Event Journal
5 Creative Ideas for Your Office Christmas Party
‘Tis the season to be jolly. But the words office Christmas party are not always met with cheer and can strike dread into the hearts of managers and employees alike. Everybody’s favourite time of the year is drawing closer and closer. And if you’re the one who has been lumped with the task of planning this year’s office Christmas party, now is the time to get planning.
The office Christmas party is a way for the management to thank the staff for their brilliant work throughout the year. The aim is to make the whole team feel appreciated and have a bit of fun at the same time.The trick to successfully hosting any party is to blend just the right amounts of excitement and comfort. Doing the same thing every year can be incredibly boring, and more workers are likely to come up with excuses to avoid it. So, why not change it up this year and organise a memorable bash. Or better yet, why not let an event planner do it for you.
Forget that same-old caterer and leave those old tacky decorations in the cupboard. It’s time to try something new. If you cannot come up with something fun and original, don’t worry, we’ve got it covered. You can get in touch with us and we’ll do it all for you. In the meanwhile, here are some great office Christmas party ideas that will get even the biggest grinch on the team chugging eggnog and singing Christmas carols.
1. Winter Wonderland
There are many people in Malta who have never laid eyes on snow. After all, Malta’s winters aren’t as harsh as those in northern climes. So, why not bring a proper winter to your colleagues! The theme for this office Christmas party idea is a winter wonderland, which means that everything must be white, including the dress code. You want the venue to look like a wintry palace; think white drapes, fairy lights, ice sculptures and glittery snowflakes. Order some Christmassy themed nibbles to go around, some savoury bites and of course, coconut balls. For drinks, serve icy-vodka cocktails and mulled wine. If you really want to go all out, rent an artificial snowflake machine and throw in an ice-rink. Make sure to hire a photographer or get one of those fun photo booths so that your colleagues can take home a souvenir.
2. The Ugly Christmas Sweater Party
We all have at least one cringe-worthy Christmas themed sweater tucked away in the back of our closet. But in this office Christmas party idea, it’s more fun than cringe. Those knit sweaters are making a comeback! So, if you’re going to take on this theme, an ugly Christmas sweater is compulsory.
A good trick is to have finger food going around so people mingle and interact more with each other and there’s nothing more Christmassy than a hot chocolate bar complete with gingerbread men and cookies. You can even organise a couple of fun Christmas games with prizes for the winners as ice-breakers. This is the kind of event that lends itself well to a daytime atmosphere which can continue into the evening. ‘A best ugly sweater competition’ is a must!
3. Nightmare Before Christmas
If you want something really unique, how about throwing a Nightmare Before Christmas inspired office party. Go ahead and give your event that Tim Burton flair to really get the office buzzing with excitement. You can reuse some of your old Halloween decorations. Think black and white tinsel, pumpkins and skeletons with Santa hats. You can also decorate balloons to look like the iconic Jack Skellington character from the movie. Swap those cheesy Christmas carols with some of the great songs from the film to jazz up your playlist. If you think it’s all too much trouble, an event planner will very easily set it all up.
4. Christmas-Themed Murder Mystery Party
Remember Cluedo, the childhood murder mystery game? This is something along those lines. The 19th-century game is considered a dinner party-favourite nowadays. So, why not turn it into a Christmas edition.
A murder mystery party is a great idea for both small offices of 8-15 people and larger groups of 40+. You will find games designed for both. At a murder mystery party, each participant is given an identity at the beginning of the night. They are to play their “character” throughout the entire soiree. The story goes as follows: someone at the party has been murdered, and the murderer is one of the people at the party. Altogether, you must figure out who the murderer is, and it’s the murderer’s role to try and evade suspicion.
It’s a great idea to bring along some fun props and costumes to help everyone get into character. There are plenty of downloadable scripts for murder mystery evenings available online.
5. Christmas Around the World
Practically every country, every religion and every culture celebrate Christmas time. They might not call it Christmas or associate it with the same sentiments as we do, but it’s there regardless. These are uncertain times, but an office Christmas party that celebrates diversity and promotes unity truly echoes the Christmas spirit.
The Around the World theme works particularly well in a multicultural office as it encourages inclusivity. Contact your HR department to find out all the different nationalities in the company. Encourage people to dress in national or traditional costume or to think about how their ancestors celebrated Christmas. Be creative! You can have a range of food and drinks from different cultures, and play a medley of Christmas and seasonal songs from all around the globe. In this way, you can give everybody in the office something to look forward to and to talk about.
And there you have it! Five office Christmas party ideas which will get your colleagues raving and your competitors talking! If you’re having trouble planning your annual office Christmas party, contact Sarah Young and her team to help you end the year with a bang.
