Remote Christmas traditions to bring your employees closer
In a holiday season, companies with remote teams face the challenge of fostering connection and maintaining festive spirits. In this article, we share seven remote Christmas traditions that can strengthen team connections.
These traditions not only spread holiday cheer but also foster employee bonding across different locations. By embracing creativity and inclusivity, companies can make the season memorable for everyone.
Virtual Secret Santa
Playing Secret Santa with remote employees is a fantastic way to strengthen connections and spread holiday cheer. It fosters a team spirit, helping employees feel more engaged and appreciated. The element of surprise and the joy of giving create excitement, making the holiday season more memorable.
Additionally, a gift exchange can add variety to remote work, bringing a fun and interactive element to remote collaboration. It also encourages creativity and thoughtfulness, as employees pick gifts based on their colleagues' interests.
Secret Santa is a simple yet meaningful way to boost morale and reinforce team spirit. You can easily adapt it for remote teams using online tools like MySanta online generator. This way, employees can still experience the excitement of gift-giving, no matter where they are.
Why use the MySanta online ?
- You can track gift purchases to ensure everyone receives a gift, as the app keeps all the information in one place.
- Participants can create wishlists within the set budget, making it easier to choose meaningful gifts.
- Set exceptions to make sure certain people aren’t paired together, ensuring a stress-free and enjoyable experience.
- No player limit — whether it’s 10, 100, or even 1,000 people, the system makes the process easy and smooth.
- You can draw names instantly, and each participant sees who they’re buying for in their profile.
Online Christmas Party
Hosting an online Christmas party is a fantastic way to celebrate the season while bringing remote employees together. Plan activities such as trivia games, festive dress-up contests, or even a virtual escape room to make the event interactive. A well-organized virtual party will leave employees feeling appreciated and connected.
Here are some online activities to organize for your team:
- Festive Dress-Up Contests. Encourage employees to showcase their holiday spirit by dressing in their most festive attire, whether it’s an ugly Christmas sweater, a Santa hat, or a full holiday-themed costume. Let the team vote on categories like "Most Creative" or "Best DIY Outfit" for added engagement. A small reward can make it even more fun.
- Virtual Escape Room. Challenge your team’s problem-solving skills with a holiday-themed virtual escape room. Employees must work together to solve puzzles and unlock clues before time runs out, fostering collaboration and teamwork. Many online platforms offer customizable holiday experiences, making it a fun and engaging group activity.
- Trivia Games. To organize an online trivia game, start by selecting a platform like Kahoot!, Quizizz, or Zoom polls to host the game. Prepare a mix of holiday-themed questions covering topics such as Christmas traditions, movies, music, and history. Divide employees into teams or let them compete individually, and set a time limit for each question to keep the game fast-paced and engaging. Offer small prizes or recognition for top scorers to add some extra motivation and excitement.
Christmas Playlist Collaboration
Music plays a huge role in setting the festive mood. Encourage employees to contribute to a shared Christmas playlist on platforms like Spotify or Apple Music. Everyone can add their favorite holiday tunes, ensuring diverse musical tastes are represented. Playing the playlist during virtual meetings, breaks, or work sessions can create a fun and immersive holiday atmosphere. This simple yet engaging activity allows employees to bond over shared musical interests and discover new holiday favorites.
End-of-Year Recognition Awards
The holiday season is the perfect time to acknowledge employees' hard work and contributions. Host a virtual awards ceremony where team members receive recognition for their achievements in a fun and lighthearted way. Allow employees to nominate each other and include personalized messages of appreciation. This tradition fosters a culture of gratitude and boosts team morale. Consider making the event more engaging by incorporating a festive dress code, such as holiday sweaters or themed costumes, and providing virtual backgrounds for a celebratory atmosphere.
What categories to introduce?
- The office cheerleader — person who lifts everyone’s spirits.
- Master of multitasking — juggling multiple tasks like a pro.
- The problem- solving prodigy — turning challenges into opportunities.
- The go-to guru — the one everyone turns to for advice or help.
- Early bird award — first to log in for meetings (or always on time).
- The Meme King/Queen — best at keeping the team entertained with jokes and memes.
Holiday Wellness
The holiday season can be both joyful and stressful, so promoting wellness among employees is essential. Encourage self-care by organizing virtual yoga or meditation sessions, sharing healthy holiday recipes, or offering tips on managing holiday stress. Another great idea is to provide small wellness gifts such as relaxation apps, e-books, or subscriptions to mindfulness platforms. A focus on well-being demonstrates that the company values its employees beyond just their productivity.
Additionally, consider hosting a “Holiday Wellness Challenge,” where employees can participate in activities like daily gratitude journaling, step-count competitions, or hydration goals. Creating a dedicated space on your communication platform for sharing wellness tips, motivational quotes, and personal self-care practices can also foster a supportive and health-conscious community.
Festive Virtual Office Decorating
Just because employees are working remotely doesn’t mean they can’t get into the holiday spirit with decorations. Organize a virtual workspace decorating contest where team members showcase their holiday-themed home offices. Whether it’s twinkling lights, a small Christmas tree, or a festive Zoom background, encourage creativity and holiday enthusiasm. Employees can vote for the most creative setup, with prizes for categories like "Most Festive" and "Best DIY Decorations."
Holiday-Themed Storytelling
Storytelling is a powerful way to bring people together, spark meaningful conversations, and create a sense of community within your team. Hosting a virtual storytelling session allows employees to share their favorite holiday memories, cherished traditions, or even humorous holiday funny cases.
To make the event more engaging, consider these ideas:
- Themed storytelling nights. Assign fun themes such as "Most Memorable Holiday Surprise," "Funniest Holiday Disaster," or "A Tradition That Makes My Holiday Special."
- International holiday traditions. If your team is global, encourage employees to share unique holiday customs from their country. This can be a great way to learn about different cultures and how they celebrate the season.
- Creative storytelling. Turn it into a game. Let one person start a holiday-themed story and ask each participant to add a few sentences, creating a collaborative and often hilarious tale.
- Visual storytelling. Encourage employees to share holiday photos, childhood pictures, or videos that illustrate their stories, making the experience more interactive.
- The gift that meant the most. Invite employees to share a story about the most meaningful holiday gift they’ve ever received or given. It could be a childhood present that left a lasting impression, a handmade gift with sentimental value, or an experience that was more valuable than any physical item. This storytelling session encourages heartfelt sharing and reminds everyone that the holiday season is about connection, thoughtfulness, and cherished moments.
Storytelling fosters warmth and nostalgia, helping employees bond over shared experiences while creating new holiday memories as a team.
FAQs
What if employees are in different time zones?
If your team is spread across multiple time zones, schedule events at a time that works for most people or organize multiple sessions. Alternatively, asynchronous activities — like sharing festive workspace photos, adding songs to a holiday playlist, or exchanging digital gifts — let everyone join in at their own convenience.
Are there budget-friendly ways to celebrate the holidays remotely?
Yes. Host virtual game nights, movie watch parties, or free activities like a holiday-themed trivia contest, a virtual Secret Santa with digital gifts, or a shared playlist to set a festive mood.
How can we ensure everyone participates in virtual holiday activities?
Make activities inclusive, varied, and easy to join, considering different interests and time constraints. Offer multiple options, so employees can participate in ways that suit them best. Encouraging leadership to take part and sending friendly reminders can also boost engagement.