by Kate Woodford​​​​

With Christmas and New Year almost upon us, we thought it a good time to look at the language of parties and celebrations. First, let’s start with the word ‘party’ itself. To have or throw a party or, less commonly, to give a party is to arrange a party: We’re having a party to celebrate the end of the exams. If you provide the place where the party happens, often your home, you may be said to host the party: Rosie has offered to host the party at her place. A party for someone who is leaving a place or a company is often called a farewell party or a leaving party: We’re having a farewell party for a member of staff. An office party is a party for a company’s colleagues. Meanwhile, a party that you throw for a person who knows nothing about it in advance is a surprise party: It’s a surprise party so it’s all top secret.

A celebration is a party or other social event on a special day or occasion: There were lively New Year celebrations all over town. The verb celebrate is also used, meaning ‘to take part in a special social event’: We always celebrate our wedding anniversary by going out to dinner. If you celebrate in style, you celebrate in a place that is expensive and attractive: For those who like to celebrate in style, there are the castle function rooms. To mark the occasion means ‘to celebrate a particular event or day’: It’s not every day you turn twenty-one. I think we need to mark the occasion!

A short word meaning ‘party’ that is used a lot is do. You have a do: We usually have a Christmas do at work. Often, the phrase a bit of a comes before ‘do’. (It has no extra meaning.): We’re having a bit of a do for Colin’s 50^th and we’d like to invite you. The word gathering is also used to mean ‘party’, the verb ‘gather’ in this sense meaning ‘to come together in a group’. Family often comes before gathering: There’s usually some sort of family gathering at Easter. A small party or other occasion when friends meet each other is sometimes called a get-together: We were thinking it would be nice to have a little get-together over a Christmas drink or two. The phrasal verb get together is also used, though often it means simply ‘to meet in order to spend time together’: It’s that time of year when families are getting together for the holidays.

When there are a number of parties or other social activities to celebrate a special occasion, you might call these festivities: If you become involved in these activities, you might be said to join in the festivities: Come and join in the festivities, Tom!