Fun Christmas corporate traditions to start to bring your team closer
The holiday season presents a great opportunity to build stronger relationships through shared activities and fun traditions. In this article, we share heartwarming and enjoyable activities perfect for team building.
Christmas traditions can help create lasting bonds among employees. They spark imagination, help demonstrate creative abilities, and add joy and unity to the team, making the holiday season even more special for everyone involved.
Secret Santa gift exchange
One of the most beloved Christmas traditions in many offices is the Secret Santa gift exchange. It’s a fun and thoughtful way to encourage employees to engage with one another, especially those who may not work together closely on a daily basis.
The Secret Santa gift exchange adds an element of surprise and excitement, as no one knows who is buying for whom. It’s a great way to include everyone, ensuring no one feels left out during the holiday season.
Here’s how the Secret Santa tradition works. Participants draw names to determine who they'll be gifting, then secretly prepare a present for their assigned person. On the exchange day, everyone brings their gift, and as each person unwraps their gift, they try to guess who their Secret Santa is.
Try a more convenient way to play Secret Santa by using an online organizer — now you can invite participants via email and draw names with a single click. Participants can also add their gift wishes in the generator, so the gift giver may rely on their preferences.
Christmas charity
One meaningful corporate tradition to start this holiday season is organizing a Christmas charity event annually. This can include donating to local shelters, or providing food baskets to families in need. Employees can come together to contribute items or fundraise, promoting a sense of giving and community. This tradition not only brings the team closer but also reinforces the spirit of generosity and kindness during the holiday season.
What products do food baskets include?
For a Christmas charity food basket, include holiday staples like canned vegetables, mashed potatoes, stuffing mix, cranberry sauce, and canned ham or turkey. Add pantry essentials like rice, pasta, canned soups, and baking items such as flour and sugar, along with festive treats like cookies or chocolates. To make the basket even more special, include items like hot cocoa mix, coffee, or canned fruit for a comforting holiday meal.
Holiday office potluck
To organize a holiday office potluck for Christmas, start by asking each employee to bring a dish. You can assign categories to ensure a variety of food, or let everyone choose their favorites.
Set a date and time that works for most, ideally during lunch or just after, and reserve a communal space for the event. To make it fun, consider creating a holiday-themed atmosphere with decorations and music. Encourage employees to share the recipe of their dish to promote conversation and connection. Finally, make sure to consider any dietary restrictions by asking participants to note ingredients, ensuring everyone can enjoy the event.
Employees will surely love this delicious tradition, so offer to preserve it as a long-lasting part of the company’s future.
Ideas for the holiday office potluck.
1. Green bean almondine.
Blanch fresh green beans until tender, then stir-fry them in butter with garlic and toasted almond slices. Add a squeeze of lemon juice at the end for a fresh, tangy flavor that compliments any holiday spread.
2. Cheesy scalloped potatoes
Layer thinly sliced potatoes in a baking dish, then pour a mixture of heavy cream, grated cheddar, and garlic over the layers. Bake at 350°F for about 45 minutes, until golden and bubbly, for a rich and comforting side dish.
3.Cranberry orange relish
Blend fresh cranberries with orange zest, juice, and a bit of sugar in a food processor until finely chopped. Chill the relish for a few hours to allow the flavors to meld together for a refreshing, tangy side that pairs perfectly with turkey.
It is a great idea to organize a quiz for the employees. Ask questions about the history, origin, and other facts about a specific dish. The participant who guesses the most dishes, wins a prize.
Here are some questions for the Christmas quiz.
1. Which dish, often served during Christmas, is said to have originated in England in the 19th century and was traditionally made with leftover turkey and vegetables, topped with a creamy sauce and breadcrumbs? (Shepherd’s Pie)
2. This sweet dessert, made with a spiced dough and shaped into small, festive men, has roots dating back to medieval Europe. Can you guess the name of this popular Christmas treat that’s often decorated with icing? (Gingerbread cookies)
3. Which classic Christmas side dish, typically made with a variety of vegetables and topped with a crispy layer of cheese, is said to have been first served in the United States during the mid-1800s as a way to use up leftovers from holiday meals? (Scalloped potatoes)
4. What Christmas dish, which originated in Germany, is traditionally served with sausages or roast pork and is made of sauerkraut, apples, and spices, thought to represent the warmth of family gatherings? (Sauerkraut with apples)
Ugly sweater contest
An Ugly Sweater Contest is a fun and lighthearted tradition for the office Christmas party, where employees are encouraged to wear their strangest festive holiday sweaters. The goal is to embrace the holiday spirit by showcasing creativity, and humor. To make it more engaging, you can offer prizes for categories like "Most Festive," "Funniest Sweater," or "Best DIY Creation." This contest brings laughter and unity to the office, sparking conversations and a sense of friendly competition.
How to make a DIY sweater?
To make a DIY Christmas sweater for the Ugly Sweater Contest, start with a plain sweater (preferably red, green, or white). Use fabric glue to attach fun decorations like fake snow, tinsel, and holiday-themed patches. Add sequins, bells, or a Santa hat to make it even more over-the-top. Don't forget to add some funny or quirky details like mini Christmas lights or a reindeer nose for extra flair.
Holiday-themed team building activities
Holiday-themed team-building activities for a Christmas party can create a fun and engaging atmosphere while strengthening employee bonds. Also, such activities create lasting memories and contribute to a positive company culture.
Here is a list of ideas for the office party.
1. Gingerbread house decorating contest. Provide teams with gingerbread house kits and decorating supplies. Set a time limit and let the creativity flow as employees work together to create the best design. The funnier the result, the better.
2. Holiday trivia quiz. Create a festive trivia game with questions related to Christmas traditions, holiday movies, and famous Christmas songs. Teams compete to answer the most questions correctly.
3. Scavenger hunt. Create a list of holiday-themed clues and hide small prizes or items around the workspace. Employees will work in teams or individually to follow the clues, which could include riddles or tasks related to Christmas.
One special surprise could be a hidden envelope with money, offering an extra exciting incentive for those who solve the clue and find it. The thrill of the hunt combined with the chance of a reward makes for a fun and memorable office activity. It can become an annual tradition for the company to increase the prize amount, so employees will be more motivated to participate in this activity.
4. Christmas charades. Have employees act out holiday-related words or phrases without speaking while their team tries to guess. The team with the most correct guesses wins. The special feature of this activity could be company-related charades — things that only employees of this company would know about. This can add fun and unity to the team.
Christmas songs for employees
Surprize your team by creating personalized Christmas songs for each worker.
You can quickly make it with the help of artificial intelligence. Here’s how you can do it.
1. Gather information. Collect facts about each employee, like their character traits, favorite holiday traditions, hobbies, and any memorable moments from the year. You could also ask employees to provide a favorite Christmas memory or funny story connected with their work.
2. Choose a song style. Decide on the style of the song, whether it’s a traditional carol or a modern holiday tune. AI can help adapt popular Christmas melodies to create something new.
3. Use AI tools. Leverage AI tools like ChatGPT or music generators (like OpenAI's MuseNet ) to write the lyrics based on the personalized details you gathered. You can input these details into the AI system to help it generate a custom song for each person.
4. Add music. Use an AI music platform like Amper Music or Soundraw to generate a background melody. You can adjust tempo, mood, and instruments to match the festive theme.
5. Record and share. Once the song is ready, record it and compile a personalized holiday playlist for your team. You can even create a fun video or slideshow to accompany each song.Such traditions show a careful attitude toward each employee of the company, strengthen team spirit, and create the company’s unique image. They might also inspire employees to suggest new creative ideas for the next festive event, making them feel like an indispensable part of the team and increasing their loyalty to the company.
Such traditions show a careful attitude toward each employee of the company, strengthen team spirit, and create the company’s unique image. They might also inspire employees to suggest new creative ideas for the next festive event, making them feel like an indispensable part of the team and increasing their loyalty to the company.
FAQs
How can I keep the holiday traditions engaging for remote employees?
To keep remote employees engaged, adapt activities specifically for them. Virtual potlucks, caroling, and collaborative holiday playlists also provide opportunities for remote teams to participate, fostering a sense of inclusivity and fun.
How to make all the employees satisfied with these traditions?
To ensure satisfaction, offer a variety of activities that cater to different interests and ensure they are inclusive of diverse cultural backgrounds. Involve employees in the planning process by asking for suggestions or voting on their preferred traditions.
What Christmas team-building activities are better to avoid?
Avoid activities that may require long preparations to participate in. Also, steer clear of overly competitive games that could create stress or division among team members, as the goal should be to foster collaboration and holiday cheer.