The holiday party is a perfect opportunity to go outside of your cubicle comfort zone. Strike up a friendly conversation with the guys in Accounting, or the new girl at the reception desk. Everyone is so happy (and stuffed with food and liquor) that it won't seem as awkward as if you were at the office. In this case, it's perfectly acceptable to start off the conversation talking about a work-related topic, but try to quickly veer into non-work, neutral territory.