A Christmas Speech Sample

- adapt, and make it your own

Here's an easily adaptable Christmas speech sample following a simple step
by step outline. The format is ideal for an office Christmas party, a family get together, a club Christmas event ...

Yes, it truly is one of those occasions when one size will genuinely fit all.

A note of explanation before you scoot to the speech

What you're seeing here is a sample speech mostly in note form rather than a full word-by-word, sentence-by-sentence text for two reasons:

1. Our speaker wants the freedom and flexibility given by using cue or note cards. They allow him to interact more spontaneously with his audience. He can easily make eye contact, smile, gesture or move.

   Reading from a full script makes that trickier to manage. The result is a more formal presentation which doesn't fit with the speaker's overall purpose; to reach out, to inspire and unite the audience with his theme of gratitude.

You'll note that the concluding segment is the full text. It's that way because he sweated over getting the right words down and doesn't want to risk muddling them due to the excitement of the moment!

When he practices the speech and finally delivers it he will flesh out the 'opening' and 'body of speech' notes into full sentences.

2. The speaker wants to remind himself of the names he needs to mention in his opening welcome, the important points he wishes to cover in the body of his speech and the sequence that they come in.

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Behind the Scenes

Background to put this speech in context:

1. The speaker is Joe Brown. He is the Manager of a small company, Brown's Mill.
2. The audience is the company staff.
3. The aim or purpose of the speech is to thank them for their work during the year, to foster a sense of togetherness, gratitude and hope.
4. The setting is the staff room. It is an informal occasion. Drinks and finger foods will be served after Joe has made his speech.
5. The theme Joe has chosen to hang his speech on is gratitude.

Christmas speech sample: Joe's opening notes

Welcomes:

• Bryan Grant and Betsy McKinley from Kelly and Bell (VIP guests)
• Esther - 25th Christmas function with us
• Everybody else

Transition to body & theme introduction

"Despite what we've thought about the past 12 months and the dreaded R word (recession) we've made it through to the end of the year.

It's nearly Christmas and we've got a lot to be grateful for. We're here, we have a great team and we're still in business."

Joe's body of speech notes

• Point One - April - major order canceled - we survived. Tough decisions had to be made but we stood by each other, were supported by our families and made the necessary sacrifices.
• Point Two - September - breakthrough into a new market. Fantastic team work - credit to everybody
• Point Three - October - new product line introduced. Innovative marketing plan and revised customer service model - finishing the year cautiously optimistic but absolutely certain that it wouldn't have been possible if it hadn't been for the way everyone shouldered their area of responsibility.

Christmas Speech Sample: Joe's full text ending

"It's been a tough year but I'm proud of what we accomplished together. Some businesses haven't been able to do what we have done.

Thanks to you we'll be going into the new year with strength, to build on our accomplishments and to consolidate our position.

Let's celebrate that. It's a gift to be grateful for. And when you leave here you go to another.

As Burton Hillis said, The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree is the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.

And that's what I wish for you all!

Now let's raise a glass - to us, to our families and a happy Christmas."

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There you have it! A Christmas speech sample you can easily adapt to suit whether it's for a family celebration, the members of your club at your end of year function, your staff ...

Related pages to get your speech underway
For more about the planning process and preparation click through to this page on Christmas speeches. You'll find the step-by-step guidelines I used to prepare Joe's speech as well as a whole bunch of Christmas quotations, including the one featured here.

And click this link for how to make and use cue cards effectively.

Have a joyous Christmas!
Susan

PS. Deliver your speech with panache. The site map has many pages to help you speak with confidence. Why not look them over?

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