The holiday season is one of the most globally diverse times of the year. While some employees celebrate Christmas, others observe Hanukkah, Las Posadas, Diwali, New Year traditions, or no holidays at all.
This is why it is vital for companies to know how to communicate across cultures during the holidays. For HR teams and global companies, this season can be a powerful opportunity to:
- Strengthen inclusion
- Improve communication
- Celebrate cultural diversity
- Reduce misunderstandings
At Fluency Corp, we help multinational teams communicate clearly and respectfully year-round, but during the holidays, the stakes feel higher.
Small misunderstandings can snowball into hurt feelings or exclusion if teams aren’t aligned. This guide will walk you through simple, practical ways to support smoother communication during the holidays, so everyone feels respected and included.
1. Use Inclusive Holiday Greetings
In global teams, a simple “Merry Christmas!” might unintentionally exclude employees who don’t celebrate it. Try these inclusive alternatives:
- “Happy Holidays!”
- “Wishing you a wonderful end of year!”
- “Hope you enjoy the holiday season!”
- “Sending warm wishes to you and your family!”
Inclusive greetings create space for all cultures and traditions without assuming a specific belief or celebration and it is vital to communicate across cultures during the holidays.
2. Be Mindful of Global Holiday Calendars
Not every holiday lands on December 25th. Team members may request time off for:
- Las Posadas (Mexico)
- Hanukkah
- Diwali (depending on the year)
- Winter Solstice/Yule
- Kwanzaa
- Boxing Day
- Día de Reyes (Latin America & Spain)
- Lunar New Year (January–February)
Global teams flourish when managers actively acknowledge international holiday schedules rather than reacting to last-minute PTO requests. Create a shared “Global Holidays” digital calendar to help everyone plan ahead.
3. Support Clear Communication in End-of-Year Meetings
During the holiday season, communication often becomes rushed, yet year-end meetings usually include critical topics like goals, performance reviews, and planning. International employees may struggle with:
- Fast-paced discussions
- Idioms or festive expressions
- Small talk
- Cultural references
- Humor
- Large-group meetings
Encourage managers to:
- Slow down their speech
- Avoid idioms like “let’s wrap it up” or “we’re in the home stretch”
- Summarize key points in writing
- Invite questions explicitly
These habits help everyone, not just non-native speakers. They are a great way to keep momentum going and communicate across cultures during the holidays.
4. Encourage Cultural Sharing (Optional, Not Expected)
Holidays create a wonderful opportunity for cultural exchange, when it’s voluntary. Invite employees (gently) to share something about their traditions:
- A recipe
- A song
- A phrase in their language
- A short explanation of a custom
- A photo of a celebration
This builds team bonding without putting pressure on anyone to “represent” their culture.
Pro tip: Ask: “Would anyone like to share a holiday tradition from their home country?” instead of
“Tell us about your holiday traditions.” One invites; the other requires.
5. Avoid Assumptions About Availability
Some cultures slow down completely in December. Others operate normally. Some families celebrate multiple holidays; others none. To avoid conflict or confusion:
- Confirm deadlines early
- Ask about vacation plans openly
- Consider staggered schedules
- Include asynchronous options for global teams
Strong leadership is flexible leadership, and flexibility saves teams from unnecessary stress.
6. Offer Language Support for Holiday-Specific Situations
Non-native speakers often feel anxious about:
- Holiday small talk
- Gift exchanges
- Corporate celebrations
- End-of-year events
- Social invitations
Providing even a short language-skills session (Fluency Corp specializes in this!) can massively boost confidence. A few helpful phrases to teach employees:
- “Do you have plans for the holidays?”
- “I’m traveling to visit family.”
- “Thank you for the invitation!”
- “I’d love to join!”
- “I don’t celebrate, but thank you for including me!”
Small scripts create big confidence.
7. Celebrate Diversity, Not Uniformity
The most successful global companies embrace the holidays as an opportunity to honor diverse traditions rather than forcing everyone into one standard celebration. And a fantastic way to communicate across cultures during the holidays is by considering:
- Multicultural holiday events
- Global recipe share documents
- Optional virtual gatherings
- A “world holiday spotlight” series on Slack or Teams
Inclusion doesn’t mean merging all holidays into one, it means valuing each one equally.
The Holidays Are a Communication Opportunity
When teams work across cultures, communication is the foundation of trust and belonging. By approaching the holiday season with mindfulness, clarity, and inclusive language, your company can strengthen relationships and make every team member feel valued.
At Fluency Corp, we help companies create workplaces where global employees can thrive all year long. If your team could benefit from better communication skills or cross-cultural language training, we’d love to support you.
