A Modern Guide to Professional Holiday Etiquette
- Tammy Mifflin, MBA, CPRW, CDCS
- Nov 25
- 6 min read
The holiday season tends to bring out a natural excitement in workplaces. Decorations go up, calendars fill with celebrations, and teams prepare for a much-needed pause. But beneath the sparkle is a reality many organizations forget to address: not everyone experiences this season in the same way.
For some, the holidays are joyful.
For others, they’re complex.
And for many, the most widely recognized celebrations aren’t part of their personal or cultural traditions at all.
This is where professional etiquette and cultural intelligence move from “soft skills” to essential leadership competencies. How we acknowledge, respect, and navigate diverse celebrations says a lot about the health of a workplace and the emotional maturity of the people within it.
In today’s workforce, a workforce rich with cultural, generational, spiritual, and personal diversity, awareness matters. Sensitivity matters. Inclusion matters.
And during the holidays, they matter even more.
The Assumption Trap: Not Everyone Celebrates What You Celebrate
One of the easiest places for leaders to unintentionally stumble during the holiday season is in assuming shared experience. In the U.S., so many workplace traditions revolve around Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Year’s that these celebrations often become the unspoken default. But depending on someone’s background, country of origin, or cultural upbringing, these moments may hold different meanings, or none at all.
What feels familiar to some may feel foreign, uncomfortable, or even isolating to others.
Cultural Celebrations Vary Widely and Beautifully
Many professionals observe holidays such as:
Diwali (India) — the Festival of Lights, focused on new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil.
Hanukkah (Jewish communities) — an eight-day celebration of dedication, resilience, and faith.
Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha (Muslim communities) — holidays rooted in gratitude, generosity, and spiritual reflection.
Lunar New Year (China, Korea, Vietnam, and others) — a major cultural reset celebrated with family, tradition, symbolism, and community.
Kwanzaa (African American communities) — centered around unity, purpose, creativity, and cultural pride.
Las Posadas, Three Kings Day, or other Latin American traditions — each with its own profound meaning.
These holidays often fall outside the U.S. holiday spotlight, yet they are significant and sacred to millions of people.
Recognizing this doesn’t weaken workplace culture. It broadens it, making space for everyone to feel seen.
Even Common U.S. Holiday Phrases Carry Different Meanings
Phrases many Americans use without a second thought can feel confusing or misaligned for professionals who grew up elsewhere.
For example:
“Merry Christmas” may feel natural to some, but it can assume a religious affiliation that others don’t hold.
“Happy Thanksgiving” may be puzzling to someone from a country that doesn’t celebrate it, and may feel emotionally complicated for Indigenous professionals whose relationship to the holiday is different.
“Enjoy the break!” assumes everyone has time off, when many cultures do not pause for U.S. holidays.
“Holiday spirit” or “holiday cheer” may feel vague or disconnected to those who don’t recognize the holiday symbols associated with these concepts.
None of this means these phrases are wrong. They simply require awareness. What feels familiar to you may feel unfamiliar to someone else.
A Better Approach: Stay Curious, Not Assumptive
Instead of relying on familiar defaults, culturally intelligent professionals choose curiosity. They understand that the holidays don’t fall on the same day for everyone, and they take a moment to consider how others may receive their language, traditions, and assumptions.
This awareness doesn’t take anything away from personal celebration. It simply widens the lens. And when we widen the lens, we’re better prepared to create holiday experiences, conversations, and workplace traditions that don’t unintentionally leave others out.
This becomes especially important when we start looking at how holiday events, parties, and gatherings are planned. Often, that’s where well-meaning teams discover just how easy it is to exclude someone without intending to.
Holiday Events: How to Celebrate Without Excluding
Holiday gatherings are meant to create connection, yet they often reveal how easily people can feel left out of workplace traditions. A familiar theme, a specific type of food, or a celebration that centers on one culture can unintentionally signal that certain experiences matter more than others.
Inclusive holiday events do not require dramatic changes. They require thoughtful design. When leaders plan with an awareness of the diverse people in the room, the celebration becomes more comfortable, more respectful, and more meaningful for everyone.
Here are ideas that help holiday events honor a variety of perspectives:
1. Use Themes That Welcome Everyone
Instead of centering a single tradition, consider themes that reflect shared values or the season itself.
Examples include:
End-of-Year Celebration
Winter Social
Team Appreciation Gathering
Season of Gratitude
These approaches acknowledge the time of year without assuming shared cultural practices.
2. Invite Voluntary Sharing
People appreciate the freedom to contribute without feeling obligated to represent their background. A simple invitation can open the door:
“If you would like to share something meaningful from your holiday season, you are welcome to.”
This creates a space for connection without pressure.
3. Offer Inclusive Food Options
Food choices often determine comfort. Consider dietary needs and cultural practices by incorporating:
vegetarian and vegan options
halal and kosher selections
allergen-friendly choices
neutral dishes that are not tied to specific holidays
Clear labeling also helps everyone feel considered.
4. Make Participation Truly Optional
Not everyone celebrates holidays. Not everyone enjoys social events. Some may have family or personal obligations. Attendance should never influence perception of performance or team commitment.
5. Be Thoughtful With Decor
Festive decor can still feel warm and celebratory without focusing on a single tradition. Options such as candles, lights, greenery, winter colors, or abstract seasonal designs create an inviting atmosphere that works for everyone.
6. Recognize That Inclusion Is Not Limited to December
Many cultures and faiths celebrate meaningful holidays throughout the year. Workplaces can acknowledge this by highlighting various global observances in newsletters, internal communication, or optional learning moments. This approach reinforces the idea that inclusion is a year-round value.
7. Build Events Around Universal Values
Some of the most meaningful celebrations focus on:
gratitude
connection
reflection
community
generosity
These themes resonate across cultures and create natural unity without relying on specific traditions.
8. Ask People What They Prefer
A brief, anonymous survey can help shape an event that genuinely reflects the team. Feedback about themes, timing, food, and participation can prevent unintentional exclusion and strengthen engagement.
A Thoughtful Event Strengthens Workplace Culture
When holiday events reflect an awareness of diverse traditions and personal experiences, people feel more comfortable and more connected. Inclusion does not diminish celebration. It enriches it by ensuring that everyone has space to participate in a way that feels right for them.
Understanding the Emotional Landscape of the Holidays
While this season brings celebration for many, it also brings complexity for others. Some professionals are navigating grief, family tension, financial strain, loneliness, or burnout. Others are dealing with cultural or spiritual disconnection from the holidays altogether.
Recognizing this emotional range is part of professional etiquette. It reminds us that colleagues may not show up with the same energy or enthusiasm during this season and that assumptions about joy or excitement can unintentionally create discomfort.
A culturally aware workplace creates space for people to experience the season in their own way. Leaders and team members who show patience and empathy help create an environment where no one feels pressured to perform cheerfulness they do not feel.
Communicating With Awareness Instead of Scripts
Holiday communication often becomes overly formal because people fear saying the wrong thing. Cultural intelligence is not about memorizing perfect phrases. It is about choosing language that respects a variety of experiences and avoids assumptions.
Thoughtful alternatives include:
“I hope this season brings you rest and moments of peace.”
“Wishing you time to focus on what matters most to you.”
“I hope you enjoy the days ahead in whatever way feels meaningful to you.”
These options offer warmth without placing expectations on how someone should celebrate.
Good communication during this season also includes clarity. People appreciate knowing what is urgent, what can wait, and what expectations look like as schedules shift. Clarity reduces anxiety and helps teams manage workload more effectively.
Closing Reflection
Holiday etiquette is not about being overly cautious. It is about leading with respect, awareness, and emotional intelligence. When we approach this season with curiosity and consideration, we create work environments where people can show up authentically and comfortably.
Celebration should bring people together. Thoughtful etiquette ensures that it does.
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