Office Christmas party themes, part 3

Swinging sixties, groovy seventies or new-wave eighties? Take your pick

A party with a focus tends to be a lot more fun. So, if you want to make your Christmas work do a bit special this year, read on to find out what you can do in the third of our Christmas office party blogs. 

You’ll be sure to impress the majority of your colleagues, especially if you cover a wide age range, with a 1960’s, 1970’s and 1980’s-themed party. By concentrating on not one but three decades, you should be able to please almost everyone because most people will probably have some connection with one of these periods and be keen to relive it again – even if it’s just for one night.

There’s so much you can do around this theme too. You’ll be spoiled for choice with the music. Just make sure that it’s not the songs of one particular era that get played all night. Rock and pop will go down well for the 1960s, with tunes from the likes of James Brown, the Hollies, the Beatles and the Beach Boys. For the 1970s, choose anything by ABBA to Al Green, Rod Stewart to Stevie Wonder. And when it comes to the 1980s, any of the hits by Michael Jackson, Wham!, Madonna or Duran Duran will ensure the night is one to remember.

You’ll really add a sense of fun to the event if you make it a requirement to dress up for the occasion. And there’s no excuse not to because there are so many looks to choose from. If a fan of the 1960s, go hippie with a flower power costume or be a cool dude in patterned trousers and waistcoat. When dressing for the 1970s, become the rock star that you’ve always dreamed about being or strut your stuff like John Travolta in a disco fever outfit. And if, like me, it’s the 1980s that’s the decade you remember most fondly, reinvent yourself as Boy George in a new wave pop star costume or bare all in a gold bustier and skirt in a fun Madonna-style 80s pop star ensemble.

To create the right atmosphere, decorate the venue with disco hanging swirls and a disco ball. And why not add a disco couple lifesize stand-in cutout at the entrance to provide a great photo opportunity. It’s sure to put everyone in a party mood.

Office Christmas party themes, part 2

 Will it be a roaring twenties or rocking fifties affair?

If you’ve been given the task of organising your office Christmas do and need some ideas to get you started, let us help inspire you in the second part of our Christmas office party themes.

As we all know, every good party needs music to liven up the atmosphere. So why not base your celebrations on a specific musical era and get your colleagues and friends to dress up in the fashion of the day? To add to the mood of the time, you could also decorate your party venue with paraphernalia from the period, such as feather boas reminiscent of the 1920s, or a 1950’s jukebox cutout.

1920's Charleston

The decade you choose to recreate is up to you. With the film release of The Great Gatsby in May this year, a 1920’s Charleston theme could go down well among your workmates. Your female colleagues could transform themselves with a 1920’s flapper costume complete with Charleston headband and cigarette holder, while the men could opt for white spats and braces.

As for the music, there would have to be an onus on jazz − bearing in mind the 1920s was known as the Jazz Age − as well as a couple of Charleston tracks thrown in for good measure. A few Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington songs should fit the bill nicely. You could also arrange to play silent movies in the background, such as films featuring Charlie Chaplin or Rudolph Valentino, and set up tables for your colleagues to play card games.

1950's Rock ‘n’ Roll

If the 1920s is too roaring for you, why not head 30 years into the future for a taste of rock ‘n’ roll? In terms of your playlist, you’ll be spoiled for choice. ‘Rock Around the Clock’ and ‘Shake, Rattle and Roll’, by Bill Haley and his Comets, will be sure to get your colleagues up and dancing, while Elvis’s ‘All Shook Up’ and ‘Jailhouse Rock’ should keep them bopping on their toes all night long.

When a break from dancing is needed, satisfy your colleagues and friends with some tasty treats, including hamburgers, fries, milkshakes, coca-cola and beer, inspired by the popularity of America’s diners at the time.

As to what to wear to this 1950’s shindig, encourage your male colleagues to don a 1950’s greaser style, Teddy boy or Elvis wig. Meanwhile, the ladies have the choice to be demure and classy (opt for a fitted bodice dress with a full skirt and petticoat, with matching gloves, shoes, bag and pearls) or to go casual with skinny jeans, a big red belt, a checked shirt or white T-shirt, and retro sunglasses.

If you have doubts about whether your 1920’s-inspired office party will be a roaring success and believe a 1950’s one will be anything but rocking, don’t despair! Our next blog, which focuses on the next three very memorable decades, may turn out to be right up your street.  

Children’s Nativity Costumes

Ensure Your Child’s a Star in Their School's Nativity   

Just when you thought you could put away your children’s dressing-up clothes for another year − now that Halloween has come and gone − their school announces its forthcoming nativity play. What’s more, your little ‘uns will need to be dressed in character. A deep sigh escapes your lips at the thought of another outfit to put together. But don’t stress! Help is at hand.

Offering a wide range of girls’ and boys’ fancy dress nativity costumes, we can transform your child into the perfect Mary or Joseph, a realistic-looking donkey or sheep, or a regal king or lowly shepherd. And while we can’t ensure your daughter always acts like an angel, we can at least help her look like one in our girl’s fancy dress angel costume.

These are just some of the characters that feature in the typical school nativity play, which recreates the scene of the birth of Jesus Christ in a stable. In this traditional Christmas story, a baby is born in a stable in Bethlehem to a woman called Mary, who’s married to Joseph. 

Before the baby is born, Mary is visited by an angel – the Angel Gabriel. This angel tells Mary that she’ll give birth to a baby who will be called Jesus, and he will be the son of God. While Mary is heavily pregnant, she and Joseph travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem (about 70 miles). You’ve got to admire her. For most of us in the later stages of pregnancy, just getting up a flight of stairs is something of a triumph. Anyway, back to the story.

Mary and Joseph make this long journey because the Roman Emperor Augustus orders everyone to return to the town where their families originally come from, to take part in a census. He does this because he wants a list of all the people in his empire to make sure they pay their taxes. (Some things never change!) Although most people are forced to make this journey on foot, some are lucky enough to have a donkey to carry their things. Enter your son in a child’s fancy dress donkey costume.

When Mary and Joseph finally reach Bethlehem, they have problems finding somewhere to stay. All the inns are full and the only place offered to them is a stable with the animals. It’s in this very place that the baby Jesus is born. And his bed – a manger used to hold hay to feed the animals – is where he’s put to sleep.

Following his birth, Jesus receives visits from one of two groups of people, depending on whether you follow the gospel Matthew (who wrote for the Jews) or the gospel Luke, who wrote for non-Jews. In Matthew's account, wise men visit Jesus. After following a star that leads them to Jesus, they present him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. In contrast, Luke’s version tells how humble and poor shepherds are led to Jesus by an angel.

The story of Jesus’s birth ends with Joseph fleeing with Mary and Jesus to Egypt to escape from Herod, King of Judea. Word has it that Herod intends to kill Jesus because he fears that he will replace him as the new King of the Jews. The irony of this remarkable story is surely not lost on many of us. 

Halloween costumes

Ghoulish or glamorous? How will you dress this Halloween?

With Halloween fast approaching (Thursday 31 October), it's time to start thinking about what you'll be wearing to scare your family and friends. Although it's traditional to wear a spooky costume for your Halloween party or to go trick or treating, anything goes. Most costumes are modelled around the original themes of zombies, vampires, ghosts and monsters. But nowadays people are choosing to be unique, dressing up as everything from a cartoon character to a celebrity. 

If you're planning on terrifying the neighbourhood, consider becoming a witch or Frankenstein. But if you fancy reinventing yourself with a touch more glamour, consider a princess costume or become a Greek god. Whatever look you go for, you'll be sure to make a big impression this Halloween. 

What will your 'little monsters' be wearing?

If you're thinking of taking the little ones trick or treating this year or are hosting a Halloween party for all their friends, then you'll want them to look the part. Witches are an obvious choice for the girls, but if they want to stand out from the crowd, there's a whole host of looks to choose from, ranging from viking girls to gothic vampires. And there is no shortage of costumes for boys either. Choose from Captain Hook or Captain America, Harry Potter or the Hulk - and your little ones are guaranteed to be a Halloween hit. 

Halloween traditions

Trick-or-treating

It's the evening of Thursday 31 October. The time is about 5pm. The doorbell rings. You go to answer it, wondering who it might be. And there, standing on your doorstep, is your first visitor of the evening - the Halloween trick-or-treater.

They come in all shapes and sizes - from the cute little girl in her fancy dress witch's costume, accompanied by mum, to the group of cheeky teenagers who, having found a monster mask or two between them, think they'll try their luck. And they're all after one thing of course - a treat in the form of chocolates, sweets, cakes, biscuits or even money.

Bat trick or treat bag: Ideal for collecting your goodies in

You'll hear them ask: 'Trick or treat?' and it's up to you whether you oblige them or take the forfeit. If you're happy to have them call, make sure you have a few wrapped chocolates to hand over, some mini packs of sweets, or a few coins if you haven't managed to get to the shops. Of course, you can always take the easy option and simply not answer the door. But where's the fun in that? The trick may be an idle threat, but who wants to run the risk of a mischievous prank being done on you or your home?

In embracing trick-or-treating, you’ll be following a Halloween tradition that’s practised in many countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, Republic of Ireland, Puerto Rico and Mexico. In Mexico, it’s known as calaverita (Spanish for little skull) and the children ask in Spanish: ‘Can you give me my little skull?’ which is a skull made of sugar or chocolate.

The practice dates back to 1895 where, in Scotland, on Halloween night, children disguised in costumes and carrying lanterns made out of scooped-out turnips, went from door to door asking for cakes, fruit and money. However, it was not until the 1980s that the term ‘trick or treat’ became more common in the UK, although it was first used in the United States in 1934.

So, whether you’re planning to welcome trick or treaters to your door or will be trick-or-treating yourself this year, make sure you take care. Be sensible about who you open the door to. Similarly, visit neighbours who are happy to have callers. You’ll know them from the lit-up pumpkins in their windows and the Halloween hanging decorations that adorn their homes.

Halloween celebrations

Top tips to make your Halloween party a huge hit

If you're planning a Halloween party, it's now time to start making preparations so that you'll be ready for the big day. Here are a few ideas to get you started in the run-up to your celebrations.

Costumes

As host of your Halloween party, you'll need to look the part. There is a whole range of fancy dress costumes to choose from - and for every member of the family. Girls can take their pick from a midnight spirit to a spider queen, while boys can be anything from a skeleton to the screecher. For women, become a devil or a demon for the evening, and watch the men transform themselves into Freddy Krueger or a crazy clown. But, if it's just accessories that you're after, there are no shortages of those available. A long black wig or a satin witch's hat will be sure to turn heads.

Decorations

Whether you're holding a Halloween party at home or in a hall, you'll certainly want to create the right atmosphere - and you'll be amazed at how a few decorations can transform a room. A well-placed black furry rat and a few plastic spiders, scattered here and there, will undoubtedly scare your guests - especially the arachnaphobes. Or, raise a smile or two with  a couple of hanging demons and a neon blinking skeleton.

Party food

You may be surprised at the number of recipes available with a Halloween theme. If you're planning on dishing up a meal, why not boil up a pumpkin soup, rustle up a goulash (ghoul-lash, get it?) or create a spiderweb-inspired pizza. A pumpkin risotto will always go down well, as will devilled chicken. And for dessert, how about a pumpkin pie, Halloween cupcakes or skull-shaped biscuits? Serve your culinary delights on the Mozaik plastic tableware range and everyone will be suitably impressed.

Entertainment

It wouldn't be a Halloween celebration without a few party games to get everyone in the right spirit - and there's something for everyone, whatever their age. For the little ones, bobbing for apples is always fun. Just fill a large pool or bucket with water and apples and get your younger guests to pick them out without using their hands. To make it more of a challenge, tie their hands behind their backs or use a blindfold. Filling a jar with candy corns or Halloween sweets - and getting the children to guess how many there are - is another way to keep them entertained. The child who guesses closest, gets to take the jar home with them.

As for the adults, there are countless games to keep them amused. When your guests arrive, tape a piece of paper to their back with a Halloween movie character written on it. Then encourage them to find out who they are by asking questions to the other partygoers. The first to guess their identity receives a prize. After a few drinks, your friends and family will be sure to find Mummy Wrap a good laugh. Just get your guests into pairs and have one from each pair wrap the other in toilet roll, spinning them as they go. The first person to get fully covered is the winner. And if you're guests are up for even more fun, a Halloween movie and trivia quiz or a dance contest with Halloween-themed music will get everyone mingling and in the party spirit.

So now you have a few ideas to get your Halloween celebration preparations underway, what will you be doing on Thursday 31 October?

Wear it pink - Friday 25 October 2013

Think pink!

Wear it pink, Breast Cancer Campaign’s fundraising event, is making its annual return on Friday 25 October. The event calls on everyone to dress up in pink to raise money to fund research that will save women’s lives.

Anyone can take part – from school children to seniors. All you have to do is wear something pink or do something pink on Friday 25 October or any other day this month − and donate £2 to Breast Cancer Campaign. You can paint your nails pink, wear a pink accessory or eat something pink. Be as creative and as original as your imagination allows.

If you’re looking to hold your own fundraising wear it pink event, there are loads of ideas to choose from. Hold a pink-themed fancy dress competition with a prize for the pinkest costume at your school. Organise a bake-off at work, with pink-coloured cakes and treats, and then sell or raffle them off. Or host a pink dinner party or pamper evening at home. Anything goes!

Whatever you raise, be it £20 or £200, will help Breast Cancer Campaign support more people affected by breast cancer. To receive your free fundraising pack, visit www.wearitpink.org/register. And to find out about all the ways you can get involved, go to www.wearitpink.org/get-involved

If you’re looking for a pink accessory or a fancy dress costume, you'll be amazed at what's on offer. Choose from a pink glitter cowboy hat or pink pop wig, or go the whole hog and wear a pink fairy costume or become a pink musketeer for the day. But don't feel left out if you're a bloke. You're sure to make people go gaga in a men's pink baby costume.