The Office Christmas Party

Christmas is a jolly (feliz) time of year; it is a time to celebrate and be merry (contentos) especially with family and friends. There are parties and holidays to enjoy, and these days the company or work Christmas party can be a significant event at this time of year. But is the company Christmas party like the other parties you enjoy with friends and/or family during Christmastime? Even though (aunque) there is usually music, decorations, a casual dress code, food and alcohol, work parties are not the best moment to let your hair down (soltarse la melena) and get drunk, because they are still business functions before anything else. In order for the office party experience to be a successful one, you need to moderate your drinking and your behaviour (comportamiento) so that you stay in control. After all, you don’t want to do anything too embarrassing (vergonzoso) that you will regret (arrepientas) the next day at work when you have to face (encontrarte de cara) your boss and all your workmates.

However, it’s not all bad news. While Christmas parties are first and foremost (en primer lugar) business functions, they are also social occasions. You can always use a situation like the annual party to help advance your career by showing that you know how to handle yourself in these situations and by taking the time to talk to bosses and other colleagues, when you might not normally have the opportunity to do so. So, here are some tips to help you make the most (aprovechar al máximo) of company Christmas parties and have a positive, even fruitful (provechosa), experience.

Below are just a few possible conversation starters to help you at this year’s and future Christmas parties.

THE DECORATIONS

So, what do you think of the decorations?

Aren’t the decorations great/pretty?

They did a good job with the decorations this year, didn’t they?



THE FOOD

These hors d’ouevres are delicious, aren’t they?

Mmm. The food looks good, doesn’t it?

So, have you tried the pâté//guacamole/cheese snacks yet?



THE MUSIC

The band is good isn’t it?

The DJ is excellent isn’t it she/he?

The music is great. Do you think you’ll dance later?



THE PARTY

Wow, there are a lot of/not many people here this year, aren’t there?

This is a nice/beautiful place to have the party, don’t you think?

Hi. Are you enjoying the party?



CHRISTMAS

Christmas is a crazy/wonderful time of year, isn’t it?

So, how’s your Christmas shopping going? Have you started/finished yet?

So, are you spending Christmas here or away?

So, are you taking some time off over Christmas?



Hopefully some of these tips will help you have an enjoyable and possibly beneficial time at your next work Christmas function. After all, Christmas only comes one a year…