and stir continuously to avoid burning. Once lightly browned and toasted, about 4 minutes, immediately remove from heat. Add burrata balls to a serving bowl. Score them along the tops creating a cross/x pattern. Gently peel back the top layer to expose the inside of the burrata. Cut honeycomb into quarter sized chunks. Top with toasted sunflower seeds, fresh thyme, and flake salt. Check out the full recipe here!
Looking for more Christmas ideas?
Holiday Ham & Cheese Sliders
Ingredients:
- Hawaiian rolls
- Deli ham
- Swiss cheese
- Butter
RECIPE: Layer ham and cheese on rolls, brush tops with melted butter, and bake at 350°F for 15 minutes.
Pull-Apart Bread
Ingredients:
- Crescent rolls
- Boursin cheese
- Italian seasoning
- Butter
- Garlic
- Parmesan (optional)
RECIPE:
Preheat the over to 375 degrees & lightly grease your pan. Unroll the crescent dough and separate into triangles. Cut each triangle in half (longways). Scoop a small amount of Boursin cheese into the center of each and fold the dough around it to form a ball, pinching to seal. Create your desired shape with the individual balls & bake for 20-25 minutes. Top with melted butter, garlic, and herbs. Grab the full recipe here!
Spinach Artichoke Dip Cups
Ingredients:
- Frozen spinach artichoke dip
- Phyllo cups or wonton wrappers
RECIPE: Spoon dip into cups and bake at 350°F for 8–10 minutes. Bite-sized, warm, and gooey.
Mini Pies
Ingredients:
- Fresh blueberries
- Granulated sugar
- Cornstarch
- Lemon zest
- Lemon juice
- Pre-made pie crust
- Egg
- Turbinado Sugar
RECIPE:
Prepare the filling by mixing the blueberries, sugar, cornstarch, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Stir until the blueberries are coated. Cut out the crusts: Lightly dust your surface with flour, and roll out your dough. It should be about 1/2 inch thick. Press your pie crusts into your muffin tin, making sure to cover the bottom and sides. Fill each muffin tin with the blueberry mixture. Make your lattice top: Press the remaining pie crust into a lattice mold and then weave the strips over the top of your mini pie. If you don't have a lattice mold, you can cut strips to weave using a pizza cutter. Apply egg wash to the tops of your pies. Bake for 20-25 minutes, keeping a close eye on the pies. Full recipe linked here!
Cranberry Brie Bites
Ingredients:
- Mini phyllo cups
- Brie cheese
- Cranberry sauce
RECIPE: Place a cube of brie into each phyllo cup, top with a spoonful of cranberry sauce, and bake at 350°F for 8–10 minutes until bubbly. Serve warm.
Friendsmas Games
Christmas Movie Charades
Write down classic holiday movies (Elf, Home Alone, The Grinch) on slips of paper and play charades. Guests act out scenes without speaking while their team guesses. Add a holiday timer (like a jingling bell) for extra fun.
Favorite Things Friendsmas
Each guest brings multiples of their favorite small item (one for each person). For example: your favorite candle, snack, or lip balm. Everyone explains why they love it and hands one out. Guests leave with a little bundle of “favorites” that feel thoughtful and personal.
Name that Christmas Tune
Play just a few seconds of a Christmas song and see who can guess it first. You can make it harder by choosing instrumental versions or funny covers. Works great in teams and gets people laughing (and sometimes singing).
Secret Santa Roulette
Instead of each person buying for just one friend, everyone brings a wrapped gift and places it in the middle. Draw names, but here’s the twist: after opening, the recipient can choose to keep their gift or swap it with anyone else’s. It combines Secret Santa with the drama of White Elephant!
Festive Heads Up
Make your own holiday version of the game “Heads Up!” Write Christmas-related words (reindeer, Elf on the Shelf, mistletoe, snowball fight) on cards. One player holds it to their forehead while others give clues until they guess.
Stuff Your Stocking
Hang stockings for each guest and have everyone bring small goodies (candies, ornaments, mini lotions, socks) to stuff into them. By the end of the night, each person has a stocking full of surprises. It feels cozy and nostalgic.
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