December holiday tips
By Dee Anne Bonebright and Julie Sweitzer
Dec. 5, 2005; updated Dec. 5, 2007
Holiday parties in December--many offices plan them. University offices celebrate the end of fall semester and look toward the start of winter. Then there's the proximity of several religious holidays. But as our workplaces become more diverse, people wonder how to celebrate in ways that respect our different religious and cultural traditions.
Celebrations are important as places where coworkers can socialize and get to know each other in informal settings. Managers need to create opportunities to thank staff for their contributions. Work flows more smoothly when successes are recognized and celebrated. Teams are strengthened and individuals are motivated when they feel their work is appreciated.
But December celebrations can cause problems if events seem to emphasize one religion or cultural tradition. If activities make some people feel excluded, they defeat team-building goals.
Finding information on religious
holidays
In December, the media are inundated with references to
Christmas, and the academic calendar generally
accommodates Christmas by breaking before December 25. The Jewish
holiday of Hanukkah and the newer cultural holiday
of Kwanzaa both fall in December, and some groups
celebrate the winter solstice. But Islamic
holidays circulate around the year: Ramadan began
in September and ended in October this year, and
Eid-al-Adha falls on Dec. 20.
If your office is celebrating in December, take time to understand
the significance of the various religious traditions that occur
during this time. Use it as an opportunity to learn about different
cultural practices.
The University's Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action
has posted a Religious
Holiday Calendar. Check it to avoid conflicts with major
department events. You can also use it to plan department cultural
awareness activities.
Major religious holidays are also identified in the student
Gopher Guide, which is on sale to the public in University
Bookstores on the Twin Cities campus.
"The problem is that any celebration in December tends to be about Christmas," according to Beth Zemsky, formerly the coordinator of leadership and organizational effectiveness in the Office of Human Resources. "People sometimes try to include other religious holidays, such as Hanukkah, but as a Jewish person I know that it's not a very significant holiday. Our important holy days are in September. I don't mind celebrating other people's religious holidays--I do it all the time. But just don't expect that everyone shares your religious background."
Supervisors don't know the traditions and experiences that staff members bring to the month of December. Even among Christians, approaches to Christmas differ. Some groups celebrate on a later date and a few don't recognize the holiday at all. An evangelical Christian may have misgivings about the commercialism of Christmas and not enjoy associations with Santa Claus.
December celebrations may have unintended consequences, too. Due to "seasonal creep," an event that is meant to be a seasonal celebration suddenly looks very Christmas-y when decorated with green and red.
In addition, holiday periods can be stressful for people living far from their families or going through hard times. A well-intended office party may actually cause more pain than joy for some of your colleagues.
Themes, timing, awareness, and activities
Here are some things to consider when planning office celebrations.- Pick themes that everyone can appreciate, such as the end of fall semester or the beginning of winter.
- Plan a time that makes sense with your workplace schedule. Think about whether December is the best time for your event. If it's a particularly busy time in your office, it may be better to plan activities for January or February. Consider celebrating another holiday, such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Day--it can be a chance to learn together as a group as well as celebrate together.
- Be aware of unintended messages. Celebrations held in December tend to make people think of Christmas, whatever the theme. Decorating public spaces with red and green or playing Christmas songs for telephone clients on hold can enhance the problem. Adding references to Hanukkah and Kwanzaa on an invitation won't change the underlying message and can be seen as insensitive to the true meaning of those events.
- Consider performing a community service project as a work group. Some units volunteer at food shelves or participate in clothing drives. Others participate in the United Way campaign through fund-raiser activities such as bake-offs or talent shows. Find something that is connected to the particular work of your office.
Remember, several smaller events throughout the year can be much more effective that one big party. We should celebrate and thank each other more than one day a year.
More tips
"Eight Tips for Handling the 'December Dilemma,'" ProGroup, a consulting firm
"Making Room for Religious Differences," Rights Stuff online newsletter, May-June 2004, Minnesota Department of Human Rights
"A party for all: Tips on celebrating year-end holidays," by Dee Anne Bonebright
Dee Anne Bonebright is a program director in Organizational Effectiveness, Office of Human Resources. Julie Sweitzer, director of the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action when this article was first published, is now associate to the senior vice president, Office of System Academic Administration.