Demystifying Winter Holiday Traditions for Small Business Owners
CPR often gets questions about handling winter holiday celebrations legally and inclusively. December is rich with holidays each with its unique history, practices, and significance. Understanding these celebrations can help you create an inclusive workplace. Here's your general guide to understanding these important celebrations and creating an inclusive environment for all employees. In this blog post, we’ll help demystify the holidays and provide best practices for navigating the holidays with employees.
NOTE: This blog post provides only general information. Specific religious and cultural practices vary among individuals, even when celebrating the same holiday.
Why Winter Holiday Traditions Matter for Your Business
Honoring and respecting your employees’ holiday traditions and practices is a vital component of work life balance. Before discussing the specifics of each holiday, understand that:
Acknowledging diverse holidays shows respect for your employees.
Improving cultural awareness prevents unintentional discrimination.
Engaging in inclusive practices improves employee engagement and physical/mental well-being.
Accommodating time off leads to better scheduling and productivity.
Understanding the Holidays
Christmas
Christmas is celebrated on December 25 by about 90% of Americans. Christmas is a Christian celebration celebrated by about 95% of Christians commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas has religious roots but has also become a widely recognized cultural holiday celebrated by people of many non-Christians with secular traditions.
Key Business Considerations:
Christmas is:
The most commonly requested day off.
About 97% of U.S. workers receive Christmas as a paid holiday.
Sometimes combined and celebrated with Christmas Eve on December 24.
About 28% receive Christmas Eve as a paid holiday.
A federal holiday in the U.S. (banks and government offices closed).
A common shutdown period for many businesses.
Key Traditions:
Religious Practices: Church services, including Midnight Mass for Catholic employees.
Cultural Practices: Decorating Christmas trees, family gatherings, exchanging gifts, caroling, and festive meals.
Symbols: Santa Claus, nativity scenes, lights, and stockings.
Workplace Considerations: Employees may have travel needs before and after Christmas. Not everyone who celebrates Christmas observes its religious aspects, so avoid assuming employees’ beliefs based on participation in Christmas-related activities. Be mindful of scheduling events or deadlines around Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Hanukkah
Hanukkah, or Chanukah in Hebrew, is an eight-day Jewish holiday celebrating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Hanukkah is also known as the “Festival of Lights.” It typically falls in late November or December, depending on the Hebrew calendar. The word Hanukkah means “dedication.” It is not traditionally one of the major Jewish holidays.
Key Business Considerations:
Hanukkah:
Is an eight-day celebration, but work isn't traditionally restricted.
Is celebrated by about 68% of American Jews as "one of the three most important holidays."
Evening observances are important.
Dates change yearly (can fall anywhere between late November to late December)
Key Traditions:
Lighting the Hanukkiah or Menorah: One candle is lit each night to commemorate the miracle of the oil lasting eight days.
Food: Eating fried foods like latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly donuts).
Games: Playing with a dreidel, a cube-shaped dice with a Hebrew letter on each of the four sides.
Gifts: Small presents may be exchanged.
Workplace Considerations: Some employees may wish to leave early to light the menorah, participate in family or community celebrations, or attend public candle lighting. Flexibility in scheduling can be helpful. Be mindful of scheduling evening events during Hanukkah.
Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is a cultural seven-day observance celebrated from December 26 to January 1 honoring African heritage, unity, and values. It was established in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga as a way for African Americans to connect with their ancestral roots and celebrate Pan-Africanism.
Key Business Considerations:
Kwanzaa:
Is celebrated by about 3% of the U.S. population.
Overlaps with common holiday shutdown period.
Evening celebrations are important, but the biggest celebration takes place on the 6th day of Kwanzaa, December 31.
Is celebrated as a time of quiet reflection and meditation on it’s last day of January 1.
Has seven days of different principles and celebrations that could include evening gatherings with family, community events, and candle lighting ceremonies.
Key Traditions:
Nguzo Saba (means Seven Principles in Swahili): The principles are unity, self-determination, collective work & responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.
Lighting the Kinara: Similar to a menorah, this candelabra holds seven candles representing the principles.
Symbols: Mkeka (a woven mat), Mazao (fruits, nuts, and vegetables), Muhindi (corn), Kikombe Cha Umoja (the Unity Cup), and Zawadi (gifts).
Celebrations: Storytelling, dancing, drumming, and sharing a communal feast (Karamu).
Workplace Considerations: Not all employees of African descent may observe Kwanzaa since it is more cultural than religious. Acknowledge the holiday respectfully without making assumptions.
Other December Celebrations
Bodhi Day is on December 8 and marks the day Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment and became the Buddha. This day is celebrated by Buddhists emphasizing meditation, wisdom, and compassion.
Winter Solstice is on December 21 and is recognized by various cultures as the shortest day of the year, with rituals celebrating the return of light. Soyal is the winter solstice celebration of the Hopi Indians of northern Arizona.
Do's and Don'ts of Creating an Inclusive Holiday Environment
Do:
✓ Ask employees about their needs (in writing preferably) as far in advance as possible for your planning purposes.
✓ Be open to requests for time off or schedule adjustments for employees who wish to celebrate.
✓ Develop, implement, and communicate flexible time-off policies for holiday pay and paid time off (vacation or personal time off).
✓ Allow holiday swapping to provide coverage for all days.
✓ Consider offering floating holidays (use the holiday at a future date) for employees who must work holidays.
✓ Recognize all celebrations represented by your workforce, if you decide to recognize.
✓ Maintain neutral decorations if you choose to decorate.
✓ Use inclusive holiday language such as saying “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.”
✓ Encourage charitable activities as a workplace initiative in honor of the holiday such as a donation drive or team volunteering effort.
✓ Ask and adhere to dietary restrictions for holiday events.
Don't:
✗ Assume everyone celebrates Christmas or any other holiday due to their religion or ethnicity.
✗ Schedule important meetings during key dates. If a meeting must happen at a key time, take notes and disseminate key points afterwards.
✗ Force participation in holiday events or pressure gift-giving participation.
✗ Allow holiday harassment or mockery.
✗ Make assumptions about personal tradition observances or observance levels.
Conclusion
The holiday season is a chance to celebrate the richness of diversity within your team. Generally educating yourself about different holiday traditions like Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and others, shows your employees that you value their authentic selves. This small step goes a long way in fostering a workplace that values diversity and the unique traditions each person brings. CPR encourages small business owners to approach the holidays with curiosity, flexibility, and a commitment to making all employees feel seen and respected yet also maintaining business continuity.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. Information on this website may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information.
