Office Traditions to Build Team Spirit: 13 Ideas

In this article, we share creative activities that bring teams together, add joy to the workplace, and avoid employee burnout.

Why Do Office Traditions Matter?

Collecting money for “special occasions” or endless morning meetings often cause irritation and stress. This usually happens when the purpose of traditions isn’t clear or their value isn’t felt. In reality, office customs can greatly improve workplace atmosphere and increase efficiency.

Here are just some of the benefits that traditions bring:

• higher employee motivation
• stronger team spirit
• positive company image
• trust in leadership
• lower turnover
• stronger employee–manager trust

What to Consider When Creating Traditions

For traditions to be loved and last for years, they should reflect company values, suit the team, and remain sustainable. Let’s look at the most important things to keep in mind.

Company Values

Choose traditions that highlight and reinforce your organization’s core values and culture. For example, if your company emphasizes responsibility and openness, eco-initiatives are a natural fit. If innovation and flexibility are part of your DNA, make sure your traditions reflect current trends in office culture.

Team Characteristics

Take into account the cultural, generational, and professional mix within your team. Use surveys, focus groups, or quick polls to confirm that an idea truly appeals to people. Traditions should feel inclusive and comfortable for everyone — from new hires to long-time employees.

Available Resources

When evaluating ideas, consider both the type and amount of resources required. Some activities may be inexpensive but demand a lot of preparation time, while others are easy to organize but more costly. Make sure the traditions you choose can be maintained without putting too much strain on budgets or people.

Frequency of Activities

Talk with colleagues about how often traditions should repeat. The key is balance: the team shouldn’t feel overwhelmed by too many activities, but they also shouldn’t only hear about them once in a while when something suddenly comes up.

Feedback From Colleagues

As you experiment with new ideas, set up a way to collect feedback. Employees’ opinions will help adjust traditions to their real interests and make it easier to fix mistakes quickly.

Universal Ideas

Many companies worldwide practice timeless traditions that work well across teams. Here are some of the most popular — and how to use them wisely.

Casual Dress Day

If your office has a dress code, give colleagues a break now and then. Pick a day where everyone can come in casual, comfortable clothes. To make it more fun, add a theme — such as a specific color or outfits inspired by favorite movies. This tradition lightens the mood and builds stronger connections.

Here are some theme ideas to try:

Book Club

A simple, cost-free tradition is reading books together. Choose a title and agree on a pace — chapter-by-chapter discussions or a full review after everyone finishes. It doesn’t have to be work-related; a detective or novel can be just as engaging. Shared reading becomes a hobby that strengthens bonds and sparks conversation.

Shared Lunches

Few things bring people together like food. Organize team lunches where colleagues can relax, chat, and connect informally. Keep it optional so no one feels pressured — especially if some prefer walking or dining out.

Gratitude Board

A simple way to recognize colleagues and build a friendly atmosphere is to set up a gratitude board. It can be a corkboard or a whiteboard where anyone can leave a positive note for the team. Encourage employees to write throughout the week about things that inspired or impressed them at work. At the end of the week, gather to read the notes together. This helps everyone feel appreciated and gives an extra boost of motivation to do their best.

Supporting Colleagues on Sick Leave

Create a tradition of supporting teammates who are out sick. Send a card, a fruit basket, or even record a short voice or video note with well-wishes. This simple gesture lifts a colleague’s spirits and helps keep the team atmosphere warm and welcoming.

Group Sports

Many companies offer gym memberships, but not everyone can swing it. If you want to get the team moving, suggest soccer, yoga, or casual group runs as a corporate tradition. You can tie activities to holidays — for example, a team ski day before Christmas. Exercising together strengthens health and builds genuine friendships.

Birthday Surprise

Every team has its own way of celebrating birthdays. To make the day truly festive without burdening the honoree, plan the surprise in advance. Swap the traditional envelope of cash for a celebratory buffet, and collect warm wishes in a big, beautifully designed card. The birthday person won’t have to worry about bringing treats — and can simply enjoy the day with the team.

Creative Themed Traditions

Many traditions tie into holidays or major company milestones. Use these moments to bring people together and build a positive atmosphere. Here are the most engaging ideas your colleagues are sure to love.

Secret Santa

An anonymous gift exchange is a wonderful tradition for any team. Each person draws a colleague’s name and prepares a surprise. On the chosen day, everyone receives a gift and tries to guess who their Santa is. Secret Santa helps coworkers get to know each other and creates a pleasant sense of anticipation.

You can repeat the game every year — the random draw pairs “Santa–recipient” in new ways, avoiding repeats. It also brings together remote employees. The easiest way is to run the game online with MySanta: it handles quick matching, creates wishlists, and helps find great gifts for any recipient.

Holiday Mailbox

At Christmas, it’s traditional to write letters to Santa. Invite colleagues to revive this warm custom — set up a mailbox in the office at the start of December where people can leave anonymous notes with wishes and greetings for one another. Before the holidays, host a cozy gathering to exchange congratulations and go through the mail. Your team will look forward to it every year.

Green Marathon

Eco-activities make a great fit for World Environment Day or a company anniversary. Suggest that colleagues collect unwanted items for recycling or go plant trees together. Working toward a shared environmental goal will bring the team closer.

Family Day

Host a day when employees can invite their loved ones to the office. Tours of the workplace and games for kids make the event complete. This warm tradition not only shows care for employees and builds loyalty in their families, it also makes your company more attractive to future hires.

Valentine’s Day in the Office

After the winter holidays, the stretch until spring can feel long. Valentine’s Day is the perfect chance to bring warmth into the office. Encourage colleagues to exchange small notes of appreciation, set up a “kindness mailbox,” or organize a themed potluck with heart-shaped treats. This simple tradition adds color to the season and creates a cheerful break from routine.

Pet-Friendly Day

Many employees miss their pets while they’re at work. Pick a day when everyone can bring their furry friend along. A little “cat therapy” in the office is sure to bring smiles and lift the mood. Just check for allergies ahead of time and set aside safe spaces where animals can rest.

Conclusion

Office traditions bring real value when the team is actively involved and genuinely interested. Don’t be afraid to share ideas with colleagues and try new things — that’s how you’ll find traditions everyone loves, and how you’ll make your workplace warmer, kinder, and stronger.

Try our MySanta app

You can create wishlists, add exclusions, and communicate with your gifree secretly. Moreover, there is an option to track gifts and ensure that everyone buys a present on time.

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