Christmas is coming up, and while you can always go the traditional route for your party, nowadays having a themed party is common — and a lot of fun — too.

This is the time of year to get everyone together, be they family, neighbors, or even co-workers.

The party doesn’t need to be fancy and full of fuss, but the theme can help everyone get into the spirit of the holiday.

Christmas Isn’t the Only Theme

While the overriding look of the party may be Christmas-based, you can add more themes for a fun time.

Try a Roaring Twenties theme with casino games, flapper outfits, a dance contest, or even Charleston lessons.

Have people dress like Great Gatsby characters or gangsters and molls.

Of course, if you don’t want to have a fully themed party happening, you can still have a secondary theme.

Ugly Sweater Theme

Ugly Christmas sweaters can be a great theme that’s easy for people to participate in. Many of your guests will have an ugly sweater or two buried at the back of a closet, an old gift form a relative who meant well but didn’t have the best taste.

Online sites also sell ugly Christmas sweaters for those people who were never blessed with the task of smiling at a relative while holding a knit monstrosity. Even better, there are now ugly Hanukkah sweaters available, too.

Don’t Forget the Food, Delicious Food

Sometimes simpler is better, and Christmas party food does not have to be a gourmet feast for your guests to have a good time.

Going the potluck route is always helpful — just be sure you keep a list of who’s bringing what so you don’t end up with ten batches of cookies (though there are people who would argue that ten batches of cookies is perfectly acceptable, of course).

Speaking of cookies, hold a cookie swap where everyone brings their favorite cookie recipe.

Or, have the party catered or just buy deli and fruit platters at the grocery store.

The point is to have tasty food that people can eat easily while mingling. Have lots of appetizers around, too, so people get a variety of foods as they nibble.