Staff Christmas parties.

December is the month of Staff Christmas parties.
This is the special month of the year, because it is the best opportunity to find out who is really who in informal atmosphere.
I also think that companies providing a dinner only are losing a brilliant opportunity to engage each and every team member through fun/social activities. I witnessed people working better together after a Christmas party, as some social barriers were destroyed and better understanding of one another was reached during collaborative activities. I also remember myself thinking about leaving the company during a Christmas party and gift exchange, realizing how deep the gap is in our values.  

There are several rules of Aristotle that I follow in my life and apply to Christmas party/Gift Exchange:
Temperance: The virtue between overindulgence and insensitivity. Aristotle would view the person who never drinks just as harshly as the one who drinks too much.
Liberality: The virtue of charity, this is the golden mean between miserliness and giving more than you can afford. 
Magnificence: The virtue of living extravagantly. It rests between stinginess and vulgarity. Aristotle sees no reason to be ascetic but also warns against being flashy.
Truthfulness: The virtue of honesty. Aristotle places it between the vices of habitual lying and being tactless or boastful.
Wittiness: At the midpoint between buffoonery and boorishness, this is the virtue of a good sense of humor.
Friendliness: While being friendly might not seem like a moral virtue, Aristotle claims friendship is a vital part of a life well lived.  This virtue lies between not being friendly at all and being too friendly towards too many people.
Shame: The midpoint between being too shy and being shameless. The person who has the right amount of shame will understand when they have committed a social or moral error but won’t be too fearful not to risk them.
Justice: The virtue of dealing fairly with others. It lies between selfishness and selflessness. This virtue can also be applied in different situations and has a whole chapter dedicated to the various forms it can take. 

The time we are living in provides so many opportunities for spiritual growth, generosity that allows us and people around to become better versions of oneself.  This is the true meaning of life. There is no choice between material and spiritual growth. It is a ladder, a step by step process. It has to start in effort to achieve gratefulness of the soul, which in turn will materialize gratefulness of tangible assets.  
Christmas is a fantastic opportunity for spiritual growth, sharing your time/affection with family members, maybe volunteering at local Food Bank.
And please, be generous during gift exchanges with coworkers, it is such a simple step leading up the ladder.