How to survive the festive season: from Christmas dinner to the end-of-year drinks
From the end-of-year drinks with a mandatory ‘fun’ Christmas sweater to preparing a guinea fowl for guests who no longer eat meat, the festive season can cause a lot of stress. How can you actually get through those days in one piece?
Surviving the end-of-year drinks
Not in the mood for the office drinks? Too bad. It definitely won’t be appreciated if you skip out (unless you’re the perpetually drunk manager who compliments the interns on their beautiful legs). You’d better get into the spirit. Or at least pretend you’re enjoying yourself.
What’s the etiquette?
Socialising is the name of the game. So strike up a conversation here and there. This is your chance to meet new or unfamiliar colleagues! Is conversation not your strong suit? Think of questions beforehand to break the ice. Or give someone a compliment. The best icebreaker is the tacky Christmas sweater! What really isn’t acceptable is getting drunk. Drunk employees make for hilarious movie scenes, but your own life isn’t a film. Do. Not. Get. Drunk.
Surviving Christmas dinner
Peace on earth, togetherness and good cheer—and above all, enjoying delicious food. The idea of Christmas is lovely; putting it into practice sometimes isn’t. It feels like there’s a lot to do and a lot you have to do: from buying presents to preparing a stuffed guinea fowl. Enjoyment suddenly becomes an obligation. And, strangely enough, with every decision someone ends up feeling hurt. They’re also suffering from the tension, after all. Did you know that January is known as divorce month? Take three guesses why…
What’s the etiquette?
Actually, that’s entirely up to you—or the person inviting you to Christmas dinner. Do you want to make an impression, or would you rather have a ‘regular’ convivial evening? In the former case, good preparation reduces stress at the crucial moment, which benefits the overall atmosphere. At the table with family? All those ingrained patterns will effortlessly resurface. Don’t seek out confrontation yourself, and let it go when your brother says something stupid yet again. There’s no need to linger over the table for hours. Go for a nice walk after dinner or watch a (Christmas) film together.
Surviving New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day
Some people go from party to party in a spectacular outfit, while others sit in front of the television with an oliebol. It all sounds fairly straightforward. The really difficult part is the period after the celebrations. How do you wish your colleagues a happy new year? And for how long?
What’s the etiquette?
First, let’s look at the one ‘rule’ that is clear. The consensus is that you can wish someone a happy new year until Epiphany, which falls on 6 January. But then there’s the other problem. How do you wish someone a happy new year? A limp handshake? A wet kiss on the cheek? A big hug? Or, the worst horror of all: a kiss on the mouth? In the Netherlands, it is customary to give three kisses on the cheek in the order left-right-left. However, the trend is shifting towards one or two kisses. A kiss on the mouth is a no-go; far too intimate. Not in the mood for kisses? There’s nothing wrong with a firm handshake. If physical contact is almost unavoidable, pretend you feel a bout of flu coming on.
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