What is it, exactly, that makes those few days between Christmas and New Year so special? Is it seeing your old home friends again? The biblical flow of Prosecco? Or the quality time you get to spend lovingly bickering with your siblings? No, of course not. It’s the sheer joy of heading back into the warm, familiar clutch of your parents’ house. Because that nest you spent so long trying to escape is now the ultimate mecca, a heavenly place with an unlimited supply of – food.
If you’re one of those poor people who’ve been cruelly detained in the office right up until 7pm on Christmas Eve with nothing but a slightly long weekend to look forward to, our deepest sympathies. But looking on the bright side, at least you might just have enough time to squeeze in a Christmas party, funded and hosted by your long-suffering parents.
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Here’s a few ways to make the most of their hospitality.
The Drinks To Impress Everybody With
Seeing as you’re looking all Fatal Attraction and you've got your parents drink cabinet to raid (helloooooo fun times), this is the perfect opportunity to experiment with a new cocktail. Dust off the nice cocktail glasses your parents got as a wedding present (and for gods sake hide any broken glass the next morning) and rustle up these lot:
You know that bottle of Vermouth you'd pretty much dismissed as from the 19th century? It's time to pull it out because you know all those Negronis you've been drinking in overpriced bars recently? Well, they're made with that. This recipefor a classic Americano is worth trying first.
You'd never be able to actually afford to buy brandy. But borrowing it? Totally fine. This recipe for a Sidecar is a mix of brandy, cointreau, lemon juice and sugar - and bonus, it's super easy to make.
The ones to use up that bottle of Scotch Whiskey before your granddad
Don't just want Scotch on the rocks? The Rob Roy- a heady mix of Scotch, Martini Rosso, Angostura Bitters and lemon zest - will get you in the Scottish mood. Ie, pretty merry.
And when you've had enough of the Rob Roy, turn that bottle of Scotch into The Godfather - an epic cocktail that you can enjoy whilst watching the equally epic film of the same name. Because you know it'll be on TV over Christmas.
The one to use up that Creme De Cassis
It's been in your parents' drinks cabinet since before you were born but don't dismiss it. Just add it to some Martini Prosecco and you have the perfect New Years drink - a Kir Royale.
The Christmas Party Playlist To Revisit From Your Youth
There’ll probably be a load of parents in attendance (your best mates' parents are pretty much surrogates to you anyway) and a party ain’t a party without your mad great Aunt Maud groping your sixth form boyfriend. So you’ll probably find the best music for the occasion tucked away in your old CD collection – and if anyone complains just tell them it’s retro, not lame, to listen to Now That’s What I Call Music ’98. Or just put on this Spotify playlist. Including Ja Rule.
The Outfit You'd Only Ever Dare Wear At Home
Why is it that the old clothes you find in your Mum’s cupboard look super cool in your bedroom but pretty questionable as soon as you get them back to London? Well anyway, Christmas is the time to be daring and wear them with confidence (you’re the hostess after all). Put on that scarlett sparkly shoulder-padded 80s number and hell, why not team it with the heels you can’t really walk in because you’ll probably take them off after half an hour anyway.
The Food You Can't Even Pretend To Have Made Yourself
So it’s great that you’ve got all the food in the world to choose from but really, where’s the fun in home cooking canapés for a party of 50 when Waitrose is (for a few days of the year only) not out of budget? Everyone loves those little mini burgers they do anyway - and those ready-made blinis and smoked salmon. Plus, homemade mince pies are way too easy to burn.
READ MORE: We Got A Psychologist To Analyze The John Lewis Christmas Ad
The Party Games To Play
A Christmas party isn’t complete without someone embarrassing themselves a little bit. And we’re not talking about your mate getting carried away on the mulled wine and deciding she’s in love with your rogue-ish bachelor uncle. No, the best way to ensure some family friendly humiliation is one big game of Articulate. It’s loud, raucous, and if you haven’t every played it you’re missing out. (Be warned though, if you have a tendency to get red-in-the-face competitive, you might want to sit this one out.)
Happy Christmas!
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.