Social event Company Christmas Dinner

Get Ready

 

A tradition with Norwegian companies is that they have a Christmas Dinner. Parties where employees bring their spouse so they could this one time a year meet up with colleagues and other spouses.

Before the party start

 

Both the employees and the spouses are to feel that this is a special event so they together could lower they shoulders and have a good traditional Christmas dinner have fun and if lucky also dancing into the late night early morning.

Strawberry please

 

It is interesting join these Christmas Dinners as a spouse. I can “evaluate” the different parties from outside and not as an employee. Either or one have to behave, but for me it have been more interesting how it have been moving around in different countries to see how the tradition is kept and looked after.

Appetizers

 

With my wife I have joined Christmas dinner both in Stavanger and Bergen more than one time each place, and two times in Houston over the last 6 years. This year I am in Moscow and it exciting to see how the Norwegian tradition will be looked after.

It is  a New Year Party

 

Already before the dinner some differences is noted. The dinner is on a Friday and not a Saturday. A very important difference, on a Friday the employees have to go straight from work after a 8-10 hours working day and keep the dressing code business casual. In Norway and in Houston dress code is to dress up and give you a possibility to “look good” and prepare for a nice special event.

Entertainment was an excellent dancing show

 

Starting time is then 1 hour after normal working hour stop, just time to get to the dinner if you take the Metro, and spouses need to meet up at the place where dinner is held if they have a working hour that make them come.

And the “boss” had to participate in the show

 

Being in Moscow I have noticed that there a different culture, we have New Year party (even Christmas is all around). So even before the party start I have noticed a difference and curious to see if my expectations will be confirmed.

And the winner of the dancing competition was ??

 

I needed a couple of days to absorb it all. Not only the Vodka, but the surprise that this party in Moscow beat all other “Christmas Parties” I have been to. Irina did her job very well, she blamed there is room for improvement, but that is hard to see and if she manage to beat this one I will be pleased to participate. Hope I will remember my first lesson of Russian Vodka along with the dinner. Just one thing to say, stay away from the Vodka, head ok, but not my stomach and it will be easier for my wife to get me home.

The evenings Band

 

So it all ended up with great food, great master of the ceremony, great band and great entertainment. Thanks Irina !!!

Thanks to my wife I managed to get home after all the dancing…and… say no more