Christmas Party Season Survival Guide: December in Glasgow & Dundee

December in Scotland means one thing: relentless partying. Work Christmas dos, uni friends reunions, school friends catch-ups, family obligations. Here's how to survive it all.

The December Calendar Reality

Typical Schedule:

• Week 1: Work Christmas party
• Week 2: Uni course Christmas night
• Week 3: School friends reunion
• Week 4: Last-minute Christmas Eve madness
• Scattered throughout: Society parties, flat parties, "casual drinks" that aren't casual

Plus: Regular weekend nights because you're young and invincible (you're not).

Budget Management

The Financial Truth

December Costs:

• Party outfits: £50-100
• Nights out: £30-50 per night × 8-12 nights
• Secret Santa/gifts: £50-100
• Transport: £50+
• Food (hangover cure): £40+
• Total: £400-£700+

Student loan doesn't stretch this far.

Money-Saving Strategies

Outfit Recycling:

• Same outfit, different crowd = nobody knows
• Rotate between 2-3 core outfits
• Accessories change the look
• Seriously, nobody remembers

Pre-Drinking:

• Essential in December
• Host rotating pres at different flats
• BYOB to save money
• Pre-game hard, drink less in club

Strategic Planning:

• Pick priority events
• Skip the "maybes"
• Say no to events you don't care about
• Your bank balance will thank you

The Free Food Hack:

• Work parties usually have food
• Fill up before drinking
• Saves on post-club takeaway
• Actually nutritious for once

The Outfit Situation

The Ugly Christmas Jumper Dilemma

Acceptable Venues:

• Work parties (expected)
• Casual pub nights (encouraged)
• Ironic indie clubs like Firewater (we love them)

Not Acceptable:

• Actual nice clubs
• First dates
• Meeting someone's parents

Pro Tip: Buy one versatile jumper, wear it everywhere.

Festive Fashion Formula

Women:

• One sparkly dress (wear 3+ times)
• One velvet piece (very December)
• Red or green = festive without costume
• Tights with Christmas patterns (subtle festivity)

Men:

• Christmas jumper (ironic)
• One smart shirt (work dos)
• Regular going-out clothes (most events)
• Santa hat (instant festivity, costs £1)

Hangover Management

The December Hangover Is Different

Why It's Worse:

• Cumulative effect of multiple nights
• Less recovery time between sessions
• Cold weather dehydration
• Richer food + alcohol = digestive chaos
• Seasonal depression + alcohol = worse mood
• Your body is just TIRED

Survival Tactics

Prevention:

• Water between drinks (yes, even at Christmas)
• Eat before drinking (yes, even when rushing)
• Pacing yourself (impossible, but try)
• Vitamins (your body is begging)

Recovery:

• Berocca or Dioralyte (your new best friend)
• Greasy food (Scottish breakfast FTW)
• Irn-Bru (the Scottish cure)
• Paracetamol + ibuprofen (not together! alternate)
• Water (so much water)
• Sleep (prioritize this)

The Monday-Friday Grind:

• Coffee (intravenously if possible)
• Sunglasses at desk (hide the shame)
• "I have a migraine" (nobody questions)
• Actual work (postpone if possible)

The Midweek Party Problem

Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday Work Parties: Your boss doesn't care that you're 23 and resilient. You still have to function Friday morning.

Strategy:

• Leave earlier than you want
• Don't do shots (save for weekends)
• Stay hydrated throughout
• Set alarms (multiple)
• Prep work clothes night before
• Accept you'll be useless Friday

Venue Guide: December Edition

Firewater (Glasgow & Dundee)

Why It's Perfect for December:

• No forced festivity (still indie anthems)
• Great pricing
• Open till 3am (maximize value)
• Ugly Christmas jumpers welcomed
• Warm (three floors in Dundee, two in Glasgow)

December Events:

• Camden Rocks Thursday (unchanged)
• Fluorescent Adolescent Friday (now with tinsel)
• Let It Happen Saturday (festive chaos)
• Special Christmas Eve event (usually)

Pro Tip: Boxing Day at Firewater is legendary. Everyone's back from uni, everyone's bored with family, everyone needs to DANCE.

Other December Options

Work Party Venues:

• Hotel function rooms (free wine, at least)
• City centre restaurants (forced small talk)
• Escape rooms (team bonding, allegedly)
• Bowling (retro vibes)

Uni Parties:

• Student union (cheap, convenient)
• Hire a venue (expensive, impressive)
• Pub crawl (chaotic, traditional)
• Someone's flat (intimate, messy)

Social Navigation

The Conversation Starters (When You're Bored)

Safe Topics:

• "How's uni/work going?"
• "Any plans for Christmas?"
• "This weather is mental"
• "Remember when [shared experience]?"

Avoid:

• Politics
• Brexit (still divisive in 2025)
• "So, are you seeing anyone?" (unless you're close)
• Bringing up embarrassing stories (save for later/never)

The Ex Situation

December = everyone's back in town = you WILL see your ex.

Handling It:

• Polite but brief
• Don't drunk text them later
• Don't ask mutual friends about them
• Focus on having fun with other people
• Remember why you broke up

The "We Should Meet Up" Lie

Everyone says it. Nobody means it. It's fine.

Response: "Yeah, definitely! I'll message you" (you won't, they won't, everyone's happy)

December-Specific Challenges

The Christmas Market Trap

Before Nights Out:

• "Quick drink at Christmas market first?"
• Overpriced mulled wine = £6
• One drink turns into three
• You've spent £20 before even getting to the actual night
• Budget destroyed

Solution: Just meet at the first venue.

The Themed Party Stress

Secret Santa:

• £10 limit (someone always breaks it)
• Generic: Socks, chocolate, wine
• Risky but funny: Novelty items
• Last minute: Card + cash

Costume Parties:

• Elf: Green + striped tights + pointy hat
• Santa: Red + white trim + hat (sorted)
• Reindeer: Brown + antlers headband
• Christmas tree: Green dress + tinsel
• "Sexy [anything]": Add Santa hat

The Emotional Minefield

December brings:

• Nostalgia (everyone's sentimental)
• Loneliness (if you're single)
• Family stress (projected onto nights out)
• End-of-year reflection (usually depressing when drunk)
• Comparison (everyone's posting their best moments)

Coping:

• Stick with good friends
• Leave if you're not feeling it
• Don't make big decisions drunk
• It's okay to skip events
• January exists for a reason

Health & Safety: December Edition

The Cold Reality

Getting Home:

• Taxis are BUSY (book in advance)
• Night buses are PACKED (brace yourself)
• Walking is DANGEROUS (ice + drunk = bad)
• Share taxis (save money, safer)

Staying Warm:

• Actual coat (not just fashion)
• Layers (you'll thank yourself)
• Gloves (you'll lose them, buy cheap)
• Walking boots (heels on ice = A&E)

The December Dangers

Pickpockets:

• Busy venues = busy hands
• Keep valuables close
• Don't flash cash/phones
• Zipped bags only

Drink Spiking:

• More people = more risk
• Watch your drink ALWAYS
• Tell friends if you feel weird
• Don't leave drinks unattended
• Use Ask for Angela if needed

Getting Home:

• Plan it BEFORE going out
• Tell someone where you're going
• Share location with friends
• Licensed taxis only
• Never walk alone when drunk

The Food Situation

Pre-Night Fuel

Essential:

• Carbs (pasta, rice, potatoes)
• Protein (slows alcohol absorption)
• Not too heavy (dancing on full stomach = regret)

Quick Options:

• Pasta with sauce (student classic)
• Toast with peanut butter (simple, effective)
• Meal deal sandwich (£3, done)

Post-Night Recovery

Glasgow Late Night:

• McDonald's Sauchiehall Street (24/7 weekends)
• Pizza places (multiple options)
• Takeaways (everywhere)

Dundee Late Night:

• Ward Road takeaways
• City centre options
• Plan B: Toast at home

The Morning After:

• Greggs (sausage roll + Irn-Bru)
• McDonald's breakfast (hash browns = life)
• Wetherspoons (cheap breakfast + judgemental looks)
• Your mum's cooking (if visiting)

December Event Types Decoded

The Work Christmas Do

What to Expect:

• Awkward small talk
• Free alcohol (exploit this)
• Boss getting drunk (embarrassing for everyone)
• Colleagues you barely know
• Leaving early is acceptable

Strategy:

• Arrive on time
• One drink, mingle, seen by boss
• Drink steadily (don't peak early)
• Leave before getting too drunk
• Don't bad-mouth anyone
• DEFINITELY don't get with anyone from work

The School Friends Reunion

What to Expect:

• Nostalgic
• Everyone's changed (or haven't)
• Comparing lives (exhausting)
• Old drama resurfacing (ignore)
• Actually fun once drunk

Strategy:

• Low expectations
• Focus on people you actually liked
• Don't get competitive
• Leave when it gets weird
• Don't check social media for days

The Uni Friends Night

What to Expect:

• Comfortable
• Inside jokes
• Too many in-jokes
• Reminiscing
• Planning trips you'll never take

Strategy:

• Relax and enjoy
• These are your people
• Make memories
• Take photos (you'll want them)
• Don't leave anyone behind

The Firewater December Special Events

Christmas Week

23rd December:

• Last big night before family obligations
• Everyone's desperate for one more
• Firewater is RAMMED
• Best crowd of the year
• Book tickets in advance

Boxing Day:

• Legendary every year
• Everyone's bored with family
• Back in hometown
• Want to see friends
• Indie anthems + reunion vibes = perfect

New Year's Prep:

• Week between Christmas and New Year
• Dead academically
• Perfect for going out
• Less crowded than Christmas week
• More chilled vibes

Survival Checklist

Before December:

• [ ] Budget planned
• [ ] Outfits sorted
• [ ] Social calendar confirmed
• [ ] Time off work requested
• [ ] Hangover supplies stocked
• [ ] Phone charged

During December:

• [ ] Pacing yourself
• [ ] Staying hydrated
• [ ] Eating before drinking
• [ ] Getting enough sleep (ha!)
• [ ] Checking bank balance (scary)
• [ ] Looking after friends

After December:

• [ ] Survived
• [ ] Minimal regrets
• [ ] Friendships intact
• [ ] Job still have (hopefully)
• [ ] Ready for Dry January (lies)

The Verdict

December in Glasgow and Dundee is chaotic, expensive, exhausting, and absolutely worth it. You'll be broke, hungover, and tired, but you'll have stories for years.

This December, pace yourself, stay safe, and we'll see you at Firewater for the best indie Christmas party in Scotland.

Merry Christmas. Now let's dance.