Appreciating Diversity During the Holidays: It's about more than
just a simple "Happy Holidays" gree
Guess who's not celebrating Christmas this year? Millions of
people in the US.
That's right. Tens of millions of Americans don't celebrate
Christmas religiously, either as followers of non-Christian
religions (Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Jews) or as individuals
with no religious affiliation. Because many stores tap into the
cash value of Christmas with their plethora of Santas,
ornaments, and Christmas fanfare at your nearby mall, we can
easily overlook the depth of the diversity present in America
during this season. In reality, many different events, both
spiritual, religious, and tradition based, are being celebrated
in many different ways during these times.
It used to be that being inclusive meant sending out PC "Happy
Holidays" greeting cards and changing Christmas office parties
to "Holiday parties." Today, it's about more than just changing
labels and titles. It's about using a time to be with friends
and family to build understanding and awareness about others.
Three Ways to Build Your Awareness and Create an Inclusive
Holiday Environment
1. Learn about other celebrations. Carve out some time from
online shopping or a Holiday TV show to learn about another
culture's celebrations during this time. Watch a TV special on
other celebrations, do a Google search on a holiday, or check
out books at your local bookstore while gift shopping. Share
your learning with others, and use it as a chance to expand the
conversation at parties and at the dinner table.
2. Make no expectations. Realize that people celebrate a variety
of holidays during this time of year, and some people choose to
celebrate none. Be respectful of these differences by taking
interest in other people's traditions and making them feel
welcome. Don't be afraid to ask people what holidays they
celebrate. Find out what they do during this time of the year
that is special. Let it be an opportunity to learn about
different cultures and religions and the traditions that
accompany them.
3. Mark your calendar and your address book. If the calendar or
PDA you use does not list holidays like Kwanzaa, Hanukah,
Ramadan, and Diwali, find out the dates and record them as
reminders. Many programs like Outlook allow users to add
calendar dates for celebrations from different parts of the
world automatically, making this task quick and effortless. Take
a few minutes to mark your address book with the holidays that
people celebrate. When writing holiday cards, recognize their
holiday, and include a little hand-written note acknowledging
their celebration.
A Note for Employers:
Here are a few extra things employers can do to make their
workplaces more inclusive during the holidays:
- Make sure your Holiday party isn't a Christmas party in
disguise. Decorations and food should be general, and
non-specific to any religion.
- Consider having a New Year's Party instead of a Holiday party.
This type of party can get everyone on board with the company's
mission and vision for the New Year.
- Post holiday greetings on your webpage and intranet for many
religious holidays.
- Be respectful of these special dates, and plan events and
meetings around various holidays.
- Display a multi-cultural calendar to help all employees stay
aware of important cultural events for the rest of the year.
- Be flexible with the needs of different employees.
- Encourage employees to share their celebrations through
stories, decorations, and foods that they can bring to their
workplace.