Christmas entertaining dos and don’ts (2024)

FAQs

What not to do at Christmas party? ›

Keep it vague

One sure-fire way of getting out of any social occasion is to say you cannot make it for 'personal reasons'. Most people will be too polite to ask what those reasons actually are and if they do, you can head them off at the pass by replying that you'd rather not say.

The host probably won't mind, study shows. If you'd rather spend an evening in your pyjamas than go to the office Christmas party, you can breath a sigh of relief: researchers say hosts tend to be more understanding about rejections than anticipated.

If it's an after-work affair, a start time between 5 and 7 pm and lasting until around 9 or 10 pm is typically appropriate. For weekend events, you may opt for a later start time, such as 6 or 7 pm, and extend the party late into the evening. Consider the comfort and energy levels of your guests and plan accordingly.

The length of a Christmas party can vary depending on the type of event, the venue's policy and the guests' preferences. Typically, parties last around 3-4 hours, but this can be extended if you're hosting a dinner or if there's a great vibe and everyone's having a fantastic time.

The year-end Christmas party is the perfect occasion to celebrate the achievements and milestones of the company and its employees. It's a time to reflect on the year's accomplishments, acknowledge individual and team successes and recognize outstanding contributions.

How do you socialize at an office Christmas party? ›

An easy way to get people talking is to ask open-ended questions that begin with “what,” “why,” and “how” rather than ones that can be answered with a “yes” or “no.” So instead of asking somebody if they like their job, ask them what about their job they like the most.

Say you're using the time to do work

The point of going into work is, ultimately, to do your work. So if there's a pizza party on the books, but you tell your coworkers that you aren't going to make it because you have some work you need to do, they really can't begrudge you for that. It's an ironclad excuse.

“Introduce everyone with enthusiasm and include them in the conversation with eye contact, comments, and questions,” she notes. “If you find yourself talking with someone about IT and you know nothing about it, but met someone earlier you think they'd hit it off with, walk him or her over and make the introduction.”

It's totally ok to decline the invitation this Christmas, and any future Christmas if you don't feel up for it —I can understand why! It seems like you value your relationships with your brother and sister-in-law and enjoy spending time with them, so make an effort to see them at other times during the year.

Don't Leave a Party Too Soon

If it's a drop-in that lasts just two hours or so, a 30-45 minute pop-in is perfectly acceptable; it's long enough to chat with the hosts and celebrate the occasion. If an event has a start and end time listed on the invitation, you should expect to stay for the whole thing.

When it comes to the holiday party season, sometimes a guest should bring more than just himself or herself. "If you're invited to someone's home, then it's always courteous to bring a gift," said etiquette educator Robert A. Shutt. "Especially at the holidays."