Sharareh and Roshi Hoss plan parties for a living through their event PR and production company Hoss Agency. Here, they share their secrets to hosting a glögg party that would impress even Jay Gatsby
A glögg party is the perfect prelude to Christmas, effortlessly gathering friends before the year winds down and setting the tone for the festive season. While classic holiday flavours and warming drinks are a must, there’s plenty of joy in bending the rules, especially if you’re hosting more than one soirée. Consider this your guide to creating a glögg celebration that feels both stylish and unforgettable.
A twist on old classics
Think beyond the traditional glögg spread and reimagine your favourite cocktails in their cosier, winter-ready forms. Consider a warm espresso martini finished with a dusting of cinnamon, or offer an alternative to glögg with spiced apple cider topped with coconut cream and cardamom.
When it comes to sweet and savoury bites, playful twists go a long way. Serve saffron muffins with molten chocolate centres, and build an abundant cheese board accented with ginger cookies, crisp crackers and fresh strawberries. For something delightfully unexpected, try a gingerbread cookie ‘sandwich’ with blue cheese and strawberries, or set out bowls of sweet-and-salty popcorn for extra crunch. A touch extravagant? Perhaps – but these thoughtful additions are what make a glögg party most memorable.
A playlist everyone likes
Another thing we love during parties, especially during Christmas, is music. When your guests have confirmed that they are attending, ask them to send one favourite Christmas song, collect the answers and create a Spotify list matching their taste in music, that way at least everybody will get one song that they love in the list.
Let light be the main decoration
Since daylight is scarce during the Scandinavian winter, creating as much warmth and glow as possible is key. For the table, layer plenty of candles in varying heights, keeping to a cohesive palette so the setting feels intentional.
As a guiding rule, stick to three core colours across your flowers, candles and overall decor: for a glögg party, rich reds, warm browns and subtle touches of green work well. And for a charming finishing detail, serve the glögg in mismatched vintage teacups.
Photo: @blossasverige
If your Christmas tree is already up, be sure it’s glowing. As a thoughtful arrival activity, set up a station where guests can craft their own handmade Christmas decoration for the tree. It’s a simple, personal way for everyone to leave their mark – and to feel part of your holiday celebrations.
Decoration check list
- Christmas stars in the windows
- Red Christmas flowers
- Christmas glass baubles for the tree but also as table decorations
- Pine greenery for table
- Cinnamon and vanilla sticks for table
- Candles in different sizes
- Silver (or any colour that goes well with your colour theme) balloon clouds that surrounds the table from the ceiling/or silver balloons upside down with different levels from the ceiling
Running order
Create a clear run of show to help the evening unfold smoothly and to keep elevating the experience as the night goes on. A sample flow might look like this:
Guests arrive: Greet them with a warm cocktail, slip fluffy slippers into their hands, and let the mingling begin.
Sweet start: Lead guests into the kitchen or dining area where dessert is served first – an unexpected twist that immediately sets the tone.
Activity stations: Prepare a few charming stations to bring out the Christmas spirit:
• Station 1 – Gingerbread houses: Because truly, who doesn’t love building one?
• Station 2 – Mistletoe + citrus: A playful mistletoe moment paired with nectar or fresh orange.
• Station 3 – Cocktail bar: Keep the Christmas cocktails flowing and let guests mix their own.
Dinner: After about 1.5 hours, sit everyone down for the main meal.
A final flourish: And then – knock, knock. It’s not Santa, but a dear friend dropping by to croon soulful Frank Sinatra classics at your piano. If you’re lucky enough to have both the instrument and the talent among your acquaintances, it’s the kind of surprise that turns a glögg party into a story guests will retell for years.