Christmas may be celebrated worldwide but it is also celebrated in local clubs and associations. Whether you are a member of a scrabble club, a horticultural group or a professional association it is likely that you will have a Christmas party. The occasion may be a formal dinner or a casual get together in a pub. Whatever form it takes it is customary on such occasions for the Chair or a committee member to say a few words about the organisation and what it has achieved over the past year. As the occasion is a festive one the speech should obviously be light-hearted. It should stress how the members are united in their allegiance to the particular group. It should also be positive about overcoming any difficulties in the future and should be extremely definite about your group’s determination to meet the challenges ahead. Naturally it should end on a seasonal note with a toast to the festive season itself.

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The speakers are still the same at a Christmas wedding. Both fathers usually have something to say about their offspring. The best man will undoubtedly mention the groom’s exploits while the groom himself will talk about his wonderful bride. Yet the speeches should be slightly different because they should refer to the Christmas period. After all it is a special time of the year and just as you mention special people in your speech you ought to mention Christmas and why it was chosen for the wedding. You might mention snow or Santa or the crib. You could choose to talk about the splurge of shopping that accompanies both Christmas and weddings. You might say that it is a welcoming time of the year and thus an especially appropriate time to welcome guests. Whatever you say at a Christmas wedding make it seasonal.

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Christmas, we are told, comes but once a year. So it is critically important to get your message across to your staff on the occasion of your Christmas party. Tell them how valuable they are to you. Tell them how much they mean to the company. Challenge them to be even better in the coming year These are tough economic times and they know that. They will respond to the challenge if you word it well. Naturally you should remember that this is a social occasion so speak too of their glamour and of their camaraderie on the night. Encourage them to enjoy themselves with colleagues who are also friends. .Above all say whatever you have to say in a jovial and seasonal manner.

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Christmas is one of the most stressful times of the year. Whether it’s because of all that shopping, the extra cooking or the office party lots of people feel overstretched. Financially too it can be a burden for some and then the stress simply mounts up. The question is how do you handle stress? What changes do your make to your life to ensure that you don’t get frazzled. At Christmas it could simply be a case of doing your shopping online. In that way you could avoid the crowded shops, the difficulty parking and the queues for the checkouts. Alternatively, you could simply give your recipients prize bonds or lottery ticket that supports a good cause. You could tell everyone that you are not giving gifts but sending the money to open a hospital in Africa or an orphanage in India. As regards the cooking swap wrapping Christmas gifts with someone who actually likes cooking but hates wrapping. If they need more persuasion offer to send their cards for them or to plant flowers for the spring. Everyone has a favourite chore and one they hate so don’t be a martyr slaving in the kitchen if you don’t have to. Don’t go to the office party if you hate it. Simply say that you will be out of town or offer to babysit for someone who loves to party. So just think about it and keep calm and reduce stress. You might even enjoy the holiday season!

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Shop early for Christmas. That’s an age old advertising slogan. In these recessionary times it is something people will be doing to spread the cost of Christmas. Not everyone likes the hurly burly of the shopping mall. More and more people are, in fact, shopping online. That’s convenient but is it wise? That’s a question we would be well advised to ask ourselves. Is it safe? Will the goods be of the quality advertised? Will they arrive in time? What are the chances of fraud? There is a social consequence too to shopping on line. The sites on the internet usually belong to the bigger companies because they can afford such advertising. What though of the local businesses? Do you intend to put them out of business? Will people you know lose their jobs because of your shopping habits? Think, for instance, of the students who work part time at Christmas. In fact is it a case of shopping online – short term convenience- long term loss?

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How do you define Christmas? For some it’s about the crib for others the winter solstice. Whether you believe in the story of Bethlehem or not it’s a time we associate with peace on earth and good will to men. It’s also a time for all sorts of functions and, as a result, all sorts of speeches. You may be asked to give a toast to the ladies or indeed reply to such a toast. It could be that you are chosen to give a toast to the guests or a vote of thanks to a speaker. As this is the season of warmth and hospitality it is quite likely that you may find yourself giving a welcome to the guests. Despite the fact that your audience is likely to be in good humour speakers should still use the correct format for such speeches. They should address honoured guests correctly and ensure that their speeches include appropriate thanks to those who should be thanked. Obviously at Christmas your speech should have a reference to the season so you might speak about Rudolph or gifts under the Christmas tree. If you are toasting the ladies for instance you might say they glitter like the lights on those trees. Your speech should be short and above all, it should add to the festivities by making people feel happy and involved. So make it light-hearted and sincere and end it with a suitable toast.

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If Santa were to fill the Christmas stocking of a public speaker what gifts would he give? Most speakers would like the gift of wit while the audience would probably be happy if they got the gift of brevity. Such a stocking would also be bulging with verified facts because every speaker or speechwriters needs those. Captivating opening lines would certainly be a welcome gift too. Hints on how to run one paragraph smoothly into the next would be a very practical as would the ability to throw a voice so that it can be heard in the four corners of the hall. The ability to convince an audience would also be very useful to a speaker as would packets of passion because an audience responds to passion. A list of fascinating subjects would be very welcome too. If he could throw in some confidence a lot of speakers would really appreciate that. Finally, and most importantly if he could give thought-provoking endings for speeches the speaker would certainly leave out some plum pudding for Santa.

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Are you popular enough to have to give a speech? Many business people are asked to various Christmas parties and functions. You may be a supplier to a certain company or indeed a client of some firm. Whatever the reason it is gracious to say a few words of appreciation for your invitation. Naturally you should speak of your link with the company over the years. You should talk about the relationships you have built up with those in that company and you should thank them for sharing their special night with you. It is appropriate to mention the glitz and glamour of the occasion not to forget the festive fare. If there is entertainment you should also mention it in your speech. Naturally, being a social occasion, your speech should be short. Nobody, on their night out, wants to listen to a speech that goes on for ages. It goes without saying too that it should also be light-hearted as befits the occasion. Christmas is about warmth and joy and your speech should reflect this. You might end it with a toast to shared Christmases or simply one to the feast itself. Finally, your speech should express your gratitude for being included in the seasonal revels and mention your hope that you will be asked again the following year.

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Military officers may be gentlemen but how good are they at writing speeches? In fact whether they are male or female officers speechwriting comes with the territory. There are many occasions during the year when they may be called upon to say a few words. It could be that they may be speaking at a retirement of an enlisted member or at a passing out parade. They could be addressing troops who are re-enlisting or speaking to those who are embarking on a tour of duty. There are change of command speeches, after dinner speeches and warrior leadership course addresses. Whatever about that military speeches should include the words duty and loyalty. A mention of camaraderie is usually appropriate too. Whether you are addressing soldiers, sailors or the air force a mention of their committment to the flag will not go amiss. At this time of the year there may be a gathering at which a Christmas speech is appropriate. Such a seasonal speech, though, should be more light-hearted and speak of warmth and good cheer. The Christian meaning of Christmas may not seem appropriate to a group of mixed faiths and none. The traditional message of joy and peace is one though that is always particularly one that is suitable to all ranks.

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Last minute shopping can be frustrating but writing last minute speeches can be even worse. Yet with Christmas getting closer many executives are faced with the chore of saying a few words to the staff. Naturally such speeches should be motivational in tone but they should also be appreciative. After all staff like to know that their work during the year has not gone unnoticed. Such speeches are usually given at a staff party or end of year function and if so a remark about the glamorous dresses worn by the ladies will not go amiss. While you are at it you should also thank the organizers of the function for their efforts and book them for the following year! In increasingly hard times your speech should be upbeat and speak of overcoming recessionary difficulties by thinking outside the box and being willing to adapt and change. Such speeches should be topical too and refer to Christmas and the mistletoe or the Holiday season as appropriate. They should refer to the camaraderie of the staff and urge those present to make the most of the occasion by enjoying themselves thoroughly. Above all such speeches should be short and end with a good luck wish for the coming year.

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