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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Christmas parties in January don't really work

25 replies

Novembercocoa · 02/01/2016 21:07

A few people at work suggested pushed that we have our Christmas party in January because they had so much going on in December. So we're all heading out for dinner and to the pub next Friday night. This happened before in a previous job and it was all a bit flat and forced. People were tired and 'partied out', the Christmas vibe and mood was gone, and it just didn't work.

AIBU to think that Christmas parties belong in December, and not in January?

OP posts:
BrianButterfield · 02/01/2016 21:08

Definitely. Better to do it really early - end of November - than in Jan. People not drinking, dieting, boring on about Zumba or whatever shit fitness thing they're doing...yawnorama.

Fluffy24 · 02/01/2016 21:10

God that sounds awful.

I think it would be better to wait now and have it at Easter!

ICJump · 02/01/2016 21:12

Maybe suggest November. Or if they are keen for Christmas do a Christmas in July and do Aussie/ kiwi shit instead of British stuff

BrianButterfield · 02/01/2016 21:22

Christmas in July would be way more fun than Jan. But as its already arranged just try to enjoy the evening - maybe have a few conversation starters like a story about a crap present you got to try and get some lighter chat going if it gets snoozy.

MrsGrahamCoxon · 02/01/2016 21:23

If you work in the service industry it's great, and pretty common. Far too busy over Xmas working to have time for a party

MockTheWeek · 02/01/2016 21:40

I used to work for a company who had their Christmas do in January because it was cheaper easier for people. We then once had snow so it had to be postponed to February. There was Christmas music and crackers and everything. It was awful!

Ragwort · 02/01/2016 21:44

I much prefer to go out in January - restaurants are never at their best in December with so many parties going on I used to work in the hospitality industry - I think you get much better service and food in January, restaurants are usually happy to have a decent booking. No point in making it a 'pretend' Christmas though, just call it a celebtration.

I'm looking forward to one at the end of the month. Smile

HortonWho · 02/01/2016 21:47

One company I know has Jan / Feb parties. Includes overnight luxury hotel accommodation for employee and guest plus drinks, dinner, dancing. Costs the firm same as a dinner in a central London restaurant in Dec. I'd rather have the weekend away, thank you very much.

DramaAlpaca · 02/01/2016 21:54

I agree. We are having ours in January & I am dreading the forced festive atmosphere. I'm seriously considering not going.

Mmmmcake123 · 02/01/2016 21:55

We always have ours in January but it's just a delayed night out, no crackers!!!

Eastpoint · 02/01/2016 21:58

I worked in an industry in which New Year's Eve was the busiest period, no Christmas parties or time off over NY at all, it was fine, we all understood why. Lots of fun in February once life had calmed down again.

MrsItsNoworNotatAll · 02/01/2016 22:07

I could not force myself to be festive I'm afraid.

revealall · 02/01/2016 22:08

I quite like a party in January. By the time I get into the swing of Christmas and New Year You it's all over. I think it's nice to have something else to go to.
You can also buy nice party stuff in the sales if you're fed up of Decembers little numbers. Restaurants aren't packed with loud Christmas parties. No crap Christmas music in the background. It's all good.

riverboat1 · 02/01/2016 22:11

I wouldn't mind, but it would be better for it to be termed just a generic anual staff party rather than a Christmas party with Christmassy stuff. And come to that, better to have it in any month OTHER than January really, when as you say everyone is all partied out.

Lexigrey · 02/01/2016 22:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Novembercocoa · 02/01/2016 22:16

Thanks. I'm just not really looking forward to it. I'd prefer to just wind Christmas down now and get back to normal life, normal eating, drinking etc. I really don't think most people will be in the humour for a heavy three course meal, lots of wine, more drinks in the pub etc.

As others have said, it would be better to leave it for a few months and just call it a staff night out.

OP posts:
Guiltypleasures001 · 02/01/2016 22:52

Our Xmas dinner is first week in Feb feels like an afterthought to be honest

FlatOnTheHill · 02/01/2016 22:54

Oh my goodness. I bet you so do not want to go. Everyone has had enough and its all over. What a terrible idea.

DeepBlueLake · 02/01/2016 23:02

Yanbu.

It would be fine if it was just a meal out as a thank you and they just forgo the Christmas / festive theme.

But yes forced Christmas atmosphere in January is very weird and indeed annoying as I am certainly over it by then. Besides people won't be drinking, on diets etc.

notquitehuman · 03/01/2016 00:36

If it's a turkey dinner with crackers and the whole shebang, then that'd be bloody awful right now.

If it's just a nice night out and the company are picking up the tab, then that'd be ok. Most places will be back to normal menus and it might be nice to force yourself to go out and be social.

PitPatKitKat · 03/01/2016 07:33

Hmm, two minds about this. When I worked in an office I would have hated to have Christmas night out in January. like early December, nice and festive but well before Mad Friday which is just too much, everywhere is full of people who only go out once a year and it gets a bit nuts.

But when I worked in a hotel, our Christmas party in January was brilliant. We all got a chance to really let our hair down, and we knew we got better food/service then as people weren't rushed off their feet with back to back dos. There was a clutch of hotels in the area, and there was a little circuit- one would host the others night out, then people from other hotels would either drop in or we'd go on a crawl of bars. So every Friday/Saturday in January was busy enough not to be boring/it was worth being open. It was good to know we were keeping fellow hospitality workers ticking over in what would otherwise be a slow month with short hours too. The tipping at those things was legendary too.

In 2014, DH had two work nights out- one team, one whole office on consecutive Friday nights before Xmas. Lots of people complained because it meant it was difficult for partners to go to their Christmas night out, or just because it meant a lot of time away from family/friends in the run up to Christmas. So they changed it and now have a staff day out (rounders/barbecue/then pub crawl) in the summer and one night out at Xmas (plus endless Xmas lunches they organise themselves it seems, but it's nice they all get on). That has worked much better.

scarlets · 03/01/2016 08:19

As long as it's not Christmas themed, it'll be nice. Something to look forward to.

Although, in early January everyone is teetotal and vegan. It'd be better to wait until the end of the month or February IMO.

chrome100 · 03/01/2016 08:30

My old company were so tight we used to have our Xmas do in janiary as it was cheaper. I never went.

FannyTheChampionOfTheWorld · 03/01/2016 09:45

Try and think of it as a new year celebration.

ClumsyFool · 03/01/2016 10:55

It entirely depends on the industry you work in. I'm in retail and we're having ours in January. The last couple of years it's been in December and the turn out has been dire, now it's back January and lots more people are going.
December is insanely busy at work for us, hours are longer and later and everyone is so shattered that they're just not up for it. January hours are back to normal opening and its calmed a little, gives us a chance to let our hair down and celebrate after all the madness of work in November/December

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