Hasn’t this been a very different and difficult year! Who would have thought, after all our lockdowns, that we may still not be able to spend Christmas with our families and friends.
With only a couple of months to go, it’s time to get the Christmas Spirit going early and re-invent this year’s celebration, especially if you are distanced from family. We have learned to do so many things remotely this year, so let’s do a Virtual Christmas Celebration.
Whether it’s Christmas Drinks and Nibbles, a Christmas Morning Breakfast or a Christmas Dinner with all the trimmings, it’s all possible with a bit of organisation … so here’s how to do it.
Invite everyone to join a virtual location, decorate your table, create your own menu or order in, and add some fun with a Secret Santa gift exchange. It can all be done easily when broken down into a few simple steps that I’ve outlined below:
- Send out an invite
- Arrange a Secret Santa gift exchange
- Setup Video Conference Tool
- Setup Your Video & Audio
- Download a music playlist
- Decorate to set the Christmas Mood
- Create your Menu
1. Send out an invite
Send a great invitation; this always sets the mood. Whether on-line or snail mail, formal or simple, just make sure you nail all the logistics.
There are plenty of online sites to choose from, here are a couple of favourites:
https://www.paperlesspost.com/
2. Arrange a “Secret Santa”
Add some fun and get everyone to send a Secret Santa gift for opening during your celebration.
There are a variety of Secret Santa Organiser apps available and most are easy to navigate.
I like this App: Santas Secret Keeper, it works on iPhones, and is also available for Android phones. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/santas-secret-keeper/id1317502629
Just make sure you get the gift in the mail EARLY as all mail services, both local and international, will be in overdrive.
3. Setup Video Conference Tool
First things first: which video calling app will you use? There are plenty to choose from, but here are the frontrunners:
Make sure you do a short trial run with your guests before the actual date of your celebration, so that everyone is familiar with the platform you are using. You don’t need any ‘tech’ glitches on the day.
ZOOM
This is a great all-rounder, allowing plenty of people to participate. You can
choose between two display options: Gallery view, which allows you to see multiple participants at the same time, and the format which intuitively switches to whoever is speaking. It’s free to use, but there’s a 40 minute time limit for three or more users, unless you up-grade to one of their pricing plans.
SKYPE
This app is a classic video platform, perfect for large groups, and has a 4 hour time limit. It can be used on multiple devices from phones to Xboxes.
FACETIME
(supported by iphones only)
If your whole group owns iPhones or Macs, try using FaceTime. It’s as simple as scrolling to your FaceTime app, clicking the + symbol button, and selecting your friends and family. You’ll be on a video chat in no time.
GOOGLE HANGOUTS
This app is easy to use if you already have a Gmail account, and you don’t need to set-up anything new to participate. Google Hangouts is free to use straight from your Google account.
4. Setup Your Video & Audio
There are a bunch of different options available to setup your video. The best option is to connect your laptop/tablet/phone to a television. This will give you the best possible picture and allow you to see your family and friends at a much larger scale. The good news is that it’s super easy to connect your device to a TV these days. You can go wireless using GoogleChrome or Airplay which is an easy option, but these are a little more prone to slower speeds. As mentioned, the best option is to use an HDMI cable. You can even get HDMI adapters for phones these days, so make sure to visit your local JB Hi-Fi or similar to pickup a cheap cable.
Check your Audio
It won’t be much fun if you can’t hear your family and friends. You also want to make sure everyone can hear you clearly too! Make sure to test your setup before the big day so there are no annoying technical difficulties. The best possible setup will be to connect your laptop to a TV using an HDMI cable. Not only will you have a great big video of your family and friends, but the audio will come from the TV speakers, which are likely to be more powerful than your laptop.
If you have a big table, it might be difficult for everyone to hear you down the other end. Especially if things get a little bit jolly! It might sound like overkill, but buying a cheap USB conference call microphone is a great investment. Here is a great microphone that can be dropped in the middle of your table that will impress all your friends. https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/audio-technica-atr4697usb-microphone
Optimise the Lighting
Don’t skimp on lighting. Set up your device so that the main source of light is not behind you – otherwise you’ll look dark and shadowy on screen.
If you are sharing a meal together, set your device at the end of the table and make sure you pay attention to the background – that’s what your virtual guests will be able to see.
Elevate your Video Device
Whether you’re using a laptop, tablet or even a phone, use a stand and place it so that the camera is at eye level. If you don’t have a stand or small tripod, use a stack of books to get the right height. No-one wants to ‘look up your nose’
5. Download a music playlist
Christmas is the only time of year with its own special soundtrack. Nominate one of your guests to compile your own playlist, that everyone can use over the festive season. Let everyone nominate their favourite songs and carols to include in your own playlist, or download 2 hours of…
The Cooks Room Christmas Favourites
6. Decorate to set the mood
Decorations will help any virtual celebration feel more festive. This is the perfect time to set the table with your best china, silverware and glassware and a gorgeous centrepiece, even if there are only a few people at the table.
If you are hosting this event, and have the time, put together a CHRISTMAS PARTY PACK to mail to all your guests. This could include personalised Christmas Crackers here, battery lights, napkins, and some special ornaments.
As postage is expensive, try and send things that are not too heavy. I used an Australia Post parcel box ($2.80) and then lined it with Christmas wrap.
Remember this year the mail services will be in over-drive, so get your packs in the mail ASAP.
7. Create your Menu!
Okay, so here’s the slightly tricky bit. How do you hold a feast in multiple locations ? You and your guests could support a local restaurant or Catering company by ordering all, or part of your meal on-line.
You could all cook the same recipes and compare notes, or just do your own thing. This could be the year for everyone to make at least one special family favourite dish. Maybe it’s Grandma’s famous Christmas Trifle!
So where to begin…
The Cooks Room has lots of great Christmas recipes here – but these are some of the classics
So there you have it – all the info you need to navigate a remote Christmas Celebration. Just make sure you have a couple of practise runs with your video calls, you may even need to negotiate with a local ‘tech nerd’ to help with your set-up, so there are no mishaps on the day.
Have fun, and enjoy your Virtual Christmas Celebration
