How to Plan an Online Christmas Party — Pinoy Edition!

If there’s one thing 2020 can’t take away from us, it’s the spirit of Christmas. We Pinoys are such huge fans of the season that we certainly won’t let a pandemic hinder us from celebrating! And now that we have to work around multiple travel restrictions and social distancing protocols, a lot of us are considering having an online Christmas party instead.

Granted, nothing beats actually meeting up with our loved ones and celebrating together. But for now, let’s make do with what we have. Thinking of ways to plan your next virtual Christmas party? Here are some exciting ideas!

Also read: 10 Best Video Calling Apps for Your Socially Distanced Hangouts

How to plan your online Christmas party

1. Prepare good food and e-numan essentials

An online Christmas party doesn’t have to be so glum. With proper celebratory essentials, you’ll surely enjoy your virtual gatherings like no other! 

Most local shops understand the love of Pinoys for this season. A lot of them have transitioned their services to cater to our party cravings. Needless to say, you have numerous online stores to choose from! Check out our list of party trays and e-numan essentials here.

Also read: 15 Best Pinoy Potluck Food for Holiday Parties & Where To Get Them

2. Play monito-monita — virtual style!

Even before the quarantine, a lot of my friend groups have resorted to drawing lots online to save paper. We make use of exchange gift generators like DrawNames.com or Elfster — these sites even have wish lists you can add! 

Now that we’re on quarantine, my friend groups now use online shopping apps to exchange gifts. We just ask for the addresses and contact details of one another. Then, we ship our gifts directly to one another!

Also read: 15 Fun Travel Items for Your Christmas Party Exchange Gifts

3. Think of a Christmas party theme

Just because you’re stuck at home doesn’t mean you should show up in your PJs (unless you want to, of course!). Go all out for your online Christmas party! One way to do this is by having a theme and asking everyone to show up in costumes.

Along with having a costume party, utilise video call features too! Go crazy with your virtual backgrounds; make sure they follow the theme as well. After your online Christmas party, you can even hand out awards for Most Photogenic, Best in Costume, or Best in Green Screen.

Also read: Starbucks Virtual Backgrounds to Help Coffee Lovers Feel at Home 

4. Enjoy a watch party together

If you haven’t tried having a virtual movie session together with your friends, your online Christmas party is the perfect time to do it! Try out free watch party apps like Kast, Rave, Watch2Gether, or Teleparty. 

Before the party, make sure everyone has access to the streaming platforms you’ll be using. If not, you can also opt to have someone screen share a movie from his or her computer. Get everyone to have their own snacks for the full movie experience, too!

Not sure what movie to watch? Check out our top 10 kilig Christmas movies here.

5. Play interactive games

Mobile games aren’t just for hardcore gamers, you know. Nowadays, everyone can (and, arguably, should) try it out! Believe me — I’m the least gaming fan that I know, and I still appreciate playing Among Us with my long-distance relatives. 

For your next virtual Christmas party, enjoy some friendly competition with interactive online games. There are countless games to choose from; most likely, your barkada-favourite games have online versions now, too! 

Aside from Among Us, I can personally recommend skribbl, UNO!, and Pusoy Dos as fun online games to play with your friends. You can also check out this list for more recommendations.

Also read: Pobla Nights Are Back, Thanks to Virtual Poblacion

6. Sing your hearts out at quaraoke

What is a Pinoy celebration without videoke, right? Have a virtual karaoke (or as I like to call it, a quaraoke) night with your friends this Christmas season! All you need is a videoconferencing service (Zoom, Hangouts, Messenger — whatever floats your boat.) and a watch party app, and you’re good to go.

The best part about having a virtual karaoke? No one gets to hog the mic! (Bad news for the popstar in your group, I guess.) Compile all your songs beforehand via Google Docs or Messenger, so that your videos are ready to play continuously.

Also read: 12 Things You Miss in the Philippines When You Spend Christmas Abroad

7. Enjoy good old conversation

If you’re having an intimate Christmas celebration with loved ones whom you haven’t seen in a while, why not cut the fluff out of your party program? Have a meaningful catch up with your friends or family. No distractions, no multitasking. Let everyone speak, and make sure everyone listens. 

During this time, most of us are craving for human connection. And if you or your friends haven’t had that in a while, maybe a good old conversation is all you need for your next online Christmas party.

Also read: Love Lockdown: 6 Tips for Surviving Your Quarantine-Induced LDR

Best believe we’ll finally be together with our loved ones next year; but for now, we’re thankful for the gift of technology that lets us bond amid our physical distance.

Are you planning your next virtual Christmas party, too? If so, we hope you have a blast!