Holiday section 2024 by Beacon Media

GUIDE Holiday

November 2024

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BEACON MEDIA

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The ultimate playlist to give your home the right holiday season vibe

KIDS & CHRISTMAS

Fun ways to make Christmas Eve more special for children

Holiday

2 How to make a home welcoming for holiday guests

4 Decorate safely this holiday season

6 Fun ways to make Christmas Eve even more special for kids

7 Holiday decorating ideas

8 The ultimate playlist to give your home the right holiday season vibe

9 How to set a formal

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How to make a home welcoming for holiday guests

Millions of individuals travel to see family and friends during the holiday season. The automotive group AAA estimated that roughly 115 million travelers planned to travel 50 miles or more during the 2023 year-end holiday travel period, which the organization defined as a 10-day window that began on December 23 and ended on New Year’s Day. The 2024 holiday season figures to be just as busy for travelers as 2023, and many of those individuals will accept the hospitality of loved ones while away from home. Holiday hosts can embrace these strategies as they prepare to welcome guests in the weeks ahead.

A clutter-free guest room is one way for hosts to make spaces more welcoming for guests this holiday season.

that allows guests to keep their chargers tucked into their luggage, ensuring they won’t be forgotten when the time comes to return home. A scent diffuser in the guest room is another nice touch that can help travel-weary guests relax and unwind during their stay. A small handful of books and magazines left on a guest room dresser so guests have some nighttime reading material is another welcoming gesture that can make them feel right at home.

• Ask ahead about food allergies. Cooking is a big part of holiday hosting, as the dinner table is a relaxing setting to catch up with loved ones. Prior to planning a holiday hosting menu, hosts can reach out to guests and ask if they have any food allergies or other dietary restrictions. This small gesture lets guests know hosts are thinking of them even before they arrive, which can establish the welcoming vibe hosts are aiming for.

• Clear clutter from working spaces. The pandemic sparked some lasting changes, including a greater number of professionals working from home. Some do so part-time while others have become fully remote workers. That shift has led many homeowners to transform guest rooms or pockets of shared living spaces into home offices, which can make a residence feel a little more cramped once guests arrive. Declutter these spaces prior to guests’ arrival so they have ample room to relax and maneuver in guest rooms and to ensure there’s no shortage of seating or room to spread out in shared spaces like living rooms or dens.

• Designate a guests-only bathroom, if possible. If hosts’ homes have multiple full bathrooms, designate one exclusively for guests during their stay. This gesture affords guests some privacy that they’re sure to appreciate. Parents can explain this gesture to kids before guests arrive so there’s no confusion during their stay.

• Provide some guest room creature comforts. Some creature comforts in the guest room can make guests feel right at home. A smartphone charging dock on a bedside nightstand is a nice touch

As individuals prepare to welcome loved ones into their homes this holiday season, they can embrace various strategies to welcome their guests and ensure their stay is comfortable and relaxing.

The holiday season wouldn’t be the same without decorations, which go a long way toward establishing the festive atmosphere that dominates the month of December.

Injuries and accidents may be the furthest thing from people’s minds when decorating for the holidays, but the potential for such outcomes is there. This season, holiday celebrants are urged to keep these safety strategies in mind as they deck the halls.

• Choose a fresh tree if you’re going the natural route. Some people prefer natural Christmas trees because of their scent and additional characteristics. While it’s alright to choose a natural tree, the Consumer Product Safety Commission notes that many artificial trees are fire-resistant,

which makes them a good deal safer than natural trees. The CPSC urges individuals who opt for a natural tree to check for signs of freshness before making their decision. Such signs include a tree that is green, fresh needles that are difficult to pull from branches and do not break when bent between the fingers, and a trunk that is sticky with resin. In addition, when bounced on the ground, a fresh tree will not shed too many needles.

One that does is dried out, which poses a significant safety hazard inside a home.

• Inspect lights before decorating. Holiday lights are another staple of the season, but these, too, can pose a safety hazard. The CPSC recommends inspecting both new and old lights for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, and/

Decorate safely this holiday season

Stockings hung by a chimney may seem idyllic, but such decorations can pose a signiﬁcant safety hazard.

or loose connections. Discard any damaged lights. When hanging lights outside, make sure they are fastened securely to trees, a house or other structures to protect against wind damage. In addition, the CPSC recommends using no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord. Electric lights should never be used on a metallic tree, and all lights should be turned off at night before going to bed or leaving the house.

• Be especially cautious with candles. Electric candles may not provide the same ambiance as more traditional alternatives, but they are a safer option when decorating for the holidays. If using traditional candles, make sure they are never placed on or near natural trees and keep them away from flammable materials, including wrapping paper and other

decorations, at all times. Candles should always be extinguished when leaving a room.

• Exercise extreme caution around the fireplace. A freshly lit fire can establish a warm and welcoming holiday ambiance. However, it’s essential that individuals emphasize extreme caution around the fireplace. Remove all decorations, such as stockings, from the area surrounding the fireplace. The CPSC also notes the importance of keeping a screen before the fireplace whenever a fire is burning.

Decorations help make the holiday season special. Some simple safety precautions can ensure such decorations don’t increase the risk for accidents and injuries.

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Fun ways to make Christmas Eve even more special for kids

Parents know that nothing quite matches the excitement young children feel on Christmas Eve. On the day before Christmas, youngsters anxiously anticipate the arrival of Santa Claus that evening, and are perhaps even more excited by the prospects of the following morning, when they’ll race into the living room and discover all that the jolly old elf left behind. Christmas Eve seems to have some built-in magical components, but there are a handful of ways parents can make the day even more special for children.

• Track the big guy’s movements online. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and its predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD), has tracked Santa’s Christmas Eve flight for more than 60 years. Beginning on Christmas Eve, families can track Santa’s movements across the globe at Noradsanta.org. Kids can visit the site to see where Santa is at any given moment on Christmas Eve, growing more excited as the big fella gets closer and closer to their own region.

• Create a Christmas Eve craft. Gather children and their cousins and/or friends to create a special Christmas Eve craft or decoration that can be displayed next year. This is a great way to channel youngsters’ nervous Christmas Eve energy into something productive, and it can make for a great tradition families can continue even after kids are grown.

• Watch a favorite Christmas movie. Hollywood has never shied away from holiday fare, so there’s no shortage of festive films to enjoy with youngsters on Christmas Eve. Enjoy a classic like the 1947 film “Miracle on 34th Street” starring Natalie Wood as the adorable “Susan Walker” and Edmund Gwenn as “Kris Kringle,” or go with something more recent, such as “The Grinch,” the 2018 adaptation of the Dr. Seuss book How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

• Take a nighttime stroll or drive to see the lights. Lighting displays are another component that makes the holiday season so special. After Christmas Eve dinner, take a stroll through your neighborhood to see the lighting displays or climb into the car to take in a different neighborhood’s offerings if you’re already familiar with those in your own neck of the woods. Christmas Eve is a magical day for youngsters and their parents. Some simple ideas can make the day even more meaningful for children and their families.

Holiday decorating ideas

Homes are often described as sanctuaries for their residents. Homes also provide a great way for homeowners to express themselves, an opportunity that is amplified during the holiday season.

Holiday decor takes center stage come December, and there are a number of ways for homeowners to utilize their homes to showcase their holiday spirit during this special time of year.

• Wrap the front door. Giftwrapped front doors have been popular for some time, and they remain a great way to utilize a home’s entryway to spread a little holiday cheer. Shiny, single-color door wraps may never go out of style, but homeowners can choose patterned wraps as well. A bow door cover lets all visitors know a home and its residents are full of holiday cheer.

• Go for the garland. Garland can add a touch of the holiday season to any room of the house. Wrap garland around a staircase, alternating between the banister and spindles so residents and guests can still safely navigate their way up and down. Garland streamed along foyer tables sets a decorative tone for all guests, and living room television stands and dining room banquets also can be made a touch more festive with some garland.

• Hang stockings throughout the house. Stockings have long been hung by chimneys (with care), but they also can be incorporated into holiday decor throughout a home. Spread holiday cheer in each room with brightly colored holiday stockings, which can be hung along a staircase wall as well.

• Don’t forget the kitchen. Realtors and contractors often note the popularity of the kitchen, a room where families tend to congregate each day before work and school and then again upon returning home. Some festive kitchen accessories, like a holiday-themed cutting board, jar sets and table settings can bring the spirit of the holiday season into the busiest room in the house.

• Create some pinecone Christmas trees. Involve the whole family in holiday decorating by spending a weekend afternoon creating pinecone Christmas trees. Gather pinecones from your own backyard, if possible, or take a trip to some nearby woods for some supplies. There’s no shortage of websites offering instructions on crafting pinecone trees. Once completed, the trees can be placed in various rooms to spread holiday cheer throughout the house. Decorations are a big part of the holiday season. Families can make their homes holiday central by ensuring each room is decorated for this special time of year.

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The ultimate playlist to give your home the right holiday season vibe

Staying home for the holidays can make the season a little more convenient, saving celebrants from having to contend with the millions of individuals who take to the roads, railways and friendly skies each December. But staying home comes with its fair share of obligations, especially for individuals who are planning holiday get-togethers with family and friends.

• “White Christmas,” by Bing Crosby

• “Winter Wonderland,” by Louie Armstrong

• “The First Noel,” by the cast of “Glee”

• “Happy Holiday,” by Peggy Lee

• “O Tannenbaum,” by the Vince Guaraldi Trio

• “Boogie Woogie Santa Claus,” by the Brian Setzer Orchestra

• “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” by Mariah Carey

• “Santa Baby,” by Eartha Kitt

• “Mele Kalikimaka,” by Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters

• “Blue Christmas,” by Elvis Presley

Mood and merrymaking go hand in hand come the holiday season, and music can be used to establish a celebratory vibe this time of year. Whether you’re hosting a holiday party or simply aspring to create a festive atmosphere throughout the month of December, the following songs can help set the right tone this year.

• “Sleigh Ride,” by Ella Fitzgerald

• “The Christmas Song,” by Gregory Porter

• “Jingle Bell Rock,” by Bobby Helms

• “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!,” by Frank Sinatra

• “Jingle Bells,” by Kimberley Locke

• “Silver Bells,” by Tony Bennett, featuring Count Basie and His Big Band

• “Here Comes Santa Claus,” by Elvis Presley

• “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” by Diana Krall

• “Frosty the Snowman,” by Gene Autry

• “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town,” by Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band

• “Deck the Halls,” by Nat King Cole

• “Fairytale of New York,” by The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl

• “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” by Burl Ives

• “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” by Dean Martin and Marilyn Maxwell

• “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” by The Ray Coniff Singers

These are just some of the songs that can make up a merry and festive holiday season playlist.

How to set a formal dinner table

Formal dining rooms may not be utilized as frequently as they once were. While modern families are more likely to eat most of their meals in expanded kitchens than in formal dining rooms, the latter spaces do not lack utility. In fact, the usefulness of formal dining rooms is apparent each holiday season, when families and friends gather around the dinner table to break bread together. Holiday hosts undoubtedly recognize the utility of formal dining rooms. Such spaces help set holiday gatherings with family and friends apart from dinners

throughout the rest of the year. That’s even more apparent when table settings are set in adherence to traditional etiquette. Formal dinner table settings can add a touch of elegance to holiday affairs. The following guidelines can help hosts establish a more formal atmosphere as they prepare to welcome friends and family members into their homes this holiday season.

Plates and bowls

It’s not uncommon for diners to visit an upscale restaurant and ponder the purpose of the dishes, utensils and other items neatly placed around each place at the table. Hosts who want to recreate that look for their holiday gettogethers should recognize there are various essentials at formal dinner tables that they would not see or use when setting tables for casual affairs. A charger plate, for example, is a large, decorative and ornamental plate that essentially

serves as the foundation for other items. Food is not to be placed on the charger plate. Soup bowls are typically placed atop the charger plate before guests sit down, and are then removed after soup has been served and consumed. A bread plate to the upper left of the charger plate is another component of a formal table setting.

Utensils

Extra utensils specific for certain foods are another component of a formal table setting. Forks are placed to the left of the charger plate, with the salad fork on the outer edge and the larger dinner fork closest to the plate. A soup spoon goes on the outer right side of the charger plate, while a knife is on the inner right side next to the plate. A butter knife can be placed atop the bread plate, and a dessert spoon can be laid along the top of the plate parallel to the back of the guest’s chair.

Glassware

It’s customary to provide a water glass, red wine glass and white wine glass at a formal dinner table. The glasses are placed off to the upper right side of the plate, with the water glass on the inside and the white wine glass on the outer side nearest to the plate. The red wine glass is located on the outer side and is typically the furthest away from the plate.

Additional items

A salt shaker and pepper shaker can be placed in front of each place setting at the top of the plate nearest to the center of the table. If the party is large and seats have been assigned, a place card indicating each guest’s name can be placed between the salt and pepper shakers with the name of the guest facing outward.

Formal place settings at holiday dinner tables can add a touch of elegance and sophistication to seasonal gatherings with family and friends.

Serve a classic dish when hosting this holiday season

Though a holiday trip to a far off locale can provide a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of this often hectic time of year, millions of people feel there’s no place like home during the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. The familiar, cozy confines of home certainly make this festive time of year a little warmer.

When spending the holidays at home, families tend to welcome friends and family into their homes so they can celebrate with the people they love most. In such instances, it’s customary to enjoy a sit-down meal together. This season, those spending the holiday season at home can up the culinary ante with this recipe for “Roast Duckling With Apples and Red Onions” courtesy of Lines+Angles.

Roast Duckling With Apples and Red Onions Makes 6 Servings

1 duckling, 5 1⁄2 to 6 pounds

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1⁄4 teaspoon black pepper

2 apples, cored and cut into wedges

1 small red onion, sliced

2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves

1. Preheat oven to 425 F.

2. Season both the outside and inside of the duckling with salt and pepper. Tie the duck’s legs together with a piece of butcher’s twine. Place the duck breast side up on a sheet pan and roast for 15 minutes.

3. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 F and roast for 30 minutes. Remove pan from oven and remove excess fat with a bulb baster, if desired. Add the apples and onion around the duck. Sprinkle the thyme over the top and bake for an additional 30 minutes or until the duck reaches an internal temperature of 165 F.

4. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 1 hour, 15 minutes

Total time: 1 hour, 25 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

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Spice up your holiday dinner table this season

Hosting family dinners during the holiday season is an opportunity for hosts to share their spirit and express their love for family and friends. Tastes have evolved over the years, and that evolution has afforded dinner hosts more wiggle room when planning holiday menus. Though traditional staples like ham may never be relegated to the holiday dinner dustbin, cooks can spice things up to make these beloved favorites a little more flavorful. The following recipe for “Spicy Maple-Glazed Ham,” adapted from chef Jacques Pépin’s “Heart and Soul in the Kitchen” (HarperCollins) for Bonappetit.com, adds a little heat to ham. The former personal chef to French president Charles de Gaulle, Pépin notes that poaching a ham before roasting removes excess salt, ensuring the finished product is tender and juicy.

Spicy Maple-Glazed Ham

Makes 8 to 12 servings

1 10 lb. cured smoked bone-in ham or 6 lb. cured smoked boneless ham

1⁄3 cup ketchup

1⁄3 cup pure maple syrup

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons sriracha

Step 1

If one 10-lb. cured smoked bone-in ham or 6-lb. cured smoked boneless ham has a fat cap, score lightly in a crosshatch pattern, spacing cuts about 3⁄4-inch apart.

Step 2

Transfer ham to a large stockpot and pour in cold water to cover. Cover pot with a lid and bring water to a simmer. Cook, adjusting heat as needed to maintain a simmer, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the ham registers 140 F, 70 to 80 minutes for boneless, 80 to 90 minutes for bone-in. Remove pot from heat and let ham cool in cooking liquid until lukewarm, about 45 minutes.

Step 3

Place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 400 F. Stir 1⁄3 cup ketchup, 1⁄3 cup pure maple syrup, 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, and 2 tablespoons sriracha in a small bowl to combine.

Step 4

Carefully transfer ham to a wire rack set inside a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet and pat dry with paper towels; discard cooking liquid or save for another use. Brush ham with about half the glaze. Transfer to oven and bake until glaze is tacky and lightly browned in spots, 30 to 40 minutes. Brush with remaining glaze and continue to bake until glaze is deeply browned, 10 to 15 minutes more.

Step 5

Transfer ham to a cutting board and let rest 15 to 20 minutes before slicing and serving.

Do ahead: Ham can be simmered 12 hours ahead. Let cool completely, then transfer ham to a wire rack set inside a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet and chill uncovered. Let sit at room temperature 60 to 90 minutes before glazing and baking.

Be your best brunch host this holiday season

Much is made about the main course during a holiday meal, and for good reason. Food features prominently during the holiday season, and many a lasting memory is made around the family dinner table each December. Though it’s impossible to exaggerate the importance of the main course during a holiday celebration with family and friends, savvy hosts, especially those welcoming overnight guests into their homes, recognize that a sit-down dinner isn’t the only opportunity to show off their culinary skills. When hosting overnight guests, a relaxing homemade brunch can make for the perfect way for hosts and their guests to ease into a day. Hosts looking to plan a simple, flavorful holiday brunch can utilize this recipe for “Mushroom Sausage Frittata” courtesy of Lines+Angles.

Mushroom Sausage Frittata

Makes 4 to 6 servings

1 tablespoon good-quality olive oil

2 cups chopped smoked sausage

2 cups sliced mushrooms

2 cloves of garlic, peeled and minced

8 fresh eggs

3 1⁄2 tablespoons heavy cream

1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

1⁄2 teaspoon salt

1 cup cheddar cheese, grated

1. Preheat oven broiler.

2. Heat the oil in a 10-inch nonstick, ovenproof skillet. Add sausage and sauté until it begins to brown, about 3 minutes. Add mushrooms and sauté until golden, about 3 additional minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

3. Combine the eggs, heavy cream, salt, and pepper in a blender; process until frothy. Pour the egg mixture into the skillet with the sausage mixture and cook, undisturbed, until the sides and bottom are set but center is loose, about 4 minutes.

4. Sprinkle cheese over the top and place skillet under broiler and cook until mixture is just set on top and cooked through, about 3 to 4 minutes. Cool 2 minutes, slice and serve.

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Total time: 25 minutes

Difficulty: Easy