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It's Christmas

A party you won't forget

Christmas is a celebration, and not just because there are days marked in red on the calendar; it's a time for gathering, enjoying and sharing, where celebration is an important element.

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New Year's Eve Concert with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
New Year's Eve Concert with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Europa Press
Olga Vallejo
12/12/2025
2 min

With coworkers

The invitation you've received for lunch or dinner with your colleagues in the coming days is probably no longer called a Christmas celebration, but rather...winter party"Especially in international companies, they don't want to use Christmas as a theme to avoid hurting feelings, aware that the staff is diverse," comments Xènia Herrera, event planner and CEO ofNomads EventsWhat makes a business event a success? The venue is key; it should be suitable for its occupants and, ideally, unique or offer opportunities for something surprising. Good transport links or transportation will make it easier for people to attend, so no one has to drive and can enjoy a drink without worry. What truly makes the difference is the lead-up, how it's communicated, and whether enough anticipation is generated: "You have to create a sense of mystery, pique their curiosity, and make them eager to know what will happen at the party," says the event planner. Depending on the type of event and the attendees, the menu can be standing or seated, but the important thing is that there are things happening—messages can be left, or riddles can be posed. When choosing the menu, Herrera suggests avoiding a Christmas-themed option: "You can be more creative; they'll already have Christmas meals with their families." If there are young people attending, it's important that photos and videos can be easily shared and quickly accessed. Every decision—venue, theme, menu, music, etc.—must be made with the attendees in mind. Some companies join programs that offset the carbon footprint of the celebration or collaborate with a local NGO or association by donating the money they've raised from a bingo game they organize. "Since it's Christmas, it's worth appealing to empathy," Herrera remarks.

Celebration with coworkers
Celebration with coworkers Vasyl Dolmatov / Getty

With family and friends

If we focus on our more intimate surroundings, decorating the house is a way to show that these are special days. There are small details, regardless of whether one is religious or not, that make all the difference, such as a Christmas tree, a wreath, or a nativity scene. "You can do crafts with the children, and if you don't have time or they don't like it, you can take advantage of local markets where there are artisan producers," suggests Herrera.

When setting the table, it will depend on each person's taste—silver, gold, or any color you prefer, keeping in mind that burgundy is the trendiest color—but regardless of the choice, a linen tablecloth is recommended. "You have to make Christmas your own. Choose the decorations and details according to your personality," says Herrera. AI can be a great ally for creating a color scheme based on your chosen color. She suggests combining candles of different heights or making a centerpiece with eucalyptus, which already adds a touch of elegance. You can also create personalized touches, leaving notes for each guest.

With classical music in the background

It's impossible to start the year without thinking about the Vienna Philharmonic's New Year's Concert. An exclusive event where getting tickets is practically impossible, although everyone can follow it from home via RTVE's broadcast. Albert Galceran, journalist and music commentator, co-presenter of the daily program Els homes clàssics on Catalunya Música, recalls that the concert was revived in 1939 to raise funds during World War II and as a Nazi propaganda tool. Since then, a tradition established by Johann Strauss has endured: "When Johann's father, whom he hated intensely, died, the son seized the opportunity to launch his career. He created a kind of franchise, with orchestras that performed his waltzes, polkas, and galops." It was music conceived and composed. It became fashionable among the Viennese aristocracy of the time, in the second half of the 19th century. They began at aristocratic parties in Austria and spread throughout the rest of Europe, eventually reaching the United States. Today's New Year's Eve concerts remain faithful to the repertoire of Johann Strauss II, featuring festive music and few profound aspirations: "It's about entertaining and amusing," explains the journalist.

Galceran, who will present the Sant Esteve Christmas Carol Concert on TV3, the oldest Christmas concert in the world, has made a classical musical selection to accompany our Christmas meals and gatherings:

1. Duke Ellington's The Nutcracker Suite . Released in 1960, this is the album the jazz composer made with arrangements of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker . A jazzy Nutcracker.

2. Jalousie by Yehudi Menuhin & Stéphane Grappelli. This is the first collaboration between classical violinist Menuhin and jazz violinist Grappelli. Some of their joint albums evoke classical music, while others feature Grappelli's own compositions.

3. The Three Tenors' Christmas by Josep Carreras, Luciano Pavarotti, and Plácido Domingo. It remains one of the best-selling classical albums at Christmas. A true classic featuring three golden voices.

4. Beethoven's piano sonatas performed by Chilean pianist Claudio Arrau. Nothing histrionic, pleasant, with subtle dynamics and a spiritual way of understanding music.

5. Manuel de Falla's El amor brujo, performed by the virtuoso Alicia de Larrocha. If you're interested, you can watch the musical documentary Las manos de Alicia on Filmin , about the career of one of the most exceptional pianists of all time.

6. The Barber of Seville by Gioachino Rossini. A comic opera that will bring joy with one of the reference recordings, conducted by Claudio Abbado and performed by Teresa Berganza.

7. The Sant Esteve Concert at the Palau de la Música Catalana. December 26 at 7 p.m. An iconic concert, held uninterrupted since 1913 and broadcast on TV3, Catalunya Ràdio, and Catalunya Música. All the choirs of the Orfeó Català choral family perform traditional and contemporary Christmas carols.

Everyone dance!

When it comes to playing music to liven up a party and get everyone dancing, DJ and music producer Carlos Bayona recommends not trying to be too picky. The best choice is eclectic and varied music, because there are often very different people present, especially at family gatherings. "Play hits without any reservations, from La Casa Azul to Raphael, Los Catarras, Camilo Sesto's ' Melancolía ,' David Guetta's ' Titanium ,' Los Buhos, ABBA's ' Dancing Queen '... all the classic hits ." Spotify can be a great ally; it's full of New Year's Eve playlists that save time for those who don't have the time or aren't quite sure which songs everyone will enjoy.

This New Year's Eve, Bayona will be DJing in Barcelona until 1 a.m. at Razzmatazz and then at Rouge. He prepares his sets by creating playlists with the tracks he thinks will be hits, and once he's DJing, he observes the crowd's reaction and chooses songs based on what they like best. Normally, the second-to-last song he plays is what he considers the song of the year, which in 2025 could be Rosalía's " Berghain" with a more danceable version, and the last song is usually the legendary "The Final Countdown" by Europe. Last year, after the twelve chimes, the first track he played was " Hello" by Martin Solveig and Dragonette, followed by " Un Año Más" by Mecano. The entire set featured danceable, festival-ready tracks from the '80s, '90s, 2000s, and current hits, excluding reggaeton.

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