由于受歷史文化的影響,西方的節(jié)日大都帶有濃厚的宗教色彩,比如Eastern(復(fù)活節(jié)),Halloween(萬圣節(jié)),Thanksgiving(感恩節(jié))和Christmas(圣誕節(jié))等,都是宗教盛行的產(chǎn)物。Christmas Day是基督徒慶祝其信仰的耶穌基督誕生的慶祝日。據(jù)說:第一個圣誕節(jié)是在公元138年,由羅馬主教圣克里門倡議舉行的。而教會史載的第一個圣誕節(jié)則在公元336年。由于圣經(jīng)未明確記載耶穌生于何時,故各地圣誕節(jié)的日期都不同。直到公元440年,才由羅馬教廷定12月25日為圣誕節(jié)。公元1607年,世界各地教會領(lǐng)袖在伯利恒聚會,進(jìn)一步予以確定,從此世界大多數(shù)的基督徒均以12月25日為圣誕節(jié)。十九世紀(jì),隨著圣誕卡的流行和圣誕老人的出現(xiàn),圣誕節(jié)也開始流行起來了。
對于外籍同事來說,Christmas Day就如同我們中國人的春節(jié)一樣,是最重要的全家團(tuán)聚的節(jié)日。很多人要take two weeks or even one month leave回家過節(jié)。
因為,公司的Annual Celebration(年會)也往往選在圣誕節(jié)之前進(jìn)行。到時候,公司中國區(qū)全體1500多位員工都將匯聚一起,所以這可是個名副其實(shí)的Big Party!而這個節(jié)日的到來也意味著Nancy已經(jīng)進(jìn)入Innovo已經(jīng)有一年了,回顧加入Innovo這一年來,Nancy不禁喜上眉梢,她不僅在業(yè)務(wù)水平上有了很大的提高,英語也進(jìn)步了不少。
這一天,Nancy 打開郵箱看到Department of Public Affairs的Rebecca發(fā)來的郵件:
FROM: Rebecca Lewis, Public Affairs Director
TO: All Employees
DATE: December 21, 2011
Subject: Christmas Party
I’m happy to inform you that the company Christmas Party will take place on December 23rd, starting at noon in the FH Club. There will be a cash bar and plenty of drinks! We’ll have a band playing traditional carols, so let all of us feel free to sing along.
And don’t be surprised if our President shows up dressed as Santa Claus! A Christmas tree will be lit at 1:00 p.m. Exchanges of gifts among employees can be done at that time; however, no gift should be over 100 RMB to make the giving of gifts easy for everyone’s pockets.
This gathering is only for employees!
Our President will make a special announcement at that time!
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Rebecca
Wow! 看完郵件,Nancy興奮地叫起來,周圍的同事們都奇怪地看著她,詢問What’s up?
Nancy叫大家看郵件。辦公室里頓時熱鬧起來,大家七嘴八舌興奮得不得了,到時候Johnson還要扮成圣誕老人做開場祝辭,這一切都太令人期待了。Nancy覺得這么重要的節(jié)日祝辭一定會特別的精彩,她可要好好留意和學(xué)習(xí)啰!
Innovo的Annual Celebration在Christmas Eve(平安夜)前一天的下午開始了。每個人都盛裝出席。根據(jù)schedule,中國區(qū)的Vice President Johnson首先致辭。
Johnson一出場,全場就爆發(fā)出一陣笑聲——傳說中的Santa Claus復(fù)活了。
Tonight it’s time for our Christmas party, and it has to be said, you are the very essence of the Christmas spirit of giving.
I am pleased to report that the company had another strong year in 2011.
As we stand at the close of the old year, it’s only right and natural to look back. We might want to reflect on where we succeeded, where we failed, what we might have done better or differently.
But rather than looking back, I want to call on each of you to look ahead. The new year promises to be filled with challenges and changes. It also promises to be filled with opportunities.
We intend to make our share owners, our employees and ourselves prouder than ever to be associated with Innovo.
Tonight I want to thank you for your effort this year. It is time to rest, relax and have fun!
Cheers!
盛大的Christmas Party就這樣拉開了序幕。
Johnson的祝辭果然很有感染力和號召力,他把圣誕精神和企業(yè)文化結(jié)合在一起,既拉近了大家的距離,又鼓舞了士氣。他的發(fā)言結(jié)構(gòu)是這樣安排的:
Express appreciation.
Reflect on the past year.
New year’s expectation and promise.
Encourage the people.
Toast.
Johnson的發(fā)言簡短有力,功力可見一斑。
Eastern 復(fù)活節(jié)
Halloween 萬圣節(jié)
Thanksgiving 感恩節(jié)
Christmas 圣誕節(jié)
annual celebration 年會
public affairs 公共事務(wù)
Christmas Party 圣誕派對
carol 圣誕頌歌
Santa Claus 圣誕老人
exchange 交換
special announcement 特別演說
Christmas Eve 平安夜
essence 精髓,核心
spirit of giving 奉獻(xiàn)精神
at the close of the old year 在過去一年結(jié)束之際
reflect on 思考,回顧
call on 號召,呼吁
look ahead 向前看
promise 承諾,前景
be associated with... 和……聯(lián)系在一起
relax 放松
Nancy的職場筆記本
今晚的party盛況空前,大家都沉浸在狂歡的氣氛中??駳g過后,家在美國的同事們紛紛帶著行李趕往機(jī)場,回家過節(jié)去了。
Nancy回到家里,回味著今天的歡樂氣氛,寫下了她的感受:
1.不同的文化背景衍生出不同形式的節(jié)日慶祝方式。多了解其他文化對于增進(jìn)和外籍同事的感情是很有幫助的。
2.歐美企業(yè)的假期往往和西方的宗教有關(guān),圣誕節(jié)到元旦的這段時間是一年當(dāng)中的長假,外籍員工往往都會回國探親度假。
3.對于企業(yè)來說,節(jié)日party也是領(lǐng)導(dǎo)層總結(jié)企業(yè)發(fā)展?fàn)顩r,慰問員工,與員工近距離溝通和鼓舞士氣的合適時機(jī)。
4.重大節(jié)日的發(fā)言不宜過長,以致占用過多時間,要恰到好處地烘托氣氛,與整個環(huán)境相得益彰。